Winter 2007 Newsletter
Wild coyotes in the Yellowstone Park and
Leif tracking radio colar coyotes with telemetry.
This past summer of 2006 I got the opportunity of a lifetime. I was offered a job with the Yellowstone Ecological Research Center to research the coyote in Yellowstone National Park. My job was to monitor coyote locations, behaviors, and their overall involvement in the Northern Range ecosystem. We used telemetry equipment to get relocations on certain collared coyotes to determine territories for the fourteen packs in my study area. On other days we would hike to a set observation point with a spotting scope and watch the coyotes. I would document the specific coyote (if possible), who they were with, label their movement patterns on a map, and document behaviors such as successful predations, howling, and urination.
Another major part of the job was to determine pup numbers for each pack. From May to September I would watch certain packs’ pups. It was amazing to see the interaction between adults and pups for an extended period of time. One instance which was remarkable to me was a beta male coyote in the Jasper Bench pack catching and feeding mice to four pups. Those same pups three months later were all still alive hunting by themselves all throughout their territory. The coyote pack is a true family with every member helping to care for the pups. It was such a tremendous experience to be able to observe the coyote in a natural environment especially one where they are not persecuted.
After being immersed with coyote culture for an entire summer I came to see why many Native American tribes called the coyote the smartest animal on the planet. The coyote learns to live with what he is given and in turn surpasses all expectations. The coyote is a remarkable and spiritual animal which I will always hold the greatest respect for.
- Leif Baierl
Top: CeAnn demostating the removable top and Orion jumps up into the picture.
Our houses are wooden and designed with flat, removable tops. The have a door that can be closed, handles on the side for carrying and some of them set on a separate platform to keep them off of the ground.
These houses make it easier to take a coyote to the vet. The coyote simply goes into its house where it feels safe. The door is then closed and the coyote is on its way to the vet.
Once we get there, the top is simply removed, the coyote wrapped in a blanket until the injection is given to knock it out, (if needed). Afterwards, the coyote is placed in its familiar, dark house for the ride back home.
The decks are designed with three semi- enclosed sides underneath the deck itself. This gives the coyote a place to lie on top of if it chooses or the coyote can hide underneath if he is frightened. The sides are designed with a small space at the top and bottom so that the coyote can still look out to see what is going on, while still feeling protected and safe.
Click here: Top News- Coyote Killing Contest Prompts Howls - AOL News
Below is a link to another article about the coyote hunt and predator control in the New West Newspaper.
Click here: You Can Always Blame Coyote Article - New West
Top: Jack when he
was found with his rescuer Brad S.
Jack
has grown into a beautiful coyote. He has
filled out nicely as he eats a lot more than when he first
arrived. He eats just about everything in sight. Jack was
taken to the vet for his vasectomy since ICRC doesn't breed. His x-rays
showed that his bones
were well defined. This means the treatment of Jack's metabolic bone
disorder was successful. He also weighed in at thirty pounds.
Jack is becoming very destructive in the house, so the time has come to soon have him outside with everyone else. Jack has a secure enclosure. That is always a sad day. I will miss him cuddling with me to get under the covers and nibble-grooming my feet to wake me up every morning in time to give early meds, but I know that outside is where he belongs.
ICRC socializes the coyotes which they care for. This make their lives less stressful with the care and handling by humans. Part of the socialization process involves having the puppy inside so they become accustomed to civilization instead of freaked out by it.
- Jami, Assistant Caretaker at ICRC
Top Left: Jack at 8 months old. Now a heathly and happy coyote.
Top: Gail at 20 years old.
My Gail died early morning September 24th at 20 years of age. Gail was one of a litter of seven. She was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana (Montgomery County).
Gail was a very “laid back” puppy. She never fought to get to the bottle when I was feeding her siblings. She was always content to wait, as if she knew I would not let her starve and that I would always save plenty of formula for her.
When she was about three years old, I took her to Wolf Park to live with Wild Bill. She did not adjust well to the new life and I decided to bring her back home. She always liked being alone.
The thing that gave her the most pleasure was picking up her Kong toy and teasing the dogs with it. She would run to the fence and shake the Kong and growl. She was still doing that last night when I went to bed.
This morning when I got up, she was lying in the back corner of her pen. She was gone.
I will miss her. Gail is survived by her brother, Macho.
Gail Poem by Jami
Graceful in the moonlight
Always taunting your intelligence
Invisible to all hate
Laughter eternally in your eyes
Please email your letters to CeAnn at ceannicrc@yahoo.com
I took this photo in Yellowstone of a coyote just
after she carriedher pup across the road.
- Jordan Goss
Address: 7975E 300S, Bringhurst IN 46913, USA
Phone: 765-566-3800
Website: www.coyoterescue.org
Gift Store: www.cafepress.com/coyoterescue
Email: ceannicrc@yahoo.com
Indiana Coyote Rescue Center Logo was designed by Nadia L. Beji
Newsletter text & photos © 2007 Indiana Coyote Rescue Center