This IS a coyote, right?

Looks like a very well fed, gorgeous coyote! (Sorry, I love them...makes me sad when people hate predators but I understand needing to keep watch over your flock)

Yes, that does look just like a coyote. Did a google image search just to make sure.  Same nose, ears and tail.  They are moving farther and farther east.  Where are you located?  I would imagine they're getting heavier and bushier in the east than in the southwest.

Wow, what a shot. And yes, it looks like a coyote.

I just bought my husband a Moultrie M-80 for his birthday and can't wait to see what turns up in our night images! Our coop and chickens aren't here yet, so it'll be interesting to see the numbers and variety pre-chicken-bait and after.

Holy Moley! That's the biggest coyote I've ever seen. Are you sure it's not a little wolf? Ha! Around here the coyotes are not nearly so statuesque - they're smaller and more sneaky looking (if that's a thing, lol).

That is Wile E Coyote in the flesh alright. Big mature male. Me being a hunter but also a conservationist see no need to kill an animal for no reason other than food but that being said the same coyote is interfering with something that provides food for my family. This creature will keep returning until you either kill him or he has killed all your chickens.

Edited by duckinnut - 4/18/12 at 1:24pm

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I'm in NC, too! Are you near Jordan Lake? I've been there hiking and close to dusk it sounded like I was completely surrounded by coyotes! They were everywhere! I also have coyotes on behind my house where there is a huge piece of land with woods and pastures but I have actually never seen one in person in the wild. I'm positive that's a coyote though. Be careful if he's not scared of you though. Even though he looks pretty healthy there's a chance he could have rabies. There was a rabid coyote on the train tracks behind my house last year. It was on our community chat.

 

 

Hey NC folk - There's a novel by Barbara Kingsolver called Prodigal Summer, about southern Appalachia farms and wilderness, and is somewhat centered around coyotes moving east into this habitat.  Pretty neat.  I just love this part of the country.  Really good climate for raising the birdies.