Wily Coyotes

photo by athomeinscottsdale.com

Urban coyotes are one of the interesting aspects of Scottsdale.  This coyote (and his friends) frequent the Pine course at the McCormick Golf Course.  Because of all of the open desert, numerous golf courses, washes and canals, these wily coyotes thrive.  They are survivalists, eating mainly mammals, but also fruits, berries, and even their own feces if necessary.  Originally nocturnal, they are often seen in midday in our neighborhood, where they do not seem to shy away when confronted by humans.  Research information says they seldom go after animals that weigh more than themselves, unless they are in a pack, where they can take down an elk.  When calling their pack, they give one long-note howl, but when they make a kill, they often make yips, yelps, or yi-yi's, all common sounds of the desert night.  Researchers also say that coyotes seldom attack roadrunners, probably because they cannot catch the fast birds, or maybe because coyotes know the roadrunners might blow them up with Acme dynamite.