King of the Hill

Coyote on recycled asphalt mound

For years I've tried to lure in a Kalamazoo coyote using calls that imitate dying rabbits, fawns, or chickens, appealing to their base hunger. Or I've imitated their own howls, communicating either curiosity, territorialism, or sexual readiness. All with absolutely no success.

Well, this week I imitated a wounded coyote pup and VOILA!

In less than a minute, mom or dad magically appeared at the top of the asphalt mound, scanning the horizon in search of a pup in distress. I think it also brought in a juvenile.

AMAZING.

A very difficult animal to photograph in our area.

It turns out the parental instincts were this coyote's weakness. When you think about it, that makes perfect sense.

Bearing Gifts from the U.P.

Yes! I made it to the northern-most point of our state: the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. My personal migration plan worked beautifully (as stated in an earlier post). As temperatures were searing in the 90's in most of the state, I was exploring the beaches of Copper Harbor on 80º days and sleeping peacefully through 50-60º evenings. Whew! What a relief.


Of course there was so much more to the trip, but as you know, the weather is such a guiding force in our lives, and temperature can melt or lift the spirit so easily. To explore the great wild of the U.P., comfortably, is what made this a vacation, and in no way did it ever feel like work.