A MEETING WITH THE LOCAL COYOTE

Over the past few weeks I have been seeing the local coyote while out walking the dog.  Most sightings are in the early morning while still dark.  The distance between the coyote and us has been acceptable and the coyote knew that I knew it was there.  The dog has not always seen it because he was focused elsewhere or the snowbanks obscured his view.

This past Sunday morning I went walking when it was light out.  There was light snow falling and it was looking like it was going to be a cloudy day.  I was coming up to the end of the path that I usually walk on and from there you walk on the road.  I was six minutes from home.  I saw the coyote and it was on the banks of a creek sniffing around.  The creek is very close to one of the turns in the path.  I did not have many escape options unless I wanted to go through deep snow to cut to the road.  It wouldn't have been pretty.  The coyote was not interested in the dog or me and was focused on other things.  Plus s/he was moving away to give us more space.  I stopped by the end of the path and close to the road to see what s/he was doing.  The coyote was hunting for mice and as I watched it, s/he got one.  The coyote jumped up as if s/he was pouncing on it and was successful as I watched it chew it and swallow the critter.  The coyote started to walk further along the edge of the creek so we left.  The dog had definitely seen the coyote and was watching it and he was interested in going over.  Of course, that was not going to happen.  I was also happy that I hadn't let Shane off the leash as I sometimes do on this stretch of the path.

Upon arriving at home and recounting this story to the DH, I decided I needed to see if I could get some photos.  The dog and I got into the car and quickly drove over to see it the coyote was still there.  I left the dog in the car, much to his dismay and went back on the path to see if I could find the coyote.  I waited around and finally saw it behind a city equipment building that is situated by the path.  I couldn't get a close photo as the coyote went behind the building.  By the time I could get some photos, it was walking and trotting along the creek system and was putting some distance between us.  It was definitely hunting rodents.  The following photos show some of the scenery and the coyote.  I darkened the photos so that you could see the coyote better.

The creek that runs close to the path. The coyote was along the top ridge.  

Another side shot of where I would have seen the coyote. 

The coyote is moving along.  To the right of the photo is someone walking with their dog along the creek system and would likely not have been aware of the coyote being there. 

Another distant shot. 

The coyote is getting close to a back country road but didn't cross and instead came back again.