I was getting ready to go sit the gallery for the day. Finn was outside and Kelee was in (see previous posts A Three Legged Man of the West and Rescue Dog: Meet Finn (Survivor)). Suddenly Finn barked and tore off toward the land grant. Kelee answered his bark with a loud one of his own from inside the house.
I went to investigate and ran smack dab into Finn facing off TWO coyotes. My arrival scared one of them and it scuttled off, but I also inadvertently propelled Finn and the remaining coyote into battle! They tussled and snarled, teeth snapping, but broke apart in just a couple of minutes, the coyote dashing into the canyon and Finn letting him go.
I’d never heard of such a thing. Coyotes usually run when my dogs give chase, but I’d been told they’re behaving with more aggression this summer.
So dear Finn, who seemed shocked by this turn of events himself, was not hurt, thankfully. I’m also grateful that my sweet Bubby wasn’t out (see previous post Cheese Hound!). I’ve been a little lax with him lately, letting him out the front door unsupervised, thinking the coyotes aren’t around (you think?) and, anyway, what would they do with a 25 pound cat? Well, TWO coyotes would have him for breakfast. So Bubs’s freedom has been curtailed for sure.
And I distinctly heard Kelee saying as Finn and I came back to the house, “You know none of this would have happened if I’D been out!” And he’s probably right. Not even two coyotes want to mess with the likes of him.
Love to you all,
Jeane
WOW, that is odd isn’t it a dog and Coyote fight? You didn’t mention the size of the Coyote, but it would have to be BIG to deal with the mass of Finn I would think. I wonder if they will take it as a warning and not be so brazen (the Coyotes) next time.
We have had warnings around here this summer that folks have seen Coyotes in the neighborhood green belts etc…our little dogs would be a quick snack for them! So I watch more closely when they even go out into the back yard now. A Coyote would make an easy jump over our fence!
Glad it turned out well!
xoxox
The coyotes here are just a little smaller than Kelee–probably 80 pounds. I have to say I was shocked. I’ve seen Kelee chase off a whole pack before, on his own. I’m just very grateful that Finn wasn’t hurt and I hope the coyote wasn’t either. Yes, watch your doggies. The little ones are easy and common for them
And keep your dogs vaccinated.
Yes indeed.
Oh my! I am so glad that Finn and all are ok. That must have been shocking.
It was shocking Sylvia and, yes, I’m so glad everything turned out OK.
Even here in Garden Home, I have seen several coyotes. The feral cat population has diminished, it seems. I am very proud of Finn to protect all of you. I am sorry he had to fight and you must have been horrified. Especially after what Finn had been through, it is obvious you are very very loved for saving him and he has returned the favor. And it must have been torment for poor Kelee to miss the action, plus YOU were out there without him. I am stressed and it is already over. Whew.
You are certainly right that Kelee was upset to miss all the action. And Finn is a VERY brave boy!
Finn had a very aggressive coyote but my guess is that when you came out that tipped the scale as you are definitely the pack leader. I blame the drought for such a terrible confrontation.
Luckily we’ve had a very good amount of rain through this summer season and into the fall so the coyotes are doing well. But the wild creatures are terribly affected by droughts and our encroachment onto their land. I know last year they (the coyotes) either didn’t have litters or their babies didn’t make it because we were in such a deep drought. And I do know the balance was tipped when I stepped into the scene. I’m very grateful the coyotes have this enormous canyon that backs up my property to live wild the way they were meant to.