If you listen closely outside on an evening in February you may have the pleasure of hearing a song of love in the air. The howls can carry quite the distance, but it’s the interspersed yips and short howls that tell you romance might be afoot. Coyotes, depending on their wide range across North America, will either live in pairs or in packs with last year’s offspring. I have heard arguments that animals feel no love, but by the definition of love being a strong feeling of attachment and devotion then I do not see how the monogamous coyote pair do not fit the bill. They take walks together, can collude to catch unwary prey, and will frolic and play to strengthen their bond. They have even been documented to mourn the loss of their partners.
I have the good fortune to have a neighbouring coyote den, which means that a cacophony of calls is in store for me every January and February as the monogamous pair renew their sparks. If all goes well the pair will welcome pups between late March and May into their den, a burrow in the hillside carefully constructed to ensure proper drainage from moisture. I try to spend as little time near this den as possible, particularly at this time as I do not want the coyotes to find me intrusive. For one, they might not return the following year if I am not a good neighbour, and secondly they are territorial and will defend their dens against intruders. It will fall to the male to defend the den and bring food for the female in the first few weeks of nursing, which certainly seems like devotion to me. As the pups are weaned both parents (and/ or siblings from the previous year) provide the pups with prey and teach them to hunt for themselves.
The Latin name Canis latrans translates to barking dog. With eleven different vocalizations heard throughout the year it certainly lives up to its name. It is always intriguing for me when an emergency vehicle drives by with its sirens wailing and the local packs start howling back and forth. Occasionally, I join in when I hear the coyotes; I have no idea what I’m saying, which might be evident in the sometimes back and forth responses I get and sometimes the silent stare. Those who study coyotes say that their stares are not aggressive as with some other creatures, but usually out of curiosity.
A howling and yipping biped is certainly a curious sight. There are a few tips to better understand your own neighbourhood coyotes; howls are done to show location and identification of individuals, yips are thought to convey friendly messages and the enjoyment of the present company. Yelps and whines express pain and displeasure. Barks are warnings telling one to back off.
If you are feeling lonely this February I encourage you to listen to the messages of the song dog carried on the wind. Who knows, you might even find yourself calling back. Just remember to be respectful and always give them their space.
