The Coyotes and the Plucky Pronghorn

 Yesterday Mia and I were witness to quite the little drama on a trip to Antelope Island to photograph birds.  It all started when we noticed the frantic calling of a Long-billed Curlew which flew over us several times in obvious distress. 

 

Canon 7D, 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

At  first we didn’t know what was causing all the ruckus but soon Mia spotted this coyote.  A couple of minutes later we noticed a second coyote nearby.  We suspect that the curlew had a nest in the vicinity and it was disturbed by the foraging coyotes.  Soon both coyotes disappeared into a ravine but we hung around hoping for more flight shots of the curlew.

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

Then, almost a quarter-mile away, we spotted the coyotes again but this time a doe Pronghorn (at least I think it’s a female and not a young male) had entered the scene.  There was obviously going to be a confrontation and at first I assumed that the coyotes would be the aggressors but I was quickly proven wrong.

 

  

Canon 7D, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

This doe had pluck!  After a few seconds of staring each other down the pronghorn charged the coyote on the right.

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

That coyote beat a hasty retreat but the teamwork the coyotes showed was impressive.  They always stayed a short distance apart and whenever the doe would charge one of them the other one would threaten the pronghorns flank so she would break off her attack. 

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

With the doe out of frame to the right the coyotes began howling and yipping – perhaps in frustration but I don’t really know their motivation of course.  This serenade went on for perhaps 20 seconds and it was very loud!

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

But the Pronghorn wasn’t yet willing to give up on her harassment of the coyotes.  She would slowly approach them watching for an opening and…

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

when the attack came it did so very quickly. 

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

Notice once again that when she attacks one coyote…

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

the other one threatens her flank so she veers off and abandons the attack. 

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

It seemed obvious to me that the Pronghorns intent was to force the coyotes to move out of the area.  It’s fawning time on the island (we saw multiple fawns that day) and perhaps there were hidden youngsters nearby.  Whatever her motivation she continued to herd the coyotes up the very large hill. 

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

The coyotes seemed to deliberately head for these rocks, perhaps knowing instinctively that Pronghorn would be reluctant to follow them there and if so they were right.  But she got in one last lick before it was too late. 

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

This is the closest I saw her get to either one of the coyotes and they never made actual contact that I noticed. 

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

Here she seems to be looking on in frustration since she can’t/won’t follow them through the rocks.

 

 

 Canon 7D, 1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

But she’s still not ready to give up so she circled around the rocks, caught up to the coyotes..

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 and continued to put on the pressure…

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

until all three disappeared over the hill about a half mile away.

At this point I realized there was a possibility that we could get more photos of this drama if we drove the circuitous mile and a half (had to follow the road) to the top of the hill and tried to find them again.  I drove it as fast as I dared but we got there just in time for all three animals to cross the road in front of us (with the doe still pressuring the coyotes) and disappear to the north.

Both Mia and I were awed by watching this encounter – one of those awesome events that not many folks ever witness.  What a treat!  Another great day on the island. 

I’ve presented all of these photos in the sequence that they were taken.  Image sizes are smaller than is usual for this blog but there were so many shots I wanted to include that I was afraid the load time would be too long for some viewers. 

Ron