Vulnerable Young Coyote Pup
Photo by: Katherine Davis
How does an intelligent wild canine communicate with our human species? We communicate with fellow humans through our words, and also our body language. And somehow we almost always understand each other’s body language, but not always.
So here are two Tales of encounters with Coyotes, our intelligent Native Wild Dog ~
To start with, both encounters happened during the month of May, a time when Coyote pups have just recently left the den of their birth. They are very vulnerable at this time, and require the constant protection of their parents.
In the first encounter a Maine landowner was walking in her forest trail like she often had done throughout the year. When she came to a certain area of the forest, two Coyotes made themselves present to her. They stood their ground at a distance and for a moment showed their teeth.
The landowner did not understand what was happening, and as such saw the Coyotes’ behavior as being aggressive. But it wasn’t! They were trying to tell her something with their body language, which she did not understand.
Her husband also was walking their dog in the same area another day, and one of the Coyotes appeared and continued to follow them until he left the specific area. Coyote was “escorting” him out.
What the Coyote parents were trying to tell these landowners was that they wanted them to leave this area. Why, because they were protecting their small, vulnerable pups who were nearby. Coyotes see humans and especially their dogs as a threat to the safety of their pups….and with very good reason. Their parents will take their own lives in their hands to protect their little ones. And standing their ground is a dangerous act for a Coyote to attempt with humans.
The best part of this Tale is that this woman and her husband wanted to understand what this encounter was about. And they sought our help. And now they know! They respectfully decided to stay away from that part of their land until the end of the summer.
You see….this is what coexisting is all about!
The second Tale is a very different one. It takes us to another level of understanding. This Maine lady and her dog are very connected. They have a relationship of respect and knowing with each other. So when her dog changed his body language when they were on a walk together, she quickly understood what her dog was telling her. They regularly walk in a special place that they love. It is quiet and away from human activity. But come this same time of the year, her dog STOPPED at a certain point and would not go further.
This wise and intuitive lady understood that her dog was reading information left by Coyote parents in their scents. The scents very probably read “come no closer.” Her dog understood before the Coyote parents were forced to show themselves and stand their ground. And the woman understood her dog’s recognition of Coyote’s communication. And they went no further.
This is coexisting taken to an even higher level ~
This is the relationship of reciprocity our human evolution will take us to.
