The Song Dogs

There's a pack of coyotes that live up on the valley rim, about a quarter mile from our cabin. Almost every night I hear them howling in song.

Over the past year, I have gotten to know them well. They have a sort of a family song that they sing together at least once per night. In the summer it occurs just after dark, but in the winter it usually occurs at about 3am or so. It will wake me up when I hear it, but not in an obnoxious way. I'll lay there in bed in a sort of lazy fashion and listen to them for a few moments before I drift back into sleep.

In the early fall last year, there was an interloper coyote who came around. I suspect he's the one who got our cat. He would sit down in the mesquite woods by the creek and give a series of challenging yips to the pack up on the hill. They would sometimes answer him. It didn't sound friendly. After about a week, he disappeared. I suppose he moved on or was driven away by the dominant male of what I consider "my pack".

They don't come down here to the valley bottom. I've never seen their tracks anywhere on my property or along the upper creek. They follow the valley rim and will sing to us from there.

The past few nights, their song has changed slightly. Not sure what the deal is, but it's more fragmented. It will start up, and then others will join in from a different direction, as if the pack is scattered about. It's warmed up here and small game is on the move, so I'm thinking that the father is off hunting for the pregnant momma or perhaps a family of pups.

I identify with him greatly and I wish him well. Many fat rabbits to you and yours, brother coyote.