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The Kitchen Table

If ya don't love coyotes, don't read...

15 years ago

Today while out on our early-morning walk, we heard a coyote crying. We hear the young ones every so often when they get separated from their pack calling to the others for help. The pack will answer and they will call back and forth until they locate each other. Then lots of happy yipping and yapping.

Well, this little guy wasn't getting an answer. It's been really cold here the last few nights, and down to 27 degrees last night, so I really hoped his family would find him before he had to spend a night alone.

My walking partner can sometimes really be depressing. She kept saying he was sick, his pack wouldn't come for him, he was gonna die... I about had to smack her to shut her up!

A little ways farther on, we turned up a dirt road that crosses the undeveloped area where the coyotes like to hunt, and all of a sudden, something gray trots across the road. Took a moment to register that it was a grown-up coyote. Then here came another, about 3/4 grown. And finally, another pup, yards behind the other two.

Had to be the "lost" one. And he wasn't trailing behind because he couldnt keep up. he just had to investigate ***everything***. We stood watching as the first two made a bee-line for the wilderness. "Caboose" had to stop and sniff, or wander this way than that. I whistled, and the first two kept right on trucking. "Caboose" stopped, looked around, decided we werent all that intersting and went back to something else he'd smelled...

I suspect if he was a kid, they'd diagnose him with ADD. I think he's just overwhelmed with curiosity. If he survives childhood, he's gonna make a great daddy coyote someday.

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Comments (10)

jannie
15 years ago
Sounds like the way my dog behaves when I *try* to take her for a walk. She sniffs at everything, afraid of traffic, just curious.
jannie
15 years ago
And, to answer your post, I don't love or hate coyotes. I've never seen one here on Long Island; we have squirrels and raccoons, deer, rabbits,snakes, but no coyotes or mountain lions. Yet.
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gazania_gw
15 years ago
I love all animals. They all have a "place" in this world.
Your cute story reminds me of a little skunk with the same problem as your coyote. Our neighbors had a mother skunk give birth under their front porch. It seems that for whatever reason, mom skunk decided to relocate her brood across the road to another neighbors shed. She led 3 little ones out from under the porch across the yard and road and up a bank to the new home. But a fourth little guy, an all white albino, got transfixed by a sprinkler that was watering the the yard. He didn't follow Mom across the road. Mom came back after him twice, nudging him and scolding, but the sprinkling water was too much for him to resist. Finally, while Mom was on the opposit side checking on the other three, the 15 year old neighbor girl ran into the yard and picked the wayward child and carried him across the street. She quickly plunked him down and retreated back home. Mom skunk did seem greatful for the help.
nodakgal
15 years ago
LOL Great stories!!!
That girl was brave! I wouldn't have done it, but I'd have loved to have seen it!
angela_nor_calif
15 years ago
So glad it has a good ending and he found his family - or they found him.

I definitely would have picked up that little skunk and took him to his mamma.

My husband teases me all the time that I'm the animal whisperer. lol
User
15 years ago
Aww, I am so glad little Coyotes' parents found him. :) And the skunk story is cute too, what a nice girl.
notjannaz10
Original Author
15 years ago
One of my old boyfriends had a skunk adopt him. He and his kids lived in a converted barn--much nicer than it sounds. They never quite figured out how the little stinker got in and out, but every night, when everyone had gone to bed, it would come in and make itself to home. Played with balls they left out for it, climbed in bed with the kids, ate the dog-food they put out...

I'm a sucker for any critter with fur and feet. Not so much scales or stingers!

J.
Jasdip
15 years ago
Awwww how cute!!!
I can just picture that little guy sniffing and investigating anything that strikes his fancy.

I love animal stories!!
kayjones
15 years ago
Nice story - I love all animals and when they hurt, I hurt. I'm glad it all turned out well.
nicole__
15 years ago
Very cute!

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