Lying awake in my bed on those autumn nights so long ago I well recall the southerly wind brushing lightly across my chest as I listened to the calls of nocturnal creatures as they engaged in their secret life after dark along the Brazos river bottom. A screech owl softly whistles from his perch in the ancient mesquite only a few feet from my window and the rustle of a jackrabbit nibbling on grass nearby were but two of the many melodies that I strained to hear in those impressionable years some half a century ago on the old League Ranch in Knox County, Texas. But the lead singer had yet to make an appearance and sleep would not come until I heard at least one stanza from this furry artist whom I knew was gearing up for his nightly gig somewhere along the brushy river bottom or perhaps along the meandering course of Rattlesnake Creek to the west of our home.
The soft light of late evening reveals the intelligent and penetrating eyes of this mature male coyote
We know the coyote has been a creature of intrigue for at least a thousand years as the form of this little canine appears in the form of petroglyphs and pictographs in rocky grottos throughout America. My intrigue began early in life on the old League Ranch where the howl of coyotes echoed across the badlands in the hours of nightfall and I imagined the life that they lead out there in the surly country along the Brazos river.
These tiny coyote whelps open their eyes at about seven days of age. Living in dens that range to about 8 ft. in length and two feet deep, the pups will lounge around the dens sleeping and chasing insects until reaching about 8 weeks of age when they began venturing short distances to hunt and rest.
It is said that some of the greatest and most astute naturalist in history were hunters and trappers, individuals who virtually lived in the outdoors and possessed a keen sense of observation for all living creatures around them. Thus I became a student of coyote hunting and, once in college at Texas Tech University, engaged in coyote research that further developed the depth of knowledge on this fascinating and durable canine that has captured the imagination of so many people through the ages.
In a tireless loping gait coyotes can travel great distances without stopping to rest.
A source of folklore and to some an enigma of puzzling character, the coyote will continue to be a creature of delight and perhaps to many an animal of disdain. Speaking for myself, the some 45 years of fascination that I have possessed for this animal has enriched my life greatly and I hope you will enjoy this visual introduction to“Coyote” as I offer you here a few images from over 25 years of engaging photographically with this resourceful little canine.
Awakened after I crawled near his resting spot, this coyote raised his head and look inquisitively at the intruder with the camera.
Coyote tracks in the snow tell of a restless night of hunting on a cold winter night.
A big mature male enjoys the warm sun rays after gorging on a dead cow during the winter months.
A two month old coyote pups feeds on a rabbit.
A pair of three month old coyotes drink from a stale stock pond during the drought conditions.
A beautiful male coyote seems to pose for the camera on this cold winter morning in the rolling plains of Texas.
I love your wild life photos. I grew up on a farm in Nolan County near rhe breaks and sandy lands. I really miss the sissertails.I lived near a badger in a calache pit, one day my brother came home with badger fleas after crawling in his den. My dad had told us never to do that. I also am a Texas Tech grad. Class of 66. We rent out our land now but keep a place for wild life where the old house was. Thankyou so much for the work you do and your news letters. Perry Flippin recommed your web site on Facebook and I have been following you about 6 months. Best regards, ann
Beautiful animals !!! They have a way of being quite disconcerting in the middle of the night when they tune up but I still enjoy them and your writing about them thamnks you so much
Loved the photos of the coyotes. Am illustrating and writing a book about my time on our West Texas ranch back in the late 1930 and early 40s so the photos hit home with me. Lying in bed at night listening to the coyotes sing to each other was at first freightening but the more I listened the happier it made me. It was like listening in on a private conversation. Thanks for the great photos. B.N.
Loved every one of your coyote pictures and your text describing their life so well. Having grown up in Tom Green County in and near San Angelo, and having been gone more than fifty years, I treasure the memory of West Texas including anything related to life there, including stories and pictures of the coyote.
Can see the love of your work. I remember the beginning of your coyote research at Tech in the 70′s, and how you’re love of West Texas has morphed into brilliant photography. Thank you for your fabulous chronology of a place that may someday vanish.
My husband and I have hunted Bear,deer, bob cat in New Mexico back in the 70′s . I killed a 550lb bear back then. Is truly a beautiful way to see nature as most people don’t ever get a chance to. Thank you for these beautiful pictures.
Picture clouds hanging low enough that it was a foggy morning. Invisible but not far from my house was a coyote who spent the best part of fifteen minutes barking, yipping and yodeling. Delightfully eerie, a never-forgotten serenade…