I was outside around 11am doing some work when I heard Keela’s alert bark and saw her as a blur headed towards the back fence. There was a coyote, not 20 feet away. It was a little east of our property, right behind Excellent Next Door Neighbor Joy’s house.
I note this because she has a nice 4′ fence back there, and the same fence separates her yard from the barnyard. Our back fence is also 4′ tall, but is topped with a rickety 2′ addition with an overhang. Somebody once told me that coyotes are smart enough to look at a fence and know if they can get over it, kill something, and get what they killed back out. Coyotes looking into the barnyard are almost always looking in at an angle, through Joy’s fence. I’m guessing they think that’s the better route for escaping with one of my chickens.
Anyway, the neighborhood coyote patrol immediately got to work.
Keela got as close as she could, tail curved into attention and kept barking. Joy’s border collie Lucky began running the length of the fence, yelping sharply. I heard Agave, the dog from three houses up the street chiming in. Then dogs I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting who live across the field took up the call. All the barks were the same—sharp, staccato, insistent.
Napoleon called the hens and they all gathered around the goat shed.
Doink, you’re a little late to the action, dude.
Tia and Junie, although new to the barnyard, went directly to the corner closest to the coyote. For the first time I saw Tia in a protective stance—ears forward, tail raised—and heard her make the alpaca alarm call.
Good job, girls!
All this, and that coyote barely budged. It stood there, staring into the barnyard.
Until the hero of the day, Brandy Dog lumbered into view. (I call her Brandy Dog so as not to confuse her with my goat Brandy.) Brandy Dog lives two houses up. She is the head of the coyote patrol. And she got down to business.
Be gone, coyote!
She chased that coyote round and round the field, through those trees. The closer they got to the other side of the field, the more those dogs barked. Brandy Dog would think the job was done and start heading home.
Look behind you, Brandy Dog!
I watched this chase for twenty minutes or so until it seemed the coyote had given up. I went back to work only to have the whole thing start over again a bit later. Keela first, the dog chorus next, Tia sounding the alarm call, and Brandy Dog heading back out.
She is one great dog.
Finally, the coyote left. For now. I’m sure it will be back.
I feel really lucky having all these dogs around. Especially Brandy Dog.
**Shared at Maple Hill Hop, Tuesdays With A Twist and Our Simple Homestead**
Wow, good that you have such a good network of sentries in your neighborhood. I have never heard that alarm call of the alpaca. I have worked with alpacas before and heard their humming, but never that high pitched sound. Thanks for recording it!
It is a unique sound!
Such excitement! So glad the barnyard has so many watchful eyes. The coyote needs to take his business down the road! They have to make a living too but he should try some wild rabbit instead of your beautiful chickens.
And we have enough rabbits around here to feed the whole coyote world…
Joan Hobbs recently posted…The Coyote Patrol
What an excellent story. Coyotes are very territorial and love to push the boundaries whenever they can. It always worries me when I see a lone coyote like that though, especially in the daytime. Either he is sick or is a loner ejected from a pack for bad behaviour. I love your friends big guardian dog – what a brave boy.. c
If I were to guess, I’m thinking he’s a transient young man, perhaps a healthy yearling just leaving his natal pack and looking for a new home. Although last night a pack howling was loud enough to wake me up, so maybe I’m wrong. We hear them all the time, see them frequently at dawn and dusk, but this guy was exceptionally brazen!
Phew! So glad you have your body guards in the neighborhood. I hope the fox got the message…
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Wow – I’ve never heard the alpaca alarm call before. It’s tempting me to get a couple – and they have such lovely faces. Great that you’ve got such a good guard system. We don’t have coyotes in Italy, luckily, but the next region down from us does have wolves. Love sharing your experiences, Joan, thank you. 🙂
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The alpacas are a wonderful addition to the little backyard barnyard! They sure make me smile. Good to hear from you, Cath 🙂
That is one bold coyote! He really stood his ground in broad daylight. I’m so glad it all worked out. Never a dull moment in your life!
Yeah, we like it exciting around here…but I could do without the hawk and the coyote!
Joan Hobbs recently posted…The Coyote Patrol
The alpacas seem to fit in just perfectly with your barn yard animals. I just love the mix you have and am glad that Brandy dog is so good at seeing off the coyote.
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Brandy Dog is very, very good to have around! 🙂
How great to have such an alarm system! The alpacas are quite interesting to hear. That’s a first for me.
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