Coyotes?

[chinooktrail]

Well, after work I was tired and cranky, so I decided to go for a little 3 mile loop through Heminway Forest.

I made it up to the Heminway road just as darkness was crashing all around me, but ok, no problem, I could do this loop with my eyes closed after 12+ years of it.

Then I heard them.

It started out low and solo, and slowly the chorus came together. I thought at first it was the husky sled dog team further down the road. Then it intensified, and then the screaming began.

I knew then it was not huskys, but the coyote pack that has been seen by a number of people around town.

It all lasted less than 5 minutes, but I stood there, frozen, just listening to nature and the survival of the fittest.

Many times I have sat at dusk having dinner on my front porch and heard what I believed to be a sled dog team. Now I am not so sure.

It all ended as abruptly as it began. And I finished my walk in the pitch black.

I won't change my walking route, and I can't really change the timing, but perhaps tomorrow, I will bring my hiking stick...

Survival of the fittest indeed.

 

[Chip]

Cuts to the Primordial Bone, doesn't it ?

 

[blacknblue]

If it makes you feel any better, they tend to be pretty skittery. Whenever I've come across a coyote, they run away from me quicker than my mind can compute what's going on.

 

[David Metsky]

There's nothing like being unsure if you are on top of the food chain to put life in perspective.

 

[chinooktrail]

Well, yeah. I can't really say I was frigthened, which is odd, becuase I jump out of my skin when a chipmonk chirps or crosses the trail...

I am actually quite curious about them. It would seem that they are here to stay, and I need to learn to live with them. Sort of like the woodchuck who has taken up residence ubder my front lawn, I bury him in every night, he digs out every morning. What a fun game it is!

When you are walking along, thinking hum, how can I fix the back of these new climbing pants without putting a dart in, maybe some elastic somewhere... And you hear that howling start.

Well, it all comes down to the bare essentials.

I walked aroud the Fryeburg Fair last night, where I seemed to see all maner of creatures who apperaer to be missing one or more genes from the normal chromosome strand. And then tonight I walked around my little wooded loop, and heard nature in all its glory, be it beautiful or beastly. Quite an interesting comparison to ponder...

 

[Dugan]

I hear them almost every night here at home. I've seen them occasionally while out walking. Blacknblue is right - they are very skittery. Mostly there's only the scent trail left for Dugan 3.8-legs to notice. I've never hesitated to go for a walk in the woods at night, no light, even when I hear them singing.

 

[chinooktrail]

When I had my Husky, she would listen to the noises, occasionally give a howl back, but if it were wolves or coyotes, she would NOT answer the call. She seemed annoyed by coyotes, and downright frigthened of wolves.

This is the same dog who took off running after bears on numerous occasions with me attatched to her.

Sadly she has moved on to more heavenly trails.
So my walks are now solo.