Last week, we had a picture of an eagle, which isn't easy to come by, this week, we get a closer look at a coyote. Brian Wellwood says he spotted this one, north of Gay, MI. At first Brian thought it was a canis lupus (wolf), but someone set him straight that it is a canis latrans (coyote). Seems you can distinguish between the two, by the pointy nose, droopy tail and the color of the later. No matter what, though, you don't want to come nose to nose with either species!

For those of you who are keeping up with the Pasty.net Nationwide dial-in reports while I'm traveling down south, it's working A-OK here in Florida too! Great speed, no busy signals....all the comforts of home!

I have to think that while Brian was looking at this one, there were probably four or five others looking at him,.....

I hear that they are very wylie:) Out looking for that roadrunner no doubt.

Watch out Rachel from Little Betsy! Sounds like the coyote is right in your neighborhood!

It's always nice to see these creatures. We see them a lot here in WY, as they can't hide behind so many trees.

Coyotes don't scare us here in Little Betsy! Can't say that I've seen one around the camp myself. Great pic, though.

I woulda thought it was a Wolf, too. The winter coat makes this coyote look like one.

Thanks for the extra beautiful shot from the UP today.

Nothing to fear from the coyote. They do not want to be around humans at all and will get away from you as fast as they can. This photo is a treasure as it is near impossible to get up close. Great wallpaper.

I've heard coyotes "talking" at night. I can't say I've seen one before either though.

When I was spending my summers in Hermit's Cove beginning in 1957, we used to hear the coyote's wail almost every night. It was especially eerie when making the late night trip out to the "little house out back". By the way, Hermit's Cove is just a coupla miles toward Betsy from Gay, but not as far as the old spring.

Looks like we have two of us Dave H. on here from TN.Well i'am the one From $Bay,now in Corryton,TN.I saw a Coyote while going up to Brockway Mountain Drive in the early 80's,it was to quick to to get a pic.Nice shot!

Just returned from a trip north -- one of the highlights was spending some time watching a fox yawn, stretch, scratch and nap in the sun on a bank of snow across the river from our house. My dogs enjoyed watching too!

On another note, someone a while back was looking for the Yooperland, USA jigsaw puzzle, from Da Yooper Tourist Trap in Ishpeming. I was just there, and the puzzle is back in stock (minus one)! It is a neat puzzle with artwork by an Ishpeming woman. I hope the Trap soon will be stocking more jigsaw puzzles with U.P. themes! :)

We saw a bear on Brockway Mountain last summer. He was crossing the road. When he saw us coming, he stopped to look at us. And we stopped to look at him.(Still in the car, that is.)Then he just lumbered off. I wish I'd had a camera handy; he was so close to us!

Hey,Dave in corryton Tn.From $bay.Do you remember me, I lived at the Big Boy Market with my Aunt Lou,this was in 63&64. I left for the Army in Nov.64,I went back and got my car in 66. Had a job in Pontiac.I live at Lily north of Corbin Ky.

we in west Texas woke up to a winter wonderland this morning with about 2-3 inches of the white stuff on the ground...no wildlife however. The snow must have followed the pasties that were delivered to my doorstep yesterday:)

What an awesome picture of the coyote; love the dark green trees in contrast of the snow; truly an artist w/the camera.

Fantastic sighting! I once read that you can find coyotes in every county in the U.S.; to attest to at least one other place... we saw a coyote this morning atop a rocky outcropping in the middle of the Meadowlands (driving the New Jersey Turnpike, 5 miles from the Empire State Building).

Thanks for keeping up this incredible site while away in Florida!

We have a coyote that visits our backyard from time to time... I have enjoy all of his visits except for the time he began to howl right outside our bedroom window at 3:00 am... then I wasn't pleased...

We hear them howling often. Really neat when the little ones join in with their high-pitched yapping! It's true- they're nothing to be afraid of. You see them, then they're gone.

Perhaps we have nothing to fear - but I recall a teacher I once visited in NH saying he was keeping his dog inside - otherwise the coyotes would go after it. No coyotes here, though - but wolves are getting into the eastern parts of the country. Nice thought, except for sheperds.

We have coyotes living in the suburbs as their habitat is
being built upon... I agree with danbury in Geramany;
they will easlly grab a cat or dog for a meal, so watch
those pets, especially when they (the coyotes)come out
at dusk.

Hey Dave H from Corryton,Tn formerly from the Bay. I am trying to figure out who you are. I remember the name. What yr did you graduate? Were you by any chance in the same class as my brother Bob S(Dominic)? Is Corryton on the East side of the Smokies? It is much prettier and cooler up there than a couple hours south where I am.

RCW didn't there used be coyotes up in the bush around Chickie Juntenens place. It seems like I remember hearing them howl at night. We had a dog that looked like one??? It had a small pointy nose and the long tail that hung low.He was a good dog.

Love the movie "Coyote Ugly".

Re: coyotes and dogs, my sister-in-law's father had a pair of pit bulls in Arizona and one of them was carried off by a pack of coyotes. Brain over brawn every time.

Coyote's are the norm here in Missouri see them all the time. Its a big sport down here to run them with dogs.
Whem I lived south of Seattle Wa. the people in the suburbs there were always complaining about the coyotes. They really like Poodle dogs. Sometimes they would even get the cats.

just came back from a week of the up snowsledding
what a surprise when we came around a corner just outside of curtis to see a large eagle on the side
of the trail having breakfast (use your imagination)
several years back my wife and i came upon a coyote just outside of rudyard and you're right this animal was very protective of his space and we wanted no part of getting close

Last fall we had coyotes visiting our yard..one day last fall I was hanging clothes on the line, when I finished, I turned around to see a coyote watching me hang those clothes out. It was on the other side of our pasture fence, but, that was still only about 30 ft. or so and at 8:00 a.m. There were about three of it's buddies further out in our pasture, then they all grouped up and headed for the direction of the river that runs close by. A very interesting morning to say!!

Gee Fran I can't recall back in those days, however a few years ago we had one come thru here with a terrible case of mange. Now we ve had sightings of Cougars, even over in Ricky Ls back yard in Woodside!!! What next.This fall we were blessed with loads of deer, had 7 in the front yard one night. We never saw that in the ole days!!!

Another animal spotting! A wolverine was seen and photographed (many pictures from many viewpoints) this week near Ubly in the Thumb of the lower peninsula. Photos were shown on the news tonight and the DNR positively identified it as a wolverine. They said there have not been any wolverines seen in Michigan in over 100 years. They have no idea how it got here. Hundreds of garbage trucks from Ontario haul trash to Michigan landfills every day and it may have possibly come in on one of them. Nature is an amazing thing! jbk

We've spotted coyotes in NW Il. thru the years. But it's so neat to hear them with their "pups" yipping when a train whistles at a nearby railroad crossing during the still of a night. Or we imagine the mother bring them food as they yip in excitement. That's why I'm so upset when my adventuresome young cat Betsy doesn't come home til late in the evening.It's almost as worrysome as having teens out at night :)

Hey Dave- colo-I used to live outside Elizabeth, co and had many a coyote near- what excited me though is a mountain lion in our back yard meowing-what a sound to make goose bumps! Even in pueblo west where i live now-coyotes are very prevalent-We see them often-got a cat of ours!

RCW,I sure am glad us girls never came across any Cougars in our travels thru Woodside and up around Gooseneck. Good grief!!! Wonder where they are coing from? I'd say Ricky L's yard is a litle to close for comfort.

RCW, did you know the Antilla brothers in Hubbell? Alec and Bill, they had a junkyard. I worked for them when I was a kid. They also had a dog 'Bambi' that was supposed to be part coyote. He lived to be 22 years old. We hear the coyotes howling and yipping close by here in the evenings. Used to be a family of red foxes in the hardwoods here, too, but I haven't seen them lately.

Isn't this all incredible? Coyotes, Cougars, Bobcats, and now a Wolverine!!!
We have Coyotes here in our backyard often. I worry for my Chickens, Ducks, Geese, cats and dogs! So far so good! Recently someone nearby here found his black Lab and cat all tore up. A woman was walking in a wooded area in daylight awhile back with her big Makita(?) type dog down near Algonac and were attacked by a pack of Coyotes. Her dog killed one and drove the others off but was severely mauled. Coyotes are showing up in Detroit now---yes right in the inner city! I think they follow the railroad tracks right in!
Fran/RCW, when I was a little kid staying at my Grandfolks in Woodside, we heard them often in the middle of the night! Ask Dave H., Corryton about finding Pheasants in downtown Detroit! Awhile back they caught a Black bear in the Saginaw city limits! My son in law has a place and property in Alcona county and the locals there have seen the prints and even the Cougars now and then. The MUCC, DNR and other groups still reject these sightings. Several folks have been bitten by rattlesnakes in recent years here in St. Clair and Macomb countys! The local hospitals now stock anti-venom, they didn't in previous years.We have wild Lizards (Eumeces fasciatus) living around our yard and garden ever since we've lived here. Not to mention genuine "Flying Squirrels". Now we have Bald Eagles flying around and Wild Turkeys everywhere! Who'd have thought EH? Whats next? Rhinos, Giraffes?

to Russ E.St Clair. You mentioned rattlesnakes I can remember when they used to hunt then in the Huron River State Park they were numerous there along the river in the rocks.

It is sad to see pet owners just open their door and let their pets run for hours and hours. I am always so fearful for what will happen to these loose dogs and cats that I see along the roads. I know they belong to families who love them. But when they run free, they become part fo the food chain. Especially in the bush, you have to lease your dog or supervise him/her in your yard. It is as frightening as teens out at night ( in cars ! )

UP GAL
I agree totally

Thanks for the compliments on this photo. I had never seen one in the wild before and I had to stop. After the coyote bounded across the road in only a few leaps, he paused there in the snow as if to say "here's your chance for a photo". Just after I snapped the camera, he ran off.

Intersting article in the Detroit Free Press this morning.

http://www.freep.com/news/mich/wolv26_20040226.htm

what a great photo! we hear coyotes sing almost every night here in rural new mexico, LOVE to hear them! a great book about coyotes is "God's Dog" by Hope Ryden, check it out!

Irresponsible and negligent pet owners do nothing more than irresponsible and negligent pet care!!!

I agree with UP Gal and Marilyn:
If one has pets, they should remain indoors or in fenced yards and be observed.

Cats roam quite far. I have seven and they are strictly indoor pets. That way they don't get fleas and ticks, etc. I don't want them run over, or lost, or eaten.

"Lassie" & UP-gal don't be so quick to judge. We live in farming country with mostly fields around us. An outdoor cat lives differently than some town or indoor cat, I also have one that only travels the yard then wants desperatly back in.

only one word for the coyotes BANG

Weather you see a dead dog or cat on the side of the road, being in the farming areas or in-town...is a sad sight to hold and chances are it could have been prevented with a little common sense and/or affection towards that once furry friend who would have never sent it's owner/loved one loose to the road areas to roam. Sorry about the long windedness...I work in a veternarian's office.

Dogs, cats, and kids should never be allowed to roam free!! That is if they mean anything to you. Has been known to bring on heartaches!

I agree with the UP Gal! They are no danger to you. I was lucky enough to spot a coyote trotting through our wooded ravine as I sat at the window with my video cam photographing the birds at my feeder. I was lucky to get a short video of him. I love living where I can see coyotes,deer,foxes and of course my favorite - raccoons all right from my window.

All of the comments about pets roaming,cared for, negligence etc. are all well and good and should be heeded, however, I don't know how or why it got to be stressed so much here? Please don't miss the point of my above comments or the others here that have pets in the country or this whole topic. Most of our neighbors and us keep our dogs in fenced pens, or on a chain etc. Our dogs have cozy insulated doghouses in shady sheltered areas and on proper fitting collars and chain. However the coyotes WILL climb those cyclone fenced dog pens and also think about it, a dog wouldn't have a chance on a chain against even 1 coyote let alone more! Therefore we are afraid to chance leaving our dogs on their chain when we go away. We take them with us or bring them indoors as we do at night! My above storys are not whimsy, they are hard reality true and documented. This does happen, there are many such incidents! Nature has always been hard and cruel at times especially when it is forced to compensate, adapt, and renew itself! Our Chicken pen is a high cyclone fence. We have had to put wires cris-cross all across the top cause Owls and Hawks will drop down and take one. Before these wires, I saw this happen on several occasions (Not to mention many raids by Racoons, Possums, Skunks, etc. Once even a Weasel!) Owls will take cats also! We depend on our noisy geese to warn or deter if the Coyotes should get brave enough to raid the chicken coop/pen. It's bad enough to lose a Chicken, Duck, or Goose, but having one of our Labs tore up by them is just too much to bear!

I know Russ E. (A.K.A )The Birdman.Here is a cute story of how we met,that some of you may enjoy.
It was in the Fall of 1985.I just moved to St.Clair Co.six miles from Russ,to an area where the local's were not to happy about.It is rural, many old farm's,with cow's,sheep,pigs,chickens,& crops ect.The locals didn't like what was happening to the area around them.Large expensive homes with fences,mobil home parks,people moving in who will vote their city ways,such as you must now have more then five acres of land in-order to own any farm animals.Well the next thing ya know city water will be brought in,our dirt roads will be paved,and sidewalks will be put in.As the story goes,one evening i got a taste for some fast-food.I got on my C.B. radio & heard this man talking.I asked for a break,Russ said,"Go ahead."I asked him,"Where is the nearest fast-food place? I just moved hear."That was all he & other locals needed to hear."Where'd you move from?" they asked me."The city, i said.Sparks came out of my radio.So i told Russ,"I Yoosta-be A-Yooper,i want back in the country,i'am sick of the city,i was brought up in the Copper Country. He asked me,"From what town?"Dollar Bay,"I said thinking he isn't going to know where the heck that is anyway.Well you may have guessed by now, so was he from Dollar Bay.So if you know where Dollar Bay is,make sure to visit Russ E.Photo Gallery here on Pasty Net.A good friend of mine,an a friend to nature.He knows more about birds,& bee's,critter's & things then anyone i know.Sorry you lost your dirt road Russ,hang in there Pal.I miss comming out to your place,where i have seen dem der Coyotes,Owls,Hawks,Racoons,Skunks,& da balance of nature take place.Will never forget the meal i had there that all came from your land,from the meat,veggies,& apple pie.I thank you all for reading this,this Pasty Net is a great place to express yourself,say what you mean,mean what you say,but please don't be mean!

It's nice to see an animal that hasn't been hit by a car -- yet. Everyone talks about protecting animals and Birdman does his part. But the most dangerous predator to all animals is the car. It will take the coyote and every other animal on this page. No one does anything to stop this. If you want to protect animals, watch out for them and don't expect them to watch out for you.

Dave in Corryton: Thanks for the kind words and support! Sure touches me to have friends like you!
I don't think these folks here were directly attacking me (I hope not!) My point was tho that this topic was not about pet care per se. I was trying to say that no matter what or how cautious one may be Coyotes can and/or are dangerous!
For more on this and the Wolverine go to
www.northbirding.com click on "message board" and go down to "Wolverine Sighting" Huron county.Click on that. Or just scroll down the home page to recent postings and click on to both of the Wolverine postings! Lots of other links there regarding this!
Connie: I couldn't agree more! Thats why our concern of the recent road widening and paving on our road here! I don't hunt anymore but this past fall I got a big 8 point buck around the corner here with the car! We were VERY lucky tho, there was little damage to our car. He just popped out of nowhere right across in front of us!! Nevertheless this meat was not going to waste so after obtaining the proper permits etc. from the sheriff, it is in the freezer now!

Russ and Dave,You are right about about animals attacking even when you have your animals in an enclose. Years back when my Dad had chickens Weasles used to go in under the walls of the chicken coop and get chickens.

Dave, did you go to school with Bob Spellich?

My husband is working on his chicken house right now--trying to fix something strong enough to keep the wild critters out. He has lost about thirty bantam chickens in the last two weeks. Some arre not dead but have to be killed. Some are killed and left,some partly eaten. He has caught a fox and a raccoon in livecatch traps., but last night was hit again. Can't figure out how they are getting in. He is wondering about a weaseland has seen what are maybe coyote tracks. Does anyone have any idea?