So this morning my southern border was officially breached after a pair of coyotes overran the consequential defense portion of my farm. The consequential defense consists of my neighbors range cattle, with calves, (that go absolutely ballistic when they see a coyote) which are constantly patrolling my east and south border and my two horses on the northern side of the south border. While I don't consider either the horses or the cattle part of my official defense plan, they do have their uses.
I have personally seen all 120 of the range cattle converge on one area within seconds(traveling probably at a distance of half a mile) on this one spot, bellowing and roaring the whole way, where I assume was a coyote they surrounded. It was like dawn of the dinosaurs, there was such a racket. You don't mess with the bessie's when they have calves with them.
My two horses were out in the same pasture that the neighbors cows are in, they would also chase anything canine. Though they don't take their duties as seriously.
So any who, back to the story. There were two coyotes that were barking/howling this morning and when I went out to let the goats and birds out for the day, I saw them about 1/4 mile away right at the edge of my pasture where I keep the horses. The cows were all lined up along the fence, mad as ever, but the coyotes slipped through the fence on the west side of the cattle pasture and my horses were waiting at the fence for me to give them attention. Once they saw me they ran off. When I was finishing up with the morning chores I saw them again!
I personally think they were harassing the wild geese that have their nests down in that area, because there was a lot of honking and ruckus coming from them ( I think theres 3-4 pairs).
So the question is, do coyotes normally hunt in pairs? I have never really considered that they would do that, though I've heard of them forming packs. Do they both take care of the litter and go out to hunt? I would assume this is about the time of the year that they have pups, but I don't know that for sure.
I have personally seen all 120 of the range cattle converge on one area within seconds(traveling probably at a distance of half a mile) on this one spot, bellowing and roaring the whole way, where I assume was a coyote they surrounded. It was like dawn of the dinosaurs, there was such a racket. You don't mess with the bessie's when they have calves with them.
My two horses were out in the same pasture that the neighbors cows are in, they would also chase anything canine. Though they don't take their duties as seriously.
So any who, back to the story. There were two coyotes that were barking/howling this morning and when I went out to let the goats and birds out for the day, I saw them about 1/4 mile away right at the edge of my pasture where I keep the horses. The cows were all lined up along the fence, mad as ever, but the coyotes slipped through the fence on the west side of the cattle pasture and my horses were waiting at the fence for me to give them attention. Once they saw me they ran off. When I was finishing up with the morning chores I saw them again!
I personally think they were harassing the wild geese that have their nests down in that area, because there was a lot of honking and ruckus coming from them ( I think theres 3-4 pairs).
So the question is, do coyotes normally hunt in pairs? I have never really considered that they would do that, though I've heard of them forming packs. Do they both take care of the litter and go out to hunt? I would assume this is about the time of the year that they have pups, but I don't know that for sure.
That's my experience in southern Michigan. They aren't coming up to the house or coop area. I do have two large dogs fenced at the house, so maybe they are a deterent although they don't range with the chickens. Mary
