Amazing Sight - A Planet Earth Moment

[mtn.goat]

Even now almost three days later I'm still amazed at what I am about to write...

On Saturday I was out doing a training hike (after a 5 year break I'm once again going to do the Devil's Path in a day) and had decided to do the Burrough's Range Loop. I started in Woodland Valley and decided at the last moment to head down the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail and then down the Phoenicia East Branch Trail to where it meets with the Peekamoose/Table Trail so that I could make it as close to a 20 miler as possible.

I stopped at the trail junction to eat some lunch when all of a sudden I heard a large racket in the woods heading towards me. As I sat there a large deer came running out of the valley right by me and came close enough that I could clearly see that it appeared to still have it’s winter coat on (it’s fur was bushy and thick). A second or two later I heard more noise in the woods and realized that something was following it. As I scanned the woods for it, listening as it got closer; I caught glimpses of something smaller running and figured that it was just another deer. It finally got close enough that I could see it and my mouth practically dropped in amazement as I watched a large coyote, it’s ears tucked back and tail pointing straight back like a rudder, sprint by me. It was a beautiful blondish brown color with thick fur, easily 60 pounds and was the size of a large husky. Watching it effortlessly sprint through the woods jumping over downed trees was truly amazing and I instantly realized how lucky I was to see it. I felt like I was in an episode of BBC’s Planet Earth. It is something I’ll never forget and certainly one of those moments where you think “this is why I like the outdoors and why I like doing this!”

Now I know that it couldn’t be a wolf but it was far larger than any coyote that I’ve ever seen. In fact I often hike by myself and never really worry about coming upon a wild animal even though I’ve come upon bear and even a bobcat on previous hikes in the area. It reminded me of an incident years ago where I watched a large coyote (again easily 60 pounds) stalking a deer from about 50’ away and can remember thinking “what if that coyote realizes I’m here and comes after me instead?” Needless to say for the next couple of miles I stopped every time I heard any large noises in the woods

 

[DougPaul]

In the absence of wolves, coyotes in the NE have been taking on a more wolf-like role. Larger bodies, pack behavior, larger prey, etc.

Doug

 

[IndianChris]

That is sick! You were at the right place at the right time. Awesome!

 

[funkyfreddy]

The coyotes in the Catskills can be intense. They ripped apart a deer in my friends back yard a few years ago and it looked as if it had been devoured by lions......

The eastern coyote also has a large amount of wolf DNA according to many studies and could be considered a hybrid of wolf and coyote.

It must have been an awesome sight..... awesome and chilling! just looking at the carcass in my friend's backyard with a nearby tree full of turkey vultures irritated at having their meal interrupted was a chilling sight, LOL.

 

[Mac]

Coyote

As stated in previous posts, the Eastern Coyote is much larger than its' western counterpart, and is thought to be a Coyote/Wolf hybrid. Last summer, two coyotes attacked and killed a female hiker on a trail in Cape Breton Island (Nova Scotia, Canada).

 

[TrishandAlex]

Last Sunday, in the bright afternoon sunlight, I saw a HUGE coyote (I am assuming it was a coyote-wolf hybrid) run down the street and then tear through our wooded backyard (Campton, NH). It was gigantic!!

 

[Barkingcat]

As stated in previous posts, the Eastern Coyote is much larger than its' western counterpart, and is thought to be a Coyote/Wolf hybrid. Last summer, two coyotes attacked and killed a female hiker on a trail in Cape Breton Island (Nova Scotia, Canada).

Yes -- there have been some recent news/media articles about these hybrids, and they're even referred to as "coywolves"...

It's neat that you got to see one, Mtn.goat!

 

[cbcbd]

Good thing it didn't have a taste for goat

 

[eddie]

Two quick stories...

I was solo hiking at Seven Springs, PA in the Laurel Mountains a few years back and had just sat down on a fielded hilltop. I saw some movement quite a distance away and realized there were two coyotes. Well, they must have already spotted me before I saw them - they were making a quick, trotting beeline towards me! These two were on a mission. I realized that in the sitting position I was in that they must have only been able to see my head above the weeds so I immediately stood up and waved. That got their attention, spooked them, and off they ran into the woods.

I have also seen one of the larger coyotes (coywolf) when I was deer hunting in western PA. I heard a running noise off to my right side and assumed it was a deer in full flight but when I looked, there it was, a large coyote sprinting past me within no more than 25 yards. I always wondered what that fella was chasing or what was on its mind because that surely was a strange 3 second encounter.

 

[Chip]

It's great when mother nature reminds us it's not all Bambi and Thumper out there. I've personally seen a fox pounce snow and come up with a vole, a pine martin chase a freaked-out rabbit out of the woods and down the trail to and through us and a coyote push a herd of deer through a field. All exciting moments. Very cool.

 

[MtDews]

That's one of the reasons I always carry a rather impressive hunting knife on the belt. Anything that tries to take a bite out of me is going to earn it!