Shadows of the Sagebrush: Coyotes and Foxes of Yellowstone
“The coyote is not just an animal; it’s an idea, a dream, a symbol of the possibility of being able to survive in a world that is constantly changing”
Coyotes are one of the most adaptable mammals in the US. They are found coast to coast in any environment including big cities like LA and NYC. Coyotes can/will eat most anything preferring small mammals like mice and voles but will eat carrion and plants as well. Coyotes can be seen moving through the sage brush hunting sometimes in pairs or even small packs. We got to see a den near the tower junction ranger station. A pair fought over a red dog carcass and even a pack of three fed off of a fresh bison carcass near junction butte.
Coyotes, like wolves, are seen as a threat to livestock and in many parts of the country considered to be vermin. Many states offer cash rewards for killing coyotes and others even hold coyote killing competitions, who can kill the most coyotes in the alloted time with additional prizes for largest and smallest coyotes killed. Despite the demonization of coyotes and the constant effort by man to remove them from the environment they continue to adapt and survive.
Foxes can be found throughout the parks however the only fox we saw on this trip was down in GTNP. Foxes can be found near the colter bay village and along the roadsides hunting in the sagebrush
