Living with Canines: Socialized and Domestic

The song dog

2009-01-06T13:01:00.001-08:00

Those who have personal contact with me are aware that I have been in the hospital. I was able to return home yesterday.

Late last night, I woke up to go to the little girl's room. As I padded sleepily into the bathroom, I heard the most welcome sound of several coyotes yip-yapping and yaroo'ing. It was very close. I opened blinds.. but saw nothing.

I hurried to wake my husband, so he could also enjoy their welcoming home song. Of course, then our 6 dogs just had to take that moment to want out. I was afraid that would end the concert for sure.

Our dogs simply do not like intruders. They bark at possums, foxes, rabbits, deer, raccoon, cats, and other dogs that wander through on their travels. Meter men are verboten! They let us know just about everything that goes on.

Last night was magical. In the cool night air, the dogs just stood there... listening to the magical sounds of the coyote. So distinctive. So clear. So blessed.

I truly felt as if they (the coyotes) came to welcome me back home.

Mini Interview with Shreve Stockton

2008-10-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

I'm quite certain you have all read the DailyCoyote blog. Shreve's book is coming out soon. Here is a link to a mini interview .

Shreve has moved her blog to dailycoyote.net . Be sure to update your bookmarks.

I can't wait to receive my copy of Shreve's book.

Chainsaw Carving of Howling Coyote

2008-10-16T21:25:00.000-07:00

When Ike rolled through Ohio on its way to Canada, I was in fear for the tree in my front yard. Having already had one tree fall on our house... I didn't relish the thought of a second.

Weekend after the big windy storm, I had the offending tree laid down. Left with a 5 ft stump, we decided to call a chainsaw carver to turn the unsightly stump into a one of a kind work of art.

The carver is doing the carving that depicts the fur.

The photo below shows the completed carving, though nature is still doing its thing. Different coloration patterns are still developing that lend a natural look to the coyote. The sawdust was left and the discarded pieces of wood strewn about the base to create a natural setting for a coyote. Solar lights were placed around the circle. Next year we are going to look for the perfect tall grass to offset the display. Our house number will be placed on the base of the carving.

Time just flies

2008-10-08T10:46:00.001-07:00

I can hardly believe so much time has passed since my last post here. Life happens.

Sasha has been on my mind again. It's time to talk about her some more.

Sasha is doing some scent rolling on top of her house in the above photo. It was IBC Rootbeer that had her attention.

Sasha loved perching on top of her house when interacting with us or just when she was watching the world go by. Very rarely did she actually go into the house. It was always on top of or beneath the house. We finally figured out that she didn't like being inside the house because she had no escape route if "fight or flight" kicked in.

Sasha looks quite pleased with herself. We had just finished a fun game with her chasing the cat lure toy. She is catching her breath and having a rest on the couch.

Cats and many dogs love to play with laser lights, chasing them.. pouncing them. Sasha watched this behavior with curiosity. She even joined in the fun until she realized where the light was coming from and just who was manipulating the laser. The light then ceased to be interesting to her. Ironically, we have had two huskies over time that refuse to play with laser lights for the same reason.

In Memory of Mariah

2008-06-12T15:14:00.001-07:00

I have received an email from CeAnn advising me that Mariah was euthanized on June 11, 2008. CeAnn provided Mariah with many more years through her generosity and the generosity of donors that helped by contributing to a medical fund for Mariah. Not every coyote is healthy or beautiful.. there are those who are born with problems, such as Mariah.

I cannot tell you what I feel about CeAnn... who instead of euthanizing Mariah as a pup, has housed and cared for her. Coming to know her and love her. CeAnn is quite sad indeed.

I posted a video of Mariah and puppies some posts back. Feel free to visit Indiana Coyote Rescue Center site (there is a link at the bottom of this post and in the sidebar) to read more about Mariah's health problems. And perhaps to be kind enough to send CeAnn a sympathy note.

I also would like to mention that CeAnn has taken in 3 coyote puppies this year as well as a red fox. The coyote puppies are going to need a pen. The enclosure is estimated at $1300.00. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the ICRC to give these puppies the same loving care that Mariah enjoyed.

Raise your head and howl in her memory.

Indiana Coyote Rescue Center .

The Daily Coyote

2008-05-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

I must applaud Shreve and her recent post, Wow. I Guess This Really Needs to be Said.

Anyone that has followed Shreve's blog and mine, will recall that I once had some issues with Shreve's blog. My issues had to do with the fact I felt there would be those who wanted to raise a coyote because of her experience because it was "cool".

In fact, my blog was a response to my issues with the Daily Coyote . Charlie has grown into quite the handsome boy. Shreve has done an excellent job being a "coyote mom". I, for one, cannot wait for her book to come out. I want to know more about her experiences!

I must admit to being somewhat envious that Charlie imprinted on people (and Eli!). It makes a huge difference. Sasha was already a good 8 or 9 weeks when she came to live with us. I would have loved to have her at an earlier age.

Raising a coyote is not something I would recommend to the average person. It is a huge commitment. And I'm talking the kind of commitment that spans years. A captive coyote can live 15 years. That is a pretty big chunk of life to devote to an animal that is hated by most of the country.

I used to worry about Charlie's welfare.. but I don't anymore. Charlie is in very capable hands.

Thank you, Shreve... for caring for one of God's dogs. There aren't all that many people out there that can truly appreciate what you have gone through. As one of those blessed by the spirit of coyote... thank you.

I have been conspicuously absent from posting. I have had some medical problems, including being in the hospital for a week. One of the highlights of my days in the hospital were visiting the Daily Coyote for my Charlie "fix". In the days ahead, I will be posting a variety of photos, including foxes and wolves.

CeAnn and the puppies

2008-03-09T13:09:00.001-07:00

CeAnn is the founder of the Indiana Coyote Rescue Center in Indiana. Her life revolves around the coyotes in her care. These are two of the 2007 pups who have made the center their home for life.

While coyotes can bond to people, their bonds tend to be with one or two people... and the remain wary of others. Some very social coyotes will allow themselves to be touched at arms length, allowing them ample time to make a get away if needed.

I have not been feeling well the past couple weeks. I will get back to more regular posting as soon as I can.

More vocalizations from Morrell

2008-03-02T08:44:00.000-08:00

As I watch these videos of Morrell, I am amazed at the positions she assumes. Almost as though she were a contortionist.

Mmmmm.....

2008-02-26T15:46:00.001-08:00

Sasha didn't eat anything. It's just one of those moments when she licked her nose and I was very lucky to capture that moment.

She does look very coy, yes?

Smilin' coyote

2008-02-25T16:28:00.001-08:00

Sasha was all smiles and quite comfy on the couch. She had just been playing a game with a cat toy.

An interesting story: Like many cats and dogs, Sasha was very intrigued by the red dot from a laser pointer. She chased it about, UNTIL she realized where it was coming from. Then it ceased to be amusing.

Playtime with "mom"

2008-02-23T17:36:00.000-08:00

Heather and Sasha are playing together. One of my favorite photos is the middle one - paws in the air. Brings back fond memories.

Tsunami

2008-02-21T16:39:00.000-08:00

Mariah protects the puppies

2008-02-18T18:02:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves a puppy, and Mariah is no exception. In fact, she takes on the responsibility of protecting the pups from evil humans. In this video, Robert has entered the puppy enclosure for clean up and feeding. Mariah is most upset. She bark and barks until Robert is finally chased off!

What does it cost to keep a coyote?

2008-02-14T20:17:00.000-08:00

That is a very good question. Is the coyote healthy or does the coyote have some health problems, such as Mariah?

Mariah, who lives at the Indiana Coyote Rescue Center, suffers from Metabolic Bone Disease. Her daily medicine requirements make her a very expensive coyote to keep. Unfortunately, Metabolic Bone Disease have shown up in a number of coyotes, possibly due to poor nutrition as a puppy.

In addition to the MBD, Mariah also suffers from ring worm which has been virtually incurable. She is a small, frail looking coyote. On the plus side, Mariah loves the puppies and makes her best effort to frighten people away from them. I will post a video of Mariah warning the pups at a later date.

A healthy coyote... is no more expensive to maintain than a medium to large size domestic dog.
Let's use Sasha as an example.

Enclosure - a good enclosure will run $1,100 to $1,500 to erect and maintain with stone. Coyotes can jump a good 8 ft. Coyotes can climb chain link. Coyotes are notorious diggers. Any enclosure should take into consideration these natural tendencies, and daily inspections to maintain integrity and safety are a must. Water supply is necessary, as is a tub large enough for the coyote to jump in as desired. All water should be freshened on a regular basis, with cleaning to prevent mold growth. Cached food should be located and removed to prevent parasites, flies, and bees from sharing the coyote's enclosure. Feces should be removed regularly for the same reason.

Vaccinations - a coyote should receive the same vaccinations as any other canine, including rabies vaccinations. The rabies vaccinations are more for the protection of the handlers as the vaccines are not yet recognized on wolves and coyotes. Should a vaccinated animal bite, it will still be euthanized and examined for rabies. All vaccinations should be given annually, including rabies. It is not recommended to use a three year vaccination schedule for coyotes, and a killed vaccine should always be used.

Sterilization - spaying is recommended for female coyotes. If a female does not mate, her estrus extends each season until she does mate. I believe the ICRC sterilizes all of the captive coyotes, regardless of sex. All veterinary care requires the cooperation of a veterinarian. (It is possible to administer vaccinations providing there is an existing relationship with the coyote. I would not recommend trying to give an injection to a coyote you have not raised.) On the subject of veterinary care, I would mention that there is considerable risk with anesthesia and all wild animals. Administering the same amount of anesthesia required for a domestic canine would most likely result in the death of a wild canine. They go down quick and come up quick. A wild canine may have unpredictable reactions coming out of anesthesia.

Food - Sasha ate approx 3/4 pound of chicken daily. I would buy chicken leg quarters in bulk and feed one each day. In the fall, I would feed two until she began to bury them for later.

Parasite treatment - captive coyotes are generally treated with some sort of flea control, just as a domestic canine would be treated. This cost would vary based on the location and climate.

Enrichment - coyotes like toys just as much as your domestic dog. A Kong is a must have. A place to climb is a must.

Commitment - keeping a wild animal is a major lifestyle commitment. In the case of the coyote, you are giving up family vacations for the life of the animal. Kenneling is not an option. Daily care is required. There is also consideration to the safety of the animal, as coyotes are looked on as a nuisance animal and/or predatory animal.

Sasha naps, in full winter coat

2008-02-11T18:24:00.000-08:00

Sasha is curled up on a blanket and one of my old sweaters for a nap. Her coat is full and thick as shed has not yet started. In full winter coat, her color is lighter than summer coat, the thick undercoat lending the lighter tones. The black is there, but just on the tips.

Sasha loved our scent and would keep it close to her. We gave her old shoes and old clothes. When we had her spayed, we took one of her toys along with us to the vets. It was the lambs wool disc she loved, and that smelled of her home and her people. We kept it under her head during the surgery on advice from someone that had told us that the familiar scents would penetrate even the anesthesia and calm her.

Today, I received notice that her renewal at Rainbows Bridge was coming due. I can't believe that it has been nearly three years since we let her cross over. It seems like yesterday. Heather was put to rest just before Valentine's day. It will be a bad week for me.

The softer side of Morrell

2008-02-09T18:49:00.001-08:00

Now that you have seen the mean side of Morrell, here is the side that says "Love me!" I knew that if I didn't have it on video, my husband would never believe I actually touched Morrell. Not just touched... but scritched her. She got a little iffy when Hotei came close to us. Morrell is just looking for love.....

Coyotes love shoelaces

2008-02-08T17:14:00.001-08:00

And Sasha was no exception.

Coyotes CAN fly

2008-02-06T16:41:00.000-08:00

If Sasha was not directly interacting with her people, she would generally just lounge on the carpet at the top of the basement stairs.

Someone (with coyote experience) had once told me that coyotes can fly. I chalked it up to the lady having a screw loose (or three). Until I learned firsthand that coyotes CAN fly! It's a stretch of the definition, I know... but still... they can go great distances without their paws ever touching ground. That's flying, no?

Sasha could get down those stairs without touching one of them. One leap and there she went. Top to bottom. And like a cat, she always landed on her feet. She could also fly up the stairs.

In this picture, Sasha is in summer coat. The markings are quite visible. She had a black diamond pattern on each of her forelegs. Summer coat is actually a bit blacker in color, but only because there is less of the lighter undercoat. You can see part of the cape on her back. The cape marked the hackles. It was a visible v shape that extended from her shoulders to a point in the center of her back.

Note the heavily furred ears. Those big furry ears are one way to distinguish a coyote from a dog. Also notice the long, slender muzzle. Sasha looks almost dainty, but don't let that fool you. That little girl could pull a couch across the room.

Since I missed posting one day (please forgive me... weather was exceedingly rough around here the last couple of days), I think it is time for one of my Sasha stories. The first story we usually tell people about her has to do with how she felt about Joe. She loved Joe. I swear she wanted his puppies. If there ever was another woman in his life, it had to be Sasha.

His job at the time required quite a bit of travel. Sasha would literally pine for Joe when he was gone. She would look for him constantly, every sound piqued her interest and she would watch the door to see if he appeared at the top of the stairs. I would spend most of my time in the basement with Sasha and the dogs.

When Joe would return, Sasha would fall all over him. She would rub her muzzle along his neck and cheek. Wiggle, wag her tail, welcome his scritches and hugs. And then... she would promptly go about ignoring him almost to the 1/2 hour as long as he had been gone. Her clock was incredible. And it never failed, save one time. But that is a story for another day.

Sasha's first jerky

2008-02-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

Sasha loved jerky! Any flavor would do. She wasn't choosy. She also loved chew sticks.

This photo was taken back when we still had that couch (in one piece that is). Although Sasha never weighed more than 28 pounds, she could grab the arm of that couch and pull it across the floor. Of course, chewing the pillows and making hidey places for her treasures was great fun.

I think I already mentioned that Sasha liked to be up as high as she could in any instance. On top of her bark house outside. On top of the couch. On top of the air hockey table. We had an air hockey table that Sasha claimed for herself. The air hockey table was actually her main base of operations.

Hungry for knowledge

2008-02-02T19:18:00.000-08:00

Sasha apparently changed her mind about the story! However, eating the book will not result in increased knowledge!

While Sasha did allow me to spend some time reading, I increased my books on coyotes collection more than once. Seems the library has NO sense of humor over a few little coyote toofer marks.

Storytime with Baby Sasha

2008-02-02T07:29:00.000-08:00

Baby Sasha. I don't think Sasha enjoyed the book. It was rather technical afterall. Maybe she was telling me to find a better story by chewing on my hand?

Remember that 2 pounds of fluff? All grown up, she never exceeded 28 pounds. This is a typical weight for a female coyote. (The Eastern Coyotes are larger than the other species. Sasha was not an Eastern Coyote.)

Males weigh a little more than female coyotes. They appear to weigh more than they actually do because of all their fluff. Especially in winter coat. A coyote with hackles up looks even larger.

Coyotes are NOT the hulking beasts they have been made out to be. My huskies are larger than your average coyote, male or female. I've read sites that liken the coyote to "small, lean german shepherds". I think small must be the keyword there. Before falling in love with the Northern Breeds, I had shepherds. And they were certainly larger than Sasha! Considerably larger.

If anyone has any questions ... please don't hesitate to ask.

Do blondes really have more fun? Ask Artemis!

2008-01-30T19:20:00.001-08:00

Tummy rubs

2008-01-30T19:09:00.001-08:00

I don't recall meeting a canine that didn't love belly rubs, and Sasha was no exception. Tummy rubs are always welcome... as are inguinal rubs. Inguinal rubs are directed more to the inner thigh region. Sasha would stand by us and cock a rear leg. This was her way of asking for inguinal rubs.

While inguinal rubs are accomplished in either standing or reclined positions, belly rubs were almost always done while reclining. Is Sasha was standing, rub her tummy and she would lower herself to the ground and roll to her back.

A canine will not expose their tummy to anyone they do not trust implicitly. This holds true with the domestic canines. Several of our dogs are rescues. It often takes a considerable amount of time for a rescue to feel comfortable enough to lay on their backs while sleeping or to expose their tummy to you. Rest assured that any canine that sleeps on their back feels very comfortable in their surroundings.

Sasha and her bone pillow

2008-01-28T16:30:00.000-08:00

Sasha loved to sleep on her bone pillow. She used to spend time digging at the bones. I am not suggesting that she recognized the bones as bones... but it is certain that she could see 2-D objects.

This was not only apparently with the bone pillow, but with the mirrors on the wall in the basement. Sasha could see our reflections in the mirrors, and recognize us. She also saw herself, though I don't think she realized it was her.

When Sasha was punishing us for some reason, she would ignore us. Believe me when I say you have never been ignored until a coyote ignores you. She would give us back. Period. She would watch us in those mirrors but never turn to face or greet us. It was actually downright amusing.

Be the voice for coyotes and foxes

2008-01-27T11:27:00.000-08:00

I will not be posting any photo or video with this post. To post one appropriate to the subject would be personally repugnant.

Regular readers will recall that I have previously mentioned the live bait programs that allow coyotes (and foxes) to be used in these inhumane situations to train hunting dogs.

Copyright laws prohibit me from reprinting the entire article by Dawn Hewitt on January 27, 2008. Please click here to read Fight is brewing over coyotes. Proposed trapping rule would limit sale of coyote.

According to the article, the Department of Natural Resources say coyote pelts sold for an average of $11.60 during the 2006-2007 season. By contrast, coyote urine can be bought on eBay for $6.99 per pint. Urine can be collected from either live captive coyotes or from the bladder of a dead coyote. Live coyotes sold outside of Indiana net trappers $50 to $200 for use in these live bait programs.

There is a proposed rule change to the Indiana Administrative Code that would prevent the sale of coyotes to five months a year and forbid possession of live coyotes (unless proper permits are held). Sadly, the proposed changes will not have any restrictions on what a trapper may do with a live coyote during hunting season.

Michael Crider, director of law enforcement for the Department of Natural Resources, was involved in an undercover investigation covering eight states pertaining to the illegal sale of coyotes. Indiana has proven to be a major supplier of live coyotes for these live bait programs.

The article states that Ohio and Kentucky DNR officials have already formally asked for the ban on sales of live coyotes. You do not need to live in Indiana to give your comments to the Indiana Natural Resource Commission. All you need is the heart to take a few moments to give your comments and urge the passage of this rule.

PLEASE visit the Proposed Rules where Public Comment is solicited. Select Coyote (Sales & Possession) LSA #07-749 and click on the COMMENT ON PROPOSED RULE at the end of the description. There is a pdf file for viewing the proposed rule in its entirety.

Hunters and trappers are against this rule. The coyotes and foxes would sure appreciate some support!

I sincerely thank you for taking time to read this post. I urge you to make your voice heard on behalf of all coyotes and foxes. I promise to resume happier posts later this evening.