Coyote and skunks at the beach
This was a first for us. It was extremely foggy and I could barely see the waves coming in. We park at the end of this beach. There's a dirt path that borders reclaimed wetlands where some Mallard ducks live. It's also home to the occasional heron.
People take the path then cross a stream to climb up the outside of a quarry wall. So we're used to people, the unwarry bicyclist, dogs, squirrels, etc.
There is a woman who feeds the neighborhood and/or feral cats that come to the big rocks making up a sea wall. She puts the food (mostly dry) on a flat rock that is under two large ones forming a triangle over the flat rock. So the cats can eat the food in a sort of protected environment.
So I was watching the waves when something on the path caught my eye. Too big to be a rabbit -- it was a coyote! Coyote was in search of the cat food. But, already nibbling was not one, not two, but three skunks. The skunks weren't too happy with coyote coming to share their food. Even less happier was one of the cats who came walking down the sidewalk to get on the path. Cat climbed on one of the sea wall rocks and appeared rather dismayed to see all the commotion gathered at the entrance to the cat food place. Cat wisely stayed away!
The skunks would let the coyote pop it's head in to take some food. Coyote then, would immediately face outward so it could keep an eye on what was going on. Some people came up over the sea wall from the beach and coyote promptly disappeared.
Apparently the camera toting tourists saw the skunks, walked past, then two of the men went back to take photos. When they came near our car Ed told them about the coyote. I'm not sure how much they understood, but the skunks were the attraction for them.
Then another man was going to walk the path, and we called to him to warn him about the skunks. He was sure the coyote was a fox, but Ed's seen many a coyote and told him it was a coyote, not a fox. The man was fascinated that the little skunk could keep the coyote away from the food.
It was very interesting to watch. I'd never seen the skunks with their tails up like that before, they'd run from the food onto the dirt path brandishing those tails like warning flags! Coyote would step back -- but not give up either.
In order to make all this visible I had to do some photoshop post processing to clear some of the fog and up some contrast.
Hope you enjoy the photo and the story.
People take the path then cross a stream to climb up the outside of a quarry wall. So we're used to people, the unwarry bicyclist, dogs, squirrels, etc.
There is a woman who feeds the neighborhood and/or feral cats that come to the big rocks making up a sea wall. She puts the food (mostly dry) on a flat rock that is under two large ones forming a triangle over the flat rock. So the cats can eat the food in a sort of protected environment.
So I was watching the waves when something on the path caught my eye. Too big to be a rabbit -- it was a coyote! Coyote was in search of the cat food. But, already nibbling was not one, not two, but three skunks. The skunks weren't too happy with coyote coming to share their food. Even less happier was one of the cats who came walking down the sidewalk to get on the path. Cat climbed on one of the sea wall rocks and appeared rather dismayed to see all the commotion gathered at the entrance to the cat food place. Cat wisely stayed away!
The skunks would let the coyote pop it's head in to take some food. Coyote then, would immediately face outward so it could keep an eye on what was going on. Some people came up over the sea wall from the beach and coyote promptly disappeared.
Apparently the camera toting tourists saw the skunks, walked past, then two of the men went back to take photos. When they came near our car Ed told them about the coyote. I'm not sure how much they understood, but the skunks were the attraction for them.
Then another man was going to walk the path, and we called to him to warn him about the skunks. He was sure the coyote was a fox, but Ed's seen many a coyote and told him it was a coyote, not a fox. The man was fascinated that the little skunk could keep the coyote away from the food.
It was very interesting to watch. I'd never seen the skunks with their tails up like that before, they'd run from the food onto the dirt path brandishing those tails like warning flags! Coyote would step back -- but not give up either.
In order to make all this visible I had to do some photoshop post processing to clear some of the fog and up some contrast.
Hope you enjoy the photo and the story.
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Comments
Thanks for sharing.
Dick.
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How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
The picture is such that it doesn’t need a story, not that the story isn’t entertaining, but the picture can stand on its own. May not be the best IQ that one could hope for, but then we can’t control the weather now can we? That is definitely a picture worth a thousand words.
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I appreciate your comments very much.
This is certainly a scene I'll probably never see repeated at the beach!
Dee
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Tourists. Ya just gotta love 'em
Thanks for sharing such a unique story. I wonder: what would happen if there ever was an encounter between skunks and seals?
That's an interesting thought!
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Now all we need is a moral to the story.
Great capture.
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I am glad you are enjoying the photo and the story.
I'm just bummed more shots didn't come out. Of about the 25 I took this one was the best and sharpest. It's really hard to tell in dense fog when the light was fading, but my camera knew!
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great shot!
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Canon 30D, some lenses and stuff... I think im tired or something, i have a hard time concentrating.. hey look, a birdie!:clap
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Coyotes eat cats? I need to google coyotes...
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I was sure wishing I had a 600mm lens! But I was sitting safely in my car in the parking lot with only a 200mm.
I really couldn't believe my eyes! I learned quite a bit about wildlife!
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If I ever get to Australia I can't even begin to imagine how many photos I'd be taking of your local wildlife. However, it's hard for me to believe that some of our wildlife is exotic to Australians! Depends on your point of view I guess.
I'd probably get a kick out of watching kangas hopping around with their babies peeking out too!
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on some of our golf courses... but I must say the Kangaroos have the deer beat! How can you see where to aim the golf ball?
Too funny -- but probably not very funny to those trying to play a game of golf!
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Theres an estimated 90 million of 'em Dee (thats with even starting to count wallabys)...we are all well over the cuteness factor here.