"THEY GROW UP SO QUICKLY"

Coyote - 6 Photos

Learning from last year's youngsters, as Spring progresses, young coyotes quickly mature and gain more endurance and they become more like their parents, i.e. elusive. 

As they gain greater experience, they hunt further afield and previous hunting grounds which potentially provided easier meals (such as small rodents, etc.), are usually abandoned or visited less frequently, and replaced by areas further afield. Previous areas that were frequented before might be re-visited but most likely during the hours from dusk to dawn. These areas generally have a greater chance of potential human and dog sightings for a coyote and generally, full adults try to avoid. 

I've already seen how a few months can change the hunting patterns of three particular youngsters, i.e. Dash, Scarf & EmCee (or MC). 

At the beginning of the year, I usually came across Dash, sometimes accompanied by Scarf. And although Dash was larger (and I believe male), Scarf definitely lead the patrol. When she left, Dash usually followed. Scarf has always been the more warier of the two and in fact, she was the hardest to find close-ups for.

Then MC showed up, the first time left swiftly behind by her older brother & sister but eventually joined by one of her parents or a much older sibling. Then one day MC showed up with Dash, quickly followed by a third coyote. Again much larger and probably a parent but who left fairly quickly - probably having given strict instructions to Dash not to leave his younger sister behind this time.

And now I rarely see Dash or Scarf but have seen MC showing up on her own, with much more confidence. She has turned up in areas previously frequented by Dash & Scarf. She is definitely not as wary as Scarf. In fact, early in February, I did see both girls in the same meadow. Once I was spotted by Scarf, she was off. MC, on the other hand, continued hunting for rodents.

And now, MC, although the smallest by far, is becoming a proficient hunter, using all her knowledge to uncover new venues, such as Prussian Carp hidden in slushy streams. 

In another month, sightings of these three will probably be rare, unless I'm fortunate to catch them checking out busy beaver ponds with their waterfowl inhabitants, most likely closer to sunset. And I will wait for the new arrivals to mature enough to venture from the safety of their den & explore their surroundings.

DASH

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

SCARF

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

EmCee or MC (Mini Coyote)

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6