The Return of Romeo...

[furtech]

...or should that be, "Don Juan"?

Coyotes in my pyracanthas!


Lynette and I were working away in the workshop (aka, my kitchen) on the first sunny day since she got here; I glance out the window at some motion and what do I see? Coyote! Or should I say, -coyotes-! Scrawny ol' Romeo finally got lucky! I thought at first it was just him, but as I was video-taping him, a second coyote head came into view.

What was amazing was seeing them in broad daylight right outside my kitchen window-- with Frieda snoozing in her den, and the back door wide open. They had to have heard us working and the sounds of music drifting out the door, but they seemed calm and brazen as brass. I guess the rains made for poor hunting, but still! Apparently they were eating the pyracantha berries, and the top of the wall was like a buffet for this guy:

http://www.akela.com/IMAGES2005/coypyracantha/coyeat-pyracantha-02sm.jpg
http://www.akela.com/IMAGES2005/coypyracantha/coyeat-pyracantha01sm.jpg

He posed on the wall for a long time, the ham. Looking good in his winter coat:
http://www.akela.com/IMAGES2005/coypyracantha/coyote-pyracantha-03sm.jpg

All images are about 100K; sorry about the Venetian blinds! I think that's why they didn't see us while foraging.

This explains why Frieda has been more serious about her patrols around the house; she also is more cautious about going out her dog-door, pausing midway to sniff and scout for minutes at a time. I'm of two minds about this event: a big part of me is excited that coyotes visit (and that there might be pups soon); another part of me worries about the neighborhood pets. I won't bother them unless they threaten Frieda.

Comments

[jonnywoof.livejournal.com]

Wow. Those are incredible shots!
Mr. Coyote definitely doesn't seem shy. :)

[shoka.livejournal.com]

Pretty nifty new neighbors. Like coyeat-pyracantha-02sm.jpg with his head down like that.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

He's eating the pyracantha berries that fell on the top of the wall. That bush, ugly and impractically placed as it is, is the local buffet for a wider cross-section of wildlife than I had guessed. Never imagined coyotes targeting it.

[waynekaa.livejournal.com]

Are coyotes smart enough to use the doggie door?

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I don't think so-- they're not -that- blase' about people, but I have heard of coyotes after cats/small dogs who blindly follow the pet into the house. Frieda's big enough that they wouldn't routinely go after her-- but she might try to drive them off (which would be like a granny chasing after two punks).

[was1.livejournal.com]

That's pretty neat to see them up close, as long as they don't pose a threat. Do coyotes in urban areas like this usually pose threats to pets? I guess it depends on how much food they can get in the wild and how hungry/agrressive they are?

[furtech.livejournal.com]

They're not terribly aggressive, just bold. I see them on dogwalks at night all the time, hear them oftener. For the most part they're trash can foragers, but they won't pass up the unwary (small) pet. I've seen -that- happen at least once.

[millencolinf0x.livejournal.com]

Those are some great pictures! Hope you're enjoying your "visitors" :)

[desertcoyote.livejournal.com]

Coolness! I hope you do see pups this summer... which means I'll HAVE to come by to photograph them, naturally. ;)