Coyote Hunting at Smith Reservoir

Coyotes have adapted to their habitat throughout North America. They are skilled predator’s that combine their cleverness to not only survive but also flourish in both urban and rural environments. While on WaltAbout I have seen coyotes foraging in open fields, meadows, parks and in the neighborhoods year round. But I have not seen them often, as like their cousins the red fox they are solitary creatures. One of the things I especially enjoy about the coyote is it’s howl. When they start vocalizing it is a mix of beauty and eeriness, I found the best time to hear the howls is around sundown. The coyotes are total scammers they use every trick they know to get a meal of opportunity. I learned to never leave bags untethered or open because the coyote will circle back and start scavenging my bike and gear.

As they hunt and scavenger the coyotes will at times approach humans this is more than likely the result of someone feeding them intentionally or unintentionally by leaving trash or not taking efforts to secure food they might have with them. They will also poach fish and game that has been bagged like most wildlife. When I go on WaltAbout to the reservoirs in the winter I generally take no food, as I only have to travel about 3 miles to get there. But I still have my head on a swivel as the wylie coyote is always on the hunt for a meal of opportunity.

Coyote have very sensitive ears designed for finding prey and after a snow storm I have found them hunting for rodents. They focus their full attention to a very small area using their sense of smell and listening for the slightest movement in the snow shifting as a rodent incorrectly thinks it is hidden. Eventually the coyote will pounce into the snow attempting to catch its prey. Sometimes they will snatch it on the first attempt often they do not and will patiently concentrate again to repeat the process until they trap the rodent and earn a meal. I have seen my dog Chip also hunt for voles like this and he is on a 6 foot leash. Carrion as you can see from the pictures of the coyote eating a goose carcass is certainly on the menu for them.

The coyote have some of the best natural camouflages in nature and especially in the summer when the vegetation is blooming. Because of this the few times I have seen them is when I detected motion or after snow falls and their coats contrast with the snow. The coyote you see here are very healthy, I have seen several others that looked very emaciated. Those particular individuals always seemed to be on the move and very skittish so no pictures or video of them. In any event never trust a coyote. Always keep control of your pets if you know that you are in coyote territory. Many a small dog has been snatched by them.