"I See You"
16 x 20
acrylic

$400 unframed
juried piece

Coyote (Canis latrans)

The scientific name means barking dog while the common name came from Mexico's Nahuatl Indian word, coyotl.  The bark, yip and howling of the coyote can be heard in the evening as the group communicates with each other.

Commonly found throughout the USA due to its adaptability and varied diet.  The diet includes: plants, insects, rodents, rabbits, squirrels, frogs, gophers, reptiles, road kills, bird eggs, birds and opportunistic domestic meals (cats, chickens, small dogs, etc.)  The coyote is beneficial to man because of their management of rodents and other pests.  When the coyote population is decreased the rodent population increases dramatically.  For each rodent that man sees, or traps there are approximately 9 more.

The fur coloring is brownish gray with buff underbelly.  Coyotes in snow country grow a much heavier coat that those of the southwest.  Coyotes have been feared, shot, poisoned and trapped by mankind.  Bounties still remain for their hides in some states.  Ranchers have found that donkeys and guard dogs can be used successfully to guard sheep flocks during lambing season, thus eliminating their shooting and poisoning efforts.