Tally Ho!

[Beverley]

Alas, I may go the whole of 2009 without getting out hunting…but nevertheless a coyote kept me company for five minutes or so on my trail ride today. Of course, it took me about 3 minutes to say to myself duh, your cell phone has a camera on it.

Here, he’s alongside me after he entered the creek behind me for a drink.

Here, he crossed in front of me, lingered a good bit on the log (before this shot, where he’s looking back at me, he was looking around the corner at a family hiking, which didn’t see him).

In this little urban park, there is no hunting, so coyotes and foxes and all manner of wildlife are pretty blase about passing near humans- unless those humans have dogs with them!

[Painted_Wings]

those are pretty good photos. I find coyotes very hard to photograph. They generally blend in well and don’t hang around long.

[Simbalism]

I was out for a ride late this afternoon with a friend thru a very thickly wooded area and saw a red fox. We also saw lots of deer. I had my camera with me, but the fox didn’t stay around long enough for me to even get my camera out of it’s case much less “pose” like the coyote in your pictures.

[strawberry_roan]

Those are really neat photos. I have not seen a coyote out riding. It would surprise me! :eek:

[wateryglen]

sometimes they creep me out!

Good catch Bev! Especially in that covert! He looks healthy. I’ve seen some skinny ones around here.

And I have had them follow me or parallel me when I’ve been out trailriding. It’s creepy. You stop, turn around and face them and they sit down or just stand there looking at you. You move off and they continue following you quite close. Some barking/growling too. Or they just sit on a rise watching you as you go by. I gather my horse & I aren’t very scary looking!

From what I"ve learned; they will only follow you if they are trying to protect a den or cubs or a kill. I only see this behavior in June-Aug when the cubs are bigger and I think parents are protecting them. And it’s been worse when I’ve had a dog along. Had them jump my dog a few times. The male follows me for a few miles then disappears. I think it’s when he feels safe or I’ve left his territory. The female always stays behind. They will work very hard tho’ to scare me off. Even following me back to the barn and standing behind it barking while I’m untacking. I started carrying a hunt whip and “attempting” to use it :winkgrin: to discourage the following thing. I don’t like them. Seen them chasing local foxes too.

Had the above problems for the past 3 yrs but not this year thank goodness. Seeing more foxes. It’s just life in the country!!!

[Beverley]

@wateryglen;4316466

From what I"ve learned; they will only follow you if they are trying to protect a den or cubs or a kill. I

Nah. This one was just moseying along a normal route of march, and I wasn’t a threat, so he saw no need to deviate. I hardly cross that creek without seeing a coyote, maybe this same one, or red fox.

Now, it CAN be unnerving when you encounter one on foot or bike that doesn’t yield right of way, as has happened to both sons over the years. We don’t have that problem when walking the dogs- neighborhood coyote does venture through front and side yards but doesn’t mess with back yard, which occasionally contains the 165 lb Great Dane. The deer, on the other hand, disrespect the Dane and bed down in the yard in winter, don’t hesitate to pass through year round if dog’s inside.