The pack of three coyotes visiting the dead deer in our prairie at work are beautiful. They seem healthy, their coats look to be in excellent shape, in short, they look great.
This weekend though, someone else showed up on the motion activated camera. On Saturday, the camera caught this lone coyote at the deer. It came at 10:40 in the morning. I'm being a little unfair to call it mangy. I don't think it really has mange but look at that tail. Not the pretty bottle shaped tail normally associated with a coyote.
I don't think this is one of the three we've been seeing. Very interesting. Also interesting that it was there at 10:44 am. Nice to get some daytime shots.
We now have two cameras up, one still, one video. I'll check soon to see if we captured anything and report back.
~Kirk
4 comments:
May not be mange, but he/she doesn't look very healthy.
I wonder if a submissive posture in a sick animal--slightly arched back, tucked in tail--may confer some advantage to that animal in helping control aggression on the part of other animals, rather it just being due to not feeling well?
Feeding during daylight hours could also reduce interaction with other aggressive coyotes as well.
Am also wondering if this animal is a member of the pack, or if it is an unrelated animal. Coyotes are territorial, so would this animal be tolerated at the carcass if it wasn't a member of the pack?
So many questions... Just pondering ideas while tapping on the keyboard...
I've been enjoying this series of stories and photographs.
I had the same thoughts Gordon. Coyote pack size ranges from 3 to 7 or so on the large end. I've been seeing the three pretty consistently. Interesting though. The daytime feeding makes me wonder. I have one other photo of a coyote at the deer in the daytime and it too was a lone coyote. Looked healthier though.
I just wanted to say that I've been following your blog for a while and I really enjoy it. Thanks for all the resources and knowledge you bring to the area.
You're welcome Magpie! Thanks for reading.
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