A few valleys to the west, there have been coyote culls; a few valleys to the east, there have been deer culls. We seem to live at the balance point; around here, we happily coexist with both species (see a local sign at the right).
Whether the coyotes and the deer coexist is another matter.
Wednesday, just before seeing the Trumpeter Swan, I watched a coyote hunting in a field.
The coyote spotted me and kept me in its gaze for only a few moments.
Soon it decided that I wasn’t a threat and it went back to the task at hand: looking for voles under the snow.
I really wanted to wait until it made a kill. Alas, I inadvertently spooked it, and it was off, with only a glance back.
Such gorgeous creatures. It hurts my heart that they are killed. I didn’t realize. You are fortunate to have locked gazes.