I was on my way to the grocery store this afternoon around 4 o’clock. As I walked down the path from the house to my car, I heard this incredible screeching from a big gathering of crows at the back of our property. I turned to see what was going on and realized that the horses were freaking out, running and bucking and rearing in the corral.
I grabbed some hay and headed towards the barn. As I reached the gate to the corral, I saw a coyote attacking some animal in the “way back”. I couldn’t tell if it was a cat or a ground hog, but it was fighting like crazy for its life. Dropping the hay, I ran towards the coyote screaming and waving my arms. It dropped the animal and both creatures ran in opposite directions. My heart was pounding.
I gave each horse a flake of hay and stood with them until I was breathing normally. Then, still quite shaken, I went to the store. A while later, I was talking to a friend of mine who is a writer living in New York City. I described what had happened, and he said that sometimes life externalizes what is going on inside of us. He said that this might have been the proverbial “wolf at my door” - or in this case, “coyote at my door”. We had a good laugh about it. He also pointed out that what was important to note was that I had run towards it screaming and chasing it so that I was successful at driving it away.
When I told my husband what had happened, he asked me to please take a shovel with me next time I drove off a coyote in case it decided to fight back.
ANOTHER THOUGHT: Billie mentioned Ted Andrews ("Animal Speak"), so I looked at what he says is the meaning of a coyote coming into your life. It means you should ask yourself if you are complicating what is really simple. It also indicates that you might not be seeing some wisdom in the events in your life. Hmm.
10 comments:
You go, cowgirl! Chase those bad things away!
How bold your coyotes are back east, though. For as many as there are out here - they literally howl back and forth all night long - I rarely see them.
Yikes! I was out at the barn before sunrise the other morning and heard coyotes howling nearby - the horses were unconcerned but the barn dogs were in a frenzy. I've never heard them before.
Good idea about the shovel.
Glad the horses are fine. Good on you for saving whatever the coyote had. Your husband has a good idea, if not a shovel at least a big stick or baseball bat.
haha Well at least you weren't dancing naked with the coyote like in the movie! :)
You're usually safe as long as the coyote is taken by surprise. But if there had been more than one (which there usualy is) it might have gone the other way, especially if they were really hungry.
How wonderful, too, that Siete and Silk truly know they can trust you to protect them from scary things.
I'm glad you are ok, and I'm pleased for you that you had such bold courage chasing away the monsters. Now, they (the real and proverbial coyotes) will know you are a force to be reckoned with.
~Lisa
Laughing Orca Ranch
New Mexico
I can't remember what Ted Andrews says about the coyote - I know there are some around here but I've never encountered one. A couple of times in the Smokies, but not a close encounter like you had!
Coyotes have a place on this earth too but are running out of room just like everyone else. I doubt a coyote or any wild hunting animal would choose to be anywhere near human habitation if there were wilder options.
Usually coyotes hunt alone. And,usually they are quite shy of people. Yes, there are exceptions, and rabies would be the biggest reason for a coyote to attack a person. I see them often around here, usually just brief glimpses before they flit back into the woods. I think they're beatiful creatures. In the winter I see their tracks alot. I welcome them and the foxes as they help control the pests around here. I'ld rather have a coyote than a gopher digging holes for my horse to break a leg in. :-)
It's all in your perspective. They are a part of the natural world that we are a part of--despite our attempts to remove ourselves from it--and they need to eat, too.
Ann
Seeing any animal rip another animal to shreds makes me want to jump in and save the poor creature. I know that coyotes have to eat too. I've lived with coyotes for so many years- In California, one of them killed my poor old cat. My big concern was that this one yesterday had my neighbor's cat. There's a den of coyotes living in the woods behind our house which is why our cats never go outside. Most of the time, my horses aren't bothered by coyotes although Siete usually snorts and paws when she sees them. I think they were reacting to the violent struggle when I saw them kicking and bucking in the corral. I'm still wondering why the coyotes are coming out in daylight. We hear their howling and frenzied yipping during the night, another sound that makes me cringe.
Coyotes do a lot of hunting during the day; i dont believe that they are totally nocturnal. That's interesting to think about - the Ted Andrews theory. I would like to read more of it. Guess i will google tonight.
You are brave to run at it! Now Mr. Wil E. Coyote knows you are force not to be reckoned with! ;) I am not sure what I would have done, actually. I have only seen a few coyotes and have usually been in a car, where I felt much safer.
I like your insight on the experience, though! Always interesting to wonder the why of the things!
Post a Comment