According to The World of the Coyote
coyotes “are without a doubt the most numerous and successful large predator in North America. They are also the most widely distributed, having extended their range in the past hundred years to cover almost the entire continent from Central America to Alaska and from California and British Columbia to Nova Scotia and New England. The coyote was known as God’s dog by the Navajo, where it probably originated, and as the medicine wolf by the more northerly native peoples when it spread to the grasslands.”
A pack consists of from three to eight animals, with an average of around six. The central figures are the alpha pair and they are normally the only ones who mate and are the leaders. There are also two or more associate younger adults and their main role is to defend the pack’s territory and help look after the pups and the nursing mother. If the pack becomes threatened, then the others may mate and even share the den and birth time with the alpha but this is rare. A litter is usually from six to eight pups but there have been from four to twelve too. Packs are extended families who disperse as the next generations are born. The dispersed offspring meet others from different packs and mate to form a new pack.
The Trickster
“One day Coyote was walking along the river and stopped to rest in the shade of an apricot tree whose fruit was ripe and hanging heavy and high above the water. Coyote looked into the water and saw the reflection of the juicy prize and his mouth watered so he jumped into the river to retrieve the luscious apricots but his splash caused the apricots to disappear! Where had they gone? He splashed around until he was exhausted and finally climbed back up the bank, cold and soaked. As Coyote was catching his breath, the water became gentle and once again the reflection of ripe fruit appeared upon the water. So, in he jumped in and repeated the same behavior and finally crawled out all wet and tired just as he had before. He did this three more times and it took the entire afternoon for Coyote to spend all his energy and hunger trying to reach the fruit that he believed floated on top of the water.
Finally his wife came down to the river and said to him, ‘You stupid dog of a dog. Your illusions exhaust you while the truth hangs just above your head.’ Then she hit him over the head with her frying pan and took him home.” As Indian Gary finishes the story he bursts into laughter. Many native people believe that Coyote is the sacred trickster who comes out to play in the early summer. As he moves through the environment he has been known to trick himself and others. We might find Coyote at the school bus stop acting like a wounded dog and causing the kids feel sorry for him. As soon as he hears the wining sound of their voice saying, “Oh poor doggie…” he may just steal their lunch and run away. The truth is that coyotes are not to be trusted and can attack without provocation so it is best to stay a safe distance from them.
Coyotes at the Creek
The coyotes are out and about this time of year in our communities and when we see them, they seem to be dancing sideways and watching us or trotting along completely unaware of us. We may ask ourselves, “Am I like the trickster? Do I waste my time chasing illusions?” Whatever we are thinking about Coyote, we share the sound of their mystical song together in the dark of our warm summer nights out here along the shores of Beaver Creek.
