Romancing the Coyote

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Growing up in the Western United States, I've always had an affinity for coyotes.  And, even though I know there are others who have good reason to dislike coyotes, I've never been affected by those reasons.  I respect people's dislike but my affinity has, more than anything, to do with the romantic qualities of this much-maligned creature.

When I think of Romance, I think of a feeling of mystery, excitement and a sense of remoteness from everyday life.  I think of enchantment and fascination.  So, imagine my surprise when I looked out the front door the morning after the first heavy snowfall in February and there they were - coyote tracks.  I've been pondering the word "amazed" for a couple of days now.  I've been asking myself where amazement, surprise, and wonder fit into my life and just like that, I had the start of an answer.  I find amazement in the unexpected.  So, following the tracks of the meaning of amazement in my life, I examined the qualities that create such an affinity for me to coyotes.

Coyotes have remarkably human-like personalities and like we humans, they can be very different from each others.  Being loners or, at most, part of a hunting pair, Their personalities might match up to compliment each other's strengths if paired or perhaps they will be a dominant loner that doesn't share well with other coyotes.  Their personalities make them more or less social or playful.  

In Native American lore, coyotes are often viewed at tricksters or teases.  Navajos feature him prominently in their lore and view him as irresponsible and and trouble-making.  BUT, he is also one of their most admired characters in their mythology holding powerful characteristics that teach lessons in wariness, patience, persistence, and bravery.  The Chemehuevi, Paiute, Shosone, and Ute peoples all honor him in their lore, much of it not complimentary.  Current day ranchers and farmers would agree with this assessment.

But I am neither of those things and my memory of a coyote poised for flight off in the distance is one of my cherished memories.  And now I have tracks in the snow, right outside my door and I'm amazed at how close one passed me by.  I suspect that if I had been having a restless night and happened to look out the window, he would have spotted me, tensed up, and fled.  They are bold but shy.  Bossy but easy-going.  Some are adventuresome but their curiosity is for that which is other than human.  Coyotes have learned to have low expectations of we humans.  I can't blame them but I can't blame the humans either.

So, I will stay with the romance of the coyote.  I will hug the western history and lore in which they figure so prominently.  And I'll be reminded of the Western American deserts, plateaus, and broad valleys that make up so much of my memories of home,