I can only guess what caused this coyote to bristle like it did but something ‘out there’ certainly got its attention as a potential threat or rival.
1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This is an older photo of a young coyote on Antelope Island only minutes after dawn. As coyotes often do ‘he’ climbed a high point, in this case a large rock on the north side of the island, in order to survey the surrounding area for potential prey and/or for potential coyote rivals. Here he’s looking almost due east toward the causeway to the island and toward the rising sun.
Almost immediately after ascending the rock he raised his hackles, particularly those on his lower back and to a lesser degree those on the back of his neck. He kept them raised for much of the time he was on the rock and looking in this direction. Coyotes often hunt along the causeway in the early morning so it’s my guess that this guy saw another coyote out there and this was his reaction. Coyote rivals often fight viciously (I’ve seen and photographed the results of some of those fights and they aren’t pretty) so a reaction like this would be far from unexpected.
Hackles are erectile plumage or hair in the neck area and/or along the length of the back in some birds and mammals, including dogs. In mammals who have them they become erect when the animal is fearful, as part of the fight or flight reaction or to show dominance over subordinates. Hackles are raised by dogs as a dominance behavior, by cats and hyenas that are fearful or threatened and by moose preparing to attack. Raised hackles can cause the animal to appear larger and act as a visual warning to rivals.
I’ve always loved the series of photos I took of this coyote on the rock in golden light so last night when I stumbled across them again I impulsively made the decision to share one of them.
Ron
Notes:
- In dogs hackles run along the top of the spine all the way from the neck area to the base of the tail.
- The tiny muscles that raise the hackles are innervated by the autonomic nervous system so they’re not under conscious control, much like humans getting ‘goose bumps’. Raised hackles are an involuntary response brought on by an adrenaline rush
- Some birds also have hackles, especially on the neck. The long, fine and often brightly colored hackles of some kinds of chickens and pheasants are often used by fishermen for tying flies as lures.
Fantastic shot, Ron! What a beauty! Our local coyotes don’t have those gorgeously fluffy tails.
In dogs, hackles can be raised in response to a variety of stimuli. This reaction arises because the level of arousal in the dog is above the sympathetic NS’s threshold. The response isn’t necessarily a “dominance” reaction; it can be part of a fear response as you said, a startle response, aggression, excitement, etc. (I’m using quotes around the word “dominance”, because what people often think of as “dominant” behaviors isn’t really accurate. The wolf study that has been cited as evidence for “dominance” and “alpha” for years and years has been disproven and even has been retracted by some of the researchers.) It’s important to look at other behavioral signs/signals from the dog, in addition to hackles, and also to observe the context clues in order to analyze stress or excitement.
I only know about domestic/pet dogs’ behavior — I can only assume a similarity in other canines. I’ll hop off my dog training soapbox now. 😉
Thanks for the additional info, Marty. I know, it’s complicated and what we know is still evolving.
Any time, Ron. Thanks for providing a space where I can do that. The fact that you’re encouraging of your commenters sharing their knowledge on this site is a huge tribute to who you are as a person, teacher, and blogger. 💗
Hooray for that impulse. Thank you.
What a stunning photo. And an education. For some reason (ignorance) I think of hackles being predominantly at the back of the neck (which is silly – because I have often seen cats blow themselves up to scare intruders). He looks like he could do with a good feed though. Several good feeds.
Beautiful! It’s all about being in the right moment with just the perfect light. Thanks for sharing.
Very lovely golden colors and interesting behavior! I am finally seeing more coyotes on Antelope Island again.
Yeah, they’ve been pretty scarce on the island for far too long.
LOVE this photo Ron. Living in the Arizona desert we are blessed with coyote sightings nearly daily. Occasionally we hear them serenade at night. Your photo is gorgeous!
I love their serenades, Kathleen. “Song Dog” indeed.
The golden light is, well, golden. The more I look at the hackles on his lower back the more it looks like a porcupine burrowing along his spine. Not sure if porcupines have hackles. In our neighborhood we often hear coyote yip fests. Amazing variety of vocalizations. Call of the Wild, indeed.
Porcupines seem like they’re ALL hackles, don’t they Lyle.
Love the intense look he has. And his hackles 😁
Thank you, Diana.
Really, I thrilling photo… I, too, I am struck by the delicacy of the western coyote, having only seen those in New Hampshire. I moved by its intent focus, raised hackles and all, poised high on a rock. Thanks so much for featuring this!
Glad you enjoyed it. Alison. Sometimes I break into fur rather than feathers…
WOW – I know this is a young one but the size is so much smaller than the images of our Northeastern Coyotes/Coywolves. Of course, maybe that is the reason, hybrid with wolf genes.
At any rate great shot, love the image.
Thanks, Dick. Yes, some of your hybrids are very large.
Beautiful! 🙂 Appears to be a bit skinny and/or it’s “high summer”. That WAS a horrific wound to recover from! 🙁 Glad it didn’t die from infection or starve. Not my favorite creature BUT don’t wish that on any critter…… 😉
The “little darlings” cut loose close to my bedroom window at 1 a.m. this morning – probably one them the one that regularly comes in close and wants the dog to come out and “play” 🙁
Judy, the photo was taken in early September. I thought he was pretty skinny too but then he’s young and was probably still learning to provide for himself.
That is an excellent photo in that light and background. Would love to see more of them. When I head out very early I often run into coyotes, but fortunately have never seen one raise its hackles. When I had my dog Buddy we would sometimes run right into them and although on a leash he would go into attack mode barking and running at them, but that never moved the coyote into raised hackles. Guess they did not see us as a threat.
Thanks, Everett. In many areas coyotes have become pretty accustomed to dogs. And I suspect they’re smart enough to recognize when dogs are leashed.
Wowwww!!! What a great photo!
Thank you, Betty. I’m pretty fond of it myself.