Wiley E. Coyote
(click on a photo to enlarge)
Prairie Wolf, Bush Wolf, Song Dog or Coyote — we hear them much more often than we see them and suspect they occasionally drink from our birdbaths at dawn and dusk when they’re most active. We rarely see them during the day but today was different. Probably because it was overcast. We’re on the cusp of the monsoon season and the sky is more cloudy than sunny but it is still very dry and the animals are thirsty. Our little water offering is very attractive now and this coyote must have been desperate to quench its thirst.
Wonder Where All the Birds Went?
Extremely wary, this creature approached the birdbath like it was a live bomb. It took several attempts before it actually bent down and took a few judicious sips. Then it would jump back, sniff the air and go in for another drink. Other than humans, I can’t think of what natural predators would be around here to make it so uncomfortable. Perhaps it was just the fact that it was out in mid-day.
The coyote’s scientific name (Canis latrans) translates to “barking dog.” It’s not uncommon to hear them vocalizing at dusk or during the night with a series of high-pitched yaps, yelps and yowls. This vocalization is most common in spring mating season and in the fall when young coyotes are trying to establish new territories.
Coyotes are omnivorous. They eat anything from jackrabbits, birds, vegetable matter and even carrion. This characteristic contributes to their ongoing success.
On Alert
And for all you roadrunners out there — beware! Wiley E. Coyote is on the prowl.
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californicus)
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