I'm really happy to find an article of this kind on SP. It was a big surprise. Thank you for treating this beautiful (in many ways) wild animal with respect. Well written as usual Bob and the ending made me cry.
Have a wonderful time in Death Valley and Zion and I hope you make many new "friends" there!
Thank you very much, Anya. I realized posting this could be risky, as some might find it silly, stupid, or both, but I had the words in me. For some reason, that afternoon has always stuck with me. I am very glad you enjoyed the "letter," and I hope others will, too.
Knew you were a talented writer to begin with. Have a safe trip!
I can't wait to see what you have in store for viewers of Summitpost when you get back from the western US. Via con dias!
Bob. Well written, as usual. The contents of this article is no surprise to me (since I know you) and understand how similar we are in so many respects.
Thanks, Mike.
Thank you, Mike. It will sound silly to some (not you), but writing this was very personal to me. I'm glad to see positive reactions from people I respect.
Makes me recall a thoughtful passage (about a coyote encounter in Death Valley) in Steinbeck's "Travels with Charlie".
I used to see lots of live coyotes when I was running in NM... but perhaps that is because I usually ran on a military base, where the coyotes were somewhat protected.
Here in NV, I mainly see them at night on the highway. I hear them often in RRNCA in the early morning.
The eastern coyotes in NY are large, and rather aggressive.
I'll have to read that passage again; it's been a long time since I've read the book.
There was no shortage in Death Valley last week. Every night either just after moonrise or just before moonset, they struck up with their songs and filled the area. They're getting rather brave, too; one trotted across the road by the picnic area near the visitor center right around noon. We saw another on the West Side Road wisely using the road instead of all the salt pinnacles around.
Saintgrizzly - Mar 24, 2008 11:50 am - Voted 10/10
Very well written...
...and not "silly" in the least! You barely touch on it, but the interaction between wolves and coyotes in Yellowstone, and the effect on coyotes (not to mention a myriad everything elses!) as the wolf-led ecosystem reverts to a more natural historical state, is, to say the least, quite interesting.
Thank you, Vernon. It is both interesting and sad. I once watched a video that showed some wolves that finally got fed up with a certain lurking coyote and killed it after chasing it off many times. That's the way of the wild, though, and we have to take all of it, painful as it sometimes can be to see. I sometimes "interfere" when I am trying to prevent or repair human-caused harm, as I think we have broken the natural order of things very badly, but I otherwise watch things take their course. Hence my watching a snake swallow a toad in my yard last year; I wanted to help that poor toad, but the snake has to eat, too, and I certainly wasn't helping the bugs the toads were eating!
Mountain Jim - Mar 24, 2008 12:22 pm - Voted 10/10
Appropriate Timing ...
Well said !!! ... and, good timing for me. We saw two coyotes on our hike in the Coyote Ridge-Rimrock Open Space, yesterday.
I've seen, or heard, them on many of my wanderings in the Western U.S. and they ayways bring a smile to my heart.
I've always liked Ed Abbey's observation about coyotes in "Desert Solitaire" ... "I know coyotes eat sheep, but what worries me is if they eat enough."
If you aren't already familiar with a book by Craig Childs called "The Animal Dialogues" you might want to check it out. It takes a similar perspective to wildlife to yours.
When our silly species has long since vanished from this planet, the coyotes will still be laughing at the moon.
Peace, Jim
Thank you for the book recommendation; I am always looking for something new and interesting, and with all that's out there, it's sometimes easier to stick to what you know without a good recommendation.
Yes, I hope they still are laughing (good word choice) at (or maybe with) the moon long after we are gone.
I thought "The Animal Dialogues" was beautifully written and insightful ... some interesting information about coyotes, too.
I'd be interested to know what you think, if you read it.
Peace, Jim
Thanks, I hope you'll like it ... I loaned my copy to my son, but when he's done with it I'm looking forward to rereading several of the essays.
Peace, Jim
. . . about the coyote, not the article (which is great).
When I was born, not so long ago, there were no coyotes east of the Mississippi. Now they are in every state. Living now east of the Mississippi, whenever I see one, I am reminded of what is missing -- wolves, mostly obviously, but actually everything else. Coyotes are one of those species that thrives in and around humans, like raccoons, house finches, squirrels, white-tailed deer, rats, cockroaches, and many others.
So, when I see those species where they weren't, and where they don't really belong, I am sad for us and for everything else that should have been here.
Thank you. You make good points about those animals, many of which thrive because of our own bad habits. But I think coyotes are making a comeback also because attitudes about them are slowly changing. With a less agricultural society, we see them less as pests and are more tolerant. The lurking trouble is that they could come to be seen as nuisances like deer if they kill too many pets, frighten or even bite children, etc. We have such a love-hate relationship with so many animals, especially predators.
Despite crazed propaganda from hunters and real estate developers, coyotes are a boon to the eastern ecosystems that have been devoid of an efficient top predator for the past 150-200 years. The naturalists in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have been especially happy to see them in the park, filling in the niche formerly inhabited by the red wolf.
And there's my mixed feelings. I wish the red wolf reintroduction in the Smokies had worked. It didn't, so you're right, coyotes are a good thing. But still . . .
Yeah. The park naturalists told me that the main reason it didn't work out was because by the time they tried the red wolf reintroduction the coyote had already established itself as the top predator. The red wolf just couldn't compete.
Anyway, it's hard for me to tell the difference between a coyote and a red wolf. They look so much alike.
I agree with you. I won't make light of real losses coyotes and other predators have caused, but when you look at the grand tally of us vs. the animals, it's easy to see who on balance is the bigger pest. t's not too much too ask to make some room for these and other animals and have sensible policies about their management, policies that do protect people and their property but which also emphasize living space, and the right to live at all, for the animals.
Coyotes are in Shenandoah now, too. I have not seen or heard any myself, but they have been caught by infrared cameras.
I've seen copious evidence of coyotes in Shenandoah National Park, especially in the southern part. I've followed their tracks in the snow in the Massanutten range, too. But they haven't allowed me to see them yet in either place. It's a treat just to know they're there, though.
Anya Jingle - Mar 18, 2008 4:13 pm - Voted 10/10
Very special article!I'm really happy to find an article of this kind on SP. It was a big surprise. Thank you for treating this beautiful (in many ways) wild animal with respect. Well written as usual Bob and the ending made me cry.
Have a wonderful time in Death Valley and Zion and I hope you make many new "friends" there!
Bob Sihler - Mar 18, 2008 7:04 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Very special article!Thank you very much, Anya. I realized posting this could be risky, as some might find it silly, stupid, or both, but I had the words in me. For some reason, that afternoon has always stuck with me. I am very glad you enjoyed the "letter," and I hope others will, too.
Death Valley tomorrow! Yes!
lcarreau - Mar 18, 2008 7:20 pm - Voted 10/10
This is great ...Knew you were a talented writer to begin with. Have a safe trip!
I can't wait to see what you have in store for viewers of Summitpost when you get back from the western US. Via con dias!
Michael Hoyt - Mar 18, 2008 8:18 pm - Voted 10/10
Quite Nice,Bob. Well written, as usual. The contents of this article is no surprise to me (since I know you) and understand how similar we are in so many respects.
Thanks, Mike.
Bob Sihler - Mar 18, 2008 9:37 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Quite Nice,Thank you, Mike. It will sound silly to some (not you), but writing this was very personal to me. I'm glad to see positive reactions from people I respect.
MoapaPk - Mar 24, 2008 8:38 am - Voted 10/10
fewer hereMakes me recall a thoughtful passage (about a coyote encounter in Death Valley) in Steinbeck's "Travels with Charlie".
I used to see lots of live coyotes when I was running in NM... but perhaps that is because I usually ran on a military base, where the coyotes were somewhat protected.
Here in NV, I mainly see them at night on the highway. I hear them often in RRNCA in the early morning.
The eastern coyotes in NY are large, and rather aggressive.
Bob Sihler - Mar 27, 2008 11:29 am - Hasn't voted
Re: fewer hereI'll have to read that passage again; it's been a long time since I've read the book.
There was no shortage in Death Valley last week. Every night either just after moonrise or just before moonset, they struck up with their songs and filled the area. They're getting rather brave, too; one trotted across the road by the picnic area near the visitor center right around noon. We saw another on the West Side Road wisely using the road instead of all the salt pinnacles around.
Saintgrizzly - Mar 24, 2008 11:50 am - Voted 10/10
Very well written......and not "silly" in the least! You barely touch on it, but the interaction between wolves and coyotes in Yellowstone, and the effect on coyotes (not to mention a myriad everything elses!) as the wolf-led ecosystem reverts to a more natural historical state, is, to say the least, quite interesting.
Bob Sihler - Mar 27, 2008 11:34 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Very well written...Thank you, Vernon. It is both interesting and sad. I once watched a video that showed some wolves that finally got fed up with a certain lurking coyote and killed it after chasing it off many times. That's the way of the wild, though, and we have to take all of it, painful as it sometimes can be to see. I sometimes "interfere" when I am trying to prevent or repair human-caused harm, as I think we have broken the natural order of things very badly, but I otherwise watch things take their course. Hence my watching a snake swallow a toad in my yard last year; I wanted to help that poor toad, but the snake has to eat, too, and I certainly wasn't helping the bugs the toads were eating!
Mountain Jim - Mar 24, 2008 12:22 pm - Voted 10/10
Appropriate Timing ...Well said !!! ... and, good timing for me. We saw two coyotes on our hike in the Coyote Ridge-Rimrock Open Space, yesterday.
I've seen, or heard, them on many of my wanderings in the Western U.S. and they ayways bring a smile to my heart.
I've always liked Ed Abbey's observation about coyotes in "Desert Solitaire" ... "I know coyotes eat sheep, but what worries me is if they eat enough."
If you aren't already familiar with a book by Craig Childs called "The Animal Dialogues" you might want to check it out. It takes a similar perspective to wildlife to yours.
When our silly species has long since vanished from this planet, the coyotes will still be laughing at the moon.
Peace, Jim
Bob Sihler - Mar 27, 2008 11:36 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Appropriate Timing ...Thank you for the book recommendation; I am always looking for something new and interesting, and with all that's out there, it's sometimes easier to stick to what you know without a good recommendation.
Yes, I hope they still are laughing (good word choice) at (or maybe with) the moon long after we are gone.
Mountain Jim - Mar 27, 2008 2:01 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Appropriate Timing ...I thought "The Animal Dialogues" was beautifully written and insightful ... some interesting information about coyotes, too.
I'd be interested to know what you think, if you read it.
Peace, Jim
Mountain Jim - Apr 10, 2008 9:17 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Appropriate Timing ...Thanks, I hope you'll like it ... I loaned my copy to my son, but when he's done with it I'm looking forward to rereading several of the essays.
Peace, Jim
Arthur Digbee - Mar 24, 2008 4:16 pm - Voted 10/10
mixed feelings . . .. . . about the coyote, not the article (which is great).
When I was born, not so long ago, there were no coyotes east of the Mississippi. Now they are in every state. Living now east of the Mississippi, whenever I see one, I am reminded of what is missing -- wolves, mostly obviously, but actually everything else. Coyotes are one of those species that thrives in and around humans, like raccoons, house finches, squirrels, white-tailed deer, rats, cockroaches, and many others.
So, when I see those species where they weren't, and where they don't really belong, I am sad for us and for everything else that should have been here.
But thanks for the article!
Bob Sihler - Mar 27, 2008 11:40 am - Hasn't voted
Re: mixed feelings . . .Thank you. You make good points about those animals, many of which thrive because of our own bad habits. But I think coyotes are making a comeback also because attitudes about them are slowly changing. With a less agricultural society, we see them less as pests and are more tolerant. The lurking trouble is that they could come to be seen as nuisances like deer if they kill too many pets, frighten or even bite children, etc. We have such a love-hate relationship with so many animals, especially predators.
BobSmith - Mar 24, 2008 4:51 pm - Voted 10/10
I love coyotes.Despite crazed propaganda from hunters and real estate developers, coyotes are a boon to the eastern ecosystems that have been devoid of an efficient top predator for the past 150-200 years. The naturalists in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have been especially happy to see them in the park, filling in the niche formerly inhabited by the red wolf.
Bring 'em on! Welcome to the coyote!
Arthur Digbee - Mar 24, 2008 9:09 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: I love coyotes.And there's my mixed feelings. I wish the red wolf reintroduction in the Smokies had worked. It didn't, so you're right, coyotes are a good thing. But still . . .
BobSmith - Mar 25, 2008 5:07 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: I love coyotes.Yeah. The park naturalists told me that the main reason it didn't work out was because by the time they tried the red wolf reintroduction the coyote had already established itself as the top predator. The red wolf just couldn't compete.
Anyway, it's hard for me to tell the difference between a coyote and a red wolf. They look so much alike.
Bob Sihler - Mar 27, 2008 12:37 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: I love coyotes.I agree with you. I won't make light of real losses coyotes and other predators have caused, but when you look at the grand tally of us vs. the animals, it's easy to see who on balance is the bigger pest. t's not too much too ask to make some room for these and other animals and have sensible policies about their management, policies that do protect people and their property but which also emphasize living space, and the right to live at all, for the animals.
Coyotes are in Shenandoah now, too. I have not seen or heard any myself, but they have been caught by infrared cameras.
hightinerary - Sep 12, 2016 8:25 am - Voted 10/10
World Wide WilinessI've seen copious evidence of coyotes in Shenandoah National Park, especially in the southern part. I've followed their tracks in the snow in the Massanutten range, too. But they haven't allowed me to see them yet in either place. It's a treat just to know they're there, though.