A week ago today I witnessed two unfortunate events on Antelope Island and the causeway leading to it. Each was caused by poor decisions by humans and each had potential or real negative effects on wildlife.
The first began with this female pronghorn near Bridger Bay Campground. Based on her behavior and her physical appearance (you’ll see that later) she obviously had at least one fawn hidden in the tall grass nearby. As females with youngsters are prone to do this pronghorn was highly stressed by the nearby presence of a coyote that had just entered this large, thick patch of sagebrush. In situations like this female pronghorns often harass coyotes until they leave the area (something I’ve previously documented here if you’re interested) and this one was trying to do just that but she couldn’t or chose not to enter the patch of sagebrush because it was too thick.
She frantically circled the perimeter of the sagebrush and repeatedly tore at it with her horns out of apparent frustration.
Magpies don’t like coyotes either and they gathered to loudly protest its presence. But soon the attention of the pronghorn was diverted by something across the road and behind me. At first I had no idea what it was but her focus on something there was intense…
and soon she decided to leave the coyote, cross the road behind me at a trot, and investigate whatever she had apparently spotted. As you can see by her teats she is obviously nursing.
After she crossed the road and I was able to turn my pickup around she was still headed toward something that, based on her alert postures and other unusual behaviors, had obviously alarmed her.
And this is what it was. A camper from the nearby campground (she’s wearing a head net to combat the biting gnats) was taking her little white dog for a walk. The dog was off-leash despite the fact that state park rules state that “pets must be on a maximum six-foot leash at all times”. Like many selfish and/or unthinking people this lady apparently thought rules apply to everyone else but not to her.
The pronghorn wasn’t concerned about the camper but she was about the dog, which to her must have seemed like just another coyote threatening her offspring which must have been hidden in the nearby tall grasses and vegetation.
The pronghorn approached the dog in an obviously threatening manner. By now the dog was some distance from its owner…
and the pronghorn apparently attacked it. At this point I couldn’t actually see the little dog in the tall vegetation but what was happening was obvious. This mother pronghorn was very intent on protecting her offspring.
The camper now did something that surprised me. She turned around, leaving her dog behind as the pronghorn pursued it, and walked back in the direction of the campground. I can only guess that she personally feared the pronghorn and decided to let the dog fend for itself and walk (not run) toward safety.
But then she apparently had a change of heart and turned around, pulled back her head net and walked back toward both the dog and the pronghorn, glaring at me as she did so.
She found her little dog…
removed its doggie coat and they both headed back to the safety of the campground.
Some time later I visited the campground again and the camper and her companion still seemed worried about the dog (at their feet between them). Perhaps they were concerned that it had been injured but I never saw any evidence of that.
She seemed upset and her companion consoled her.
Based on their license plate these campers were from Ohio. I suspect they don’t follow rules and regulations in their home state either.
This incident was particularly disturbing to me because I was already in a foul mood over something I saw and photographed earlier that morning along the causeway as I approached the island.
This coyote had a severely broken leg. The lower leg and foot flopped around uncontrollably as it walked on three feet. I often see limping coyotes on the island but this was the worst leg injury I’ve seen. It’s the management policy of the state park to let “nature take its course” when animals are injured and I agree with that policy but it’s still hard to watch their suffering.
But the next day while I was reviewing my images I noticed something extremely disturbing. You can see right through a hole in its leg and I’m almost certain now that this coyote had been shot. Utah considers coyotes to be vermin and many folks will shoot them on sight. A few of the coyotes often hunt the entire causeway from the island to the mainland and I’m guessing this one was shot on the Syracuse side.
An extreme crop of the same image convinces me that it’s a gunshot wound, possibly .22 caliber. I reported this incident to park officials (DNR) and looked for the animal on subsequent trips to the island but haven’t seen it since. And I suspect that I won’t in the future.
Most of my trips to the island are filled with joy and wonder at what I see and photograph. This one disgusted me and my own species was the reason for that reaction.
And I’m still not over it.
Ron
PS – I’m heading for the island in a few minutes so I won’t be able to respond to any comments until I return.
Hmmm, the internet seems to be broken tonight, having trouble posting, it has a mind of its own. I hate it when people let their dogs run loose! Beautiful pics and great documentation of the damage, and potential damage, that comes of thinking rules are for other people!
Oops submitted before I was done. Really sad about the coyote, too. I can’t figure out what is wrong with some people!
Oh, that stinks. What could’ve been a beautiful day was tarnished by stupid people! I hate it when people let their dogs run around loose where they can wreak havoc for wildlife! In town it’s people or other pets they could harm, same concept. They do seem to think rules are for everyone else! Grrr.
Beautiful pics though. And a great documentation of why one should not let dogs roam loose.
All part of the “Entitlement Age.” I’m entitled to do whatever I want because this is a “Free Country.” How many times have you heard that one? If the government wants more revenue how about cracking down on the people who use our public lands like a waste bin. Or the cattle ranchers who pay practically nothing to graze their environment destroying beef herds on BLM lands? Someone just shot a bald eagle here in Ann Arbor just ’cause they can and do get away with it. Same way with the coyotes and the wolves in the UP. You can be sure someone knows who did it, but they won’t be coming forward. Disgusting. Keep taking pictures of these lawbreakers. They deserve to be shamed.
Tears and rage.
We really, really need to devote a LOT more scientific research into a cure for arrogant self obsessed stupidity.
I have taken to photographing people who take their dogs into the NO DOG areas of our local Burrowing Owl conservation area. They sometimes become aware of it and very hostile towards me personally. I send the photos to the city council and complain a lot. If we who obey the rules can’t speak up, who can? Keep at it and start sending the photos to the park rangers and tell your stories. What is amazing is how important photos are in the context of the reports. Without the photos, my complaints are usually ignored. I used to be nice and just photograph the back of these doggy people, but that didn’t accomplish anything. Just keep at it. You can be sure that if the dog were injured they would be complaining about the pronghorn and asking to have them shot. As to the coyote, yes looks like gunshot to me too because it is a bigger opening on the side facing the camera, which would have been the exit opening, shot all the way through, with the smaller hole at the entry.
Johanna van de Woestijne, Stanford Med ’87
Good for you! We have a choice, don’t we…to be part of the solution or be part of the problem…..I support your choice.
Oh Ron… My husband sums it up: “people are bad”… ( of course not all of them…) I wish there were enough Rangers to be able to spot these types of people and set them straight immediately…
Thank you for your comments and observations, everyone. I spent much of the morning on the island and as expected I never saw the coyote with the broken leg. In fact I didn’t see any coyotes, which is fairly unusual.
Hello Ron,
First off I think this is as sad as a dog off a leash. Taking photos of people when you know they don’t want to be photographed. I have seen people blocking a roadway many times but I am not going to be a jerk and exploit the person. I to will drive down the wrong side of the road if it doesn’t impede traffic. I would like to know the facts possibly an antelope poking a coyote in the leg or a badger etc. Speculations made just piss me off without facts. Your photography is amazing and I hope this doesn’t hurt our friendship.
Thank You. Sincerely Earl
Different strokes, Earl. You continue to do things your way and I’ll continue to be a “jerk” about posts like this one when I think it’s warranted. And if you think this was “exploiting a person”, so be it. I disagree.
When I see illegal behaviors or actions that go against regulations or wrongfully threaten wildlife on public lands or in public places I’ll continue to photograph them. And in some situations, where I think making it public might make some folks more aware and /or think twice about their actions, I’ll continue to post images like these.
Based on your email address I’ll assume you’re a muzzleloader (there I go, “speculating” again) and likely a hunter and somehow took offense when I said that I was convinced the coyote had been shot – perhaps because you took that as a slight against hunters. It wasn’t meant that way.
I have no control over what “pisses you off” but if that’s what happens when you visit these types of blog posts perhaps you should consider avoiding those unpleasant flare-ups by spending your time elsewhere because I’ll likely continue to do them on those rare occasions when I think it’s warranted.
I hope this doesn’t hurt our friendship…
What a great example of the sad reality that some people don’t (won’t/can’t) “get it” even when the facts bite them in on the nose….As you well know, you can “cure” ignorance through education, but you can’t cure stupid! I’d bet dollars to donuts, you hit a nerve with yet another “entitled” one, who feels above the law…lacking common sense and common decency. You can talk to a rock all you want, but don’t expect it to understand…let’s just hope it rolls away…
Ron, you are a master at documenting animal behavior and it is inevitable that, on occasion, you will also end up documenting human behavior, both good and bad. Keep it up!
People frequently ignore or break rules with the expectation of anonymity.
Stripping away that anonymity is an appropriate response.
Succinct and perfectly said, Bruce. Thank you.
Once again, I find myself ashamed to be human. What an idiot.
Yes I agree with Patty. No comments today because I need to restrain my anger.
Humans…!!!
For your sake, and other’s, I’m not going to comment on today’s blog. You know how I feel and anything I say won’t make anyone feel better…but, BOY, you better believe I’m biting the hell out of my tongue!!!
My heart goes out to both the coyote and the pronghorn. I hope those babies are okay and that the coyote will somehow make it through that nasty wound. I, too, am very much disturbed by the stupid behaviors exhibited by humans. I understand the need to learn when in new situations, but the total lack of awareness that many people demonstrate, is uncalled for (words are deserting me here). I’m also very upset by the number of people who believe that rules don’t apply to them, or who just don’t care about rules. IMO, dog owners tend to be among the worst offenders that way.
Ron, I admire you for sharing the negative side of life for our animals who live in the wild. It angers me to see that woman’s handling of the whole situation. An obviously ignorant human but if it had been my dog – 1. it would have been on a lease. 2. I wouldn’t have deserted it & 3. I’d had taken it to a vet to be sure there were no internal injuries (of course I wouldn’t have had to do that since my dog would have been on a lease)!! Feel so sorry for coyotes to have the bad reputation they’ve gotten along with wolves. I’ve found so much joy in watching wildlife thru the webcams & your photos but it has also opened my eyes to things we humans are doing to our wildlife. Recent Facebook postings of the ripple effect of rat poisoning having such a terrible impact on raptors who feed on these poisoned vermin & the traps which kill & maim animals they aren’t supposed to impact. Too many thoughtless, ignorant people out there who are giving the human race a very bad name!! Whew – I feel better for having vented!!
For your sake, and other’s, I’m not going to comment on today’s blog. You know how I feel and anything I say won’t make anyone feel better…but, BOY, you better believe I’m biting the hell out of my tongue!!!
A poisoned rat is what killed my great Horned Owl….
Patty – I’m SO sorry to hear that you experienced this up close with one of the beautiful Great Horned Owls!! We have been experiencing a big problem on the west coast of FL where a company responsible for euthanizing animals has not been disposing of the animals properly in a landfill, killing many of the raptors that have fed on the carcasses. The product used is passed on to those animals feeding on the improperly disposed of animals & basically euthanizing them as well. It is totally illegal & the officials who oversee this company are dealing with them but how many animals have died in the process?!!! I do think that the webcams are indirectly helping to educate more people of these problems so there are more voices out their fighting for the animals and/or helping to educate more people so that things will change. I personally have learned SO much since tuning in to a webcam on bald eagle nest at Berry College.
So sad. depressing and infuriating…a roaring, debilitating sense of rage—and nowhere to go with it…..
Very sad. Some people just feel the rules don’t apply to them. Dog owners seem to think their dog doesn’t need to be on a lease any where. However, I have never seen an owner allowing their dog off leash even approached by an official. Perhaps if they were or even fined for disregarding the law, their behavior would change. Are guns allowed to be discharged when it isn’t hunting season? I just wish there was stricter enforcement for everyone’s protection.
Charlotte
Stricter enforcement requires more officers and administrators. Which means higher taxes. The mere mention of taxes raises the fur, of what fur there is from our elected officials. Never mind we have gutted the National Park Service, EPA and other regulatory and protection agencies. Never mind corporations pay less taxes since the 1950ies and that the Supreme Court now lists them as people. In part the solution is Campaign Finance Reform. Unless we find a solution our democracy and all living things are at great risk.
You think that dog is impacting wildlife? Wait to see what man-induced climate change is going to do. Get the pics while you can because that is all your going to see in our future.
You are so (sadly) right!!!
This is terribly sad.
Sad that humans have so much negative impact on wildlife… we think we are an intelligent species, however, when looking at the bigger picture (which is rare), we do not seem so intelligent…
I agree with Ed…Well said!