Of late, other than birds, the only critters I've seen in the garden on a regular basis have been bunnies. Way too many bunnies. The raccoons and the possums have paid regular visits of course but they restrict these to the dead of night so what I see is just the wreckage they leave behind. I haven't even seen many squirrels, although the occasional sight of half-buried unripe guavas and persimmons suggests they've paid a stealthy visit or two as well. Last week I complained to my husband that the abundance of bunnies suggested the absence of their usual predators. The very next day he saw one of the missing predators in the middle of the day, trotting through our back garden seemingly without a care in the world as shown in the following video.
My husband said the coyote walked nonchalantly through the garden and down our back slope into the canyon. He pulled the video off our security camera later but he advised me of the sighting immediately afterwards and, hearing the next door neighbor's Pomeranian dogs barking their heads off, I hurried to alert her. She lost one dog to a coyote years ago and I didn't want her to lose another.
Coyotes used to be nocturnal. We'd noticed that they'd extended their hours on both the front and back ends of their prior nighttime schedules but this was the first time I'd seen one out and about during the noon hour. You'll note that he knew exactly where our fountain is too!
Coincidentally or not, I haven't seen a bunny in the garden since the coyote's reappearance last week.
All material © 2012-2022 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I don't see as many rabbits here as I used to but the raccoons and squirrels are still in abundance. I hear we have coyotes as well although I've not seen one in our garden. I saw one at the nursery one day last summer in the middle of the day.
ReplyDeleteCoyotes were prevalent here when we moved in over 10 years ago but always nocturnal. The expansion of their "working" hours started gradually but daytime appearances are now common. My cat is no longer allowed outside even under supervision. A lot of the community is up in arms about their presence and I suspect some people are taking it on themselves to remove them, hence their reduced numbers at any time of day.
DeleteThank god for the coyotes! I hate to think what our rabbit population would be if they weren't out and about and hungry.
ReplyDeleteI've complained that the coyotes aren't doing their part to keep the natural balance in our area but I'm actually concerned that people may be actively removing them. Only gardeners appear to be concerned about the explosion in the number of rabbits.
DeleteCool video! Somebody was thirsty. I think our fountains are providing water for more than goldfinches. Your coyote looks to be in good shape, so it must be eating pretty well.
ReplyDeleteA very wily coyote has been patrolling our yard. Squirrels and bunnies have vanished. My neighbor told me coming home last week, he saw a particularly large coyote with a big fat rat in its mouth standing on my retaining wall. While the neighbor watched, Wile E. flipped the rat up in the air and then caught and gobbled it down. A heartwarming sight!
That would have made a fantastic video, HB. I knew the raccoons hang out at our fountain but I was surprised to see the coyote stroll up that close to the house when people are out and about. I filled my bird feeders for the first time since early spring 2 days ago and the squirrels arrived almost instantly - one was back performing acrobatics at the feeder this afternoon. I won't be keeping the feeders filled for long.
DeleteTo my mind, a coyote is such an exotic creature to have show up in a back garden! Glad Pipig is out of harm’s way.
ReplyDeletePipig hasn't been allowed outside, even under supervision, since she and I nearly walked smack into a coyote a few years ago as I opened our back door, Horticat. She was frustrated for quite awhile but now, as an elderly cat, she seems less inclined to try making a break for it. She has her screened "catio" so that has to suffice.
DeleteBeing top predator, the coyote indeed wouldn't have a care in the world. It's his territory (;-D) and he was making a visit to his water source...
ReplyDeleteOne can hope he got thirsty after having a bunny meal.
Chavli
Yes, despite my periodic complaints, I recognize that the local critters have been here a lot longer than I have and that they've got a legitimate claim on the territory. I don't support efforts to move - or eliminate - them as some members of the community do. After all, the closeness of nature is part of the reason one moves to this semi-rural area in the first place.
DeleteHi Kris, "the nerve" is right! Great video. Coyote sightings in broad daylight are still pretty unusual down here in La Mesa, but it's not uncommon to see them out on the street early morning on the dog walk. We live on a big canyon and there are a couple dens, but all surrounded by houses. I've seen them walk along our back fence like it was a balance beam and leap over like it was nothing after a drink from the fountain. That's a fantastic picture of the bunny, so clear and sharp, the plants too. My fuzzy bunny photos are always from behind the window or door. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteWe're surrounded by canyon areas too. Our area used to be rife with coyotes but they seem to be fewer in number now. In contrast we had zero bunny sightings for the first 7-8 years we loved here and, even in the first few years after that they were few in number. Their population seems to have exploded during the past 2 years and apparently they're now permanent residents. I'm trying to adapt ;)
DeleteSorry Kris, forgot to add my name- Brenda from La Mesa.
ReplyDeleteThanks for identifying yourself, Brenda. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday!
DeleteCool video. He is obviously appreciating you supplying a drink. They do lots of good work controlling rodents and other undesirables. Most of the critters here are nocturnal as well. When it snows the amount of tracks visible make the property seem like a super highway. We have a family of coyotes just behind us and we listen to their maniacal cackling at night. We have always locked our cats away at night just to be careful.
ReplyDeleteWe used to hear them howling (cackling is probably a better description!) almost every night too but now we rarely do. Maybe they're sleeping off the exertions of their daytime activities.
DeleteI've been MIA finding it hard to keep up since Blogger discontinued email notifications but your video confirmed for me that the "dog" lying in a pasture in broad daylight as I drove by was actually a coyote. I was pretty sure of it so nice to have confirmation. It seems to me that this year they have been noisier at night and sound closer in than usual, even though I am in rural NE Alabama.
ReplyDeleteHa! Decades ago, when we lived in a rental apartment in densely populated Santa Monica, I went walking early in the morning and saw 3 identical "dogs" running toward me through an area of expensive homes. I thought it was odd as they weren't leashed and I didn't see a human accompanying them. When I noticed a woman with her leashed dog on the other side of the street literally running in heels, the penny dropped and I quickly turned the next corner and walked in another direction. There's a neighbor up the street who has a dog, Rosa, who looks very much like a coyote, only more robust - her owner says she's careful to keep Rosa on a leash as people tend to freak out when they see her.
DeleteI'm all for predators to keep the varmints population in check. Like you, I keep my cat inside, so no worries there. Even our mid-size dog never goes out unattended. Our biggest worry these days is deer hunters, we must wear bright colors (even Wren has a neon collar) and stick pretty close to home. Eliza
ReplyDeleteYikes! I hope the hunters know better than to get too close to peoples' homes, Eliza.
DeleteWell, it is us tramping through the woods where we're far from houses. We make lots of noise, but still, it is best to be cautious.
DeleteWell, I guess if a former VP can shoot one of his best friends while hunting, you need to be hyper-vigilant. Maybe it's the right time to visit SoCal ;)
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