Carolyn Joy was enjoying the views of the hillsides in the Saddle Ridge neighborhood in Pleasant Hill when a dusky smudge cruised into view, his coat made to blend into the dry grass but stark against the green grass – making him easier to spot.
She managed to snap a nicely framed picture of a local Canis latrans (“barking dog” by its latin family name and “singing dog” to the indigenous peoples who heard their calls).
We know these critters have both their benefactors and detractors. We regard them as part of the landscape, and like their night singing – though not all do. We believe they are best left alone, and admired from afar, as contact with humans has proven detrimental to them in the past.
Our thanks to Carolyn for providing us with this glimpse of a local critter doing what he does!
I always say I should get a picture of that but I always forget to get the camera!!!
meep meep!!!
Good picture. Looks like he has his eye on something
Great looking animal and part of the landscape but lock up your chickens cats and other small fowl when they’re around.
Yum. Rain = vegetation = gophers and rabbits and rats. We’ll have a bumper crop of rodent-eaters this year, too.
yip ee kay yay. There one moment; gone the next. I heard a vocal family pass by one evening a week ago. Not a frequent occurrence and one that always merits a semi-rural smile.
Agreed. We like it when they’re “singing” and we’ve had many a “long looks” with them as we size each other up on the trail. Never had any aggression shown us but we would, of course, stress caution during any encounter.
Last week I was walking at Tilden late in the afternoon, about 5pm, and after pausing a few minutes at the Conlon trail bench to look at the GG bridge I turned east back to the main Nimitz trail and noticed what **may** have been a mountain lion 75-100 yards away, walking west behind bushes and looking over at me. Only the head and neck was visible, and it looked more feline than canine, so if not a lion it could have been a bobcat. But the coat color looked more mountain lion tan rather than bobcat gray. If I’d been able to see the entire body I would know for sure. The bonus came within 30 seconds as I glanced up the hill to my right to see a Coyote standing 20 ft away watching me walk by (perhaps he caught whiff of a mountain lion and thought he’d check out the scene in hopes of getting leftovers). In years past I’ve walked within a few feet trailside of both an indifferent coyote (too busy munching a fallen pear) and a curious bobcat. They are mostly chill little critters, and only attack humans if attacked/cornered, or if rabid.
Great, very specific report Tom and thanks! We’ve always wanted to see a cat in the wild but never have – they remain very elusive. Your pear-munching ‘Yote is familiar to us as we have had similar encounters with never an aggressive move, more of a “you leave me alone, I’ll leave you alone” approach. We think they’re beautiful and have spent a good deal of time watching them.
Breeding season. More pups in a couple of months.
Nice picture. The other one on your Facebook the coyote is pregnant. Others here are right — they will be pupping soon. Watch your animals.