A Coyote Named Mahatma

Mahatma

By Susie Karasic

For the last several years we have had packs of coyotes roaming our streets, often howling in numbers. At one time, years ago, I saw 5 or 6 coyotes heading up a neighbor’s driveway the day before trash day.

Then last spring, there was a big commotion in a group of 3 or 4 coyotes in the street in front of our house. This was followed by a lone coyote crying the most heartbreaking cry. I think she was ousted from her pack.

After this, this small, rather dainty coyote started to appear on her own in our backyard on a regular basis.

At first, I chased her away, but when she kept coming back, I just let her be. This area belonged to our wildlife long before it belonged to us. I figured it would not hurt to share this space. She often goes to the same spot under an olive tree to relax, and sometimes nap.

I never feed her, because I know feeding wildlife makes a dangerous situation for our wildlife as well as for us. She just seems to like that spot. There’s a nice view.

Because she is so peaceful and chill, I nicknamed her Mahatma.

Recently I saw Mahatma enter our yard, head over beneath her olive tree, and dig around a little in the grass there, pulling out a bone. It was the same sort of bone as one finds in the pet store for dogs. She took out that bone, lay down and started gnawing on it, just like our dogs used to do.

After she gave that bone a thorough gnawing, she got up and went on her way.