"BIG BROTHER, LITTLE SISTER"

Coyote - 6 Photos

Another week and a half later, two coyotes came down from the ridge and into the woods below. 

The larger one was definitely the coyote I've named Dash, gender male (Photo #1 through Photo #3). 

The second, much smaller, I believe to be EmCee or MC, the coyote featured in the blog, "Training Ground" of February 23, 2025 (Photo #4 through Photo #6). She (because of her diminutive size) lacks the huge, seemingly oversized ruff of her sister, Scarf, who is also small.

One may be wondering how I can differentiate one coyote from another. Coyote families, like wolves, have their own territories and they can frequent the same area where they have found good potential food sources. Dash, Scarf and EmCee are youngsters or perhaps, teenagers may be more appropriate. They haven't developed the more superior hunting skills of the adults so they tend to concentrate on smaller prey, such as squirrels, voles, pocket gophers, etc. and can return to the same areas where they have had success.

Then there is attitude & behaviour. Dash, being larger, tends to be more confident, striking out on his own but when accompanied by his younger sister, Scarf, seems to follow her lead. He is the one most likely to be caught sunning himself, alone or having a nap on a hillside. He certainly has that "Whatever" attitude. :) 

Scarf is more wary probably because of her smaller size but she is an astute hunter and all about the business of locating a meal. And because Dash has a tendency to follow her lead, hopefully she will keep him out of trouble. 

In the "Training Ground" blog, it was mentioned that Dash & Scarf charged across a meadow leaving this third much smaller coyote behind, MC (EmCee). MC must be the last of the pups born to this particular coyote family in the Spring 2024 and the last to gain some independence. She definitely is the smallest.

And unlike Scarf, MC follows Dash's lead. Keeping close and when he left the area, she followed quickly behind. 

There was an even larger coyote, who came in behind Dash & MC this particular morning and quickly left but not before giving a backward glance to the two at the bottom of the hill. Perhaps it was Mum or a much older sibling by a year, this time leaving big brother to look after his little sister until they returned home.

As Spring approaches & these youngsters gain more experience & confidence, I'll be most likely seeing them less & less as they venture out into even more remote areas, where they will be looking for larger food sources. And it will become harder to recognize them as they mature. It will be late summer/early Autumn when the new "pups" begin venturing out on their own & exploring, and I may be fortunate to capture their exploits. 

But for now, I hope to see one or more of Dash, Scarf & MC a few times more.

DASH

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

EmCee or MC (Mini Coyote)

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6