2101_1132 A Long Association
I was planning a series of sun stars and other variations on winter light on the prairie... but those can wait. Two days ago, I spent an extended time watching a Badger and Coyote sharing space in a prairie dog town. As usual, this odd couple put on a fascinating display of unlikely... er... if not quite compatibility, then at least tolerance.
The American Badger and Coyote have a long history of association. I have observed them hunting together on several occasions. It seemed to be opportunism more than co-operation, and it seemed to work for both of them.
Here, Badger has been very active, excavating a prairie dog burrow. Black-tailed Prairie Dogs create mounds at their burrow entrances, but nothing this large. Coyote has approached and is very close. Badger doesn't seem too pleased.
Prairie dog burrows run deep. Badgers are consummate diggers and can get to them, whereas Coyote cannot. But the little rodents have escape tunnels - back door exits to use in an emergency - and perhaps Coyote has learned to hover in the vicinity and snap up any that try to flee. However, such a close encounter suggests that something else may be going on, and I'm not sure what that is. Mere curiosity? I don't know.
What will happen next? Stay tuned...
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2021 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
2101_1132 A Long Association
I was planning a series of sun stars and other variations on winter light on the prairie... but those can wait. Two days ago, I spent an extended time watching a Badger and Coyote sharing space in a prairie dog town. As usual, this odd couple put on a fascinating display of unlikely... er... if not quite compatibility, then at least tolerance.
The American Badger and Coyote have a long history of association. I have observed them hunting together on several occasions. It seemed to be opportunism more than co-operation, and it seemed to work for both of them.
Here, Badger has been very active, excavating a prairie dog burrow. Black-tailed Prairie Dogs create mounds at their burrow entrances, but nothing this large. Coyote has approached and is very close. Badger doesn't seem too pleased.
Prairie dog burrows run deep. Badgers are consummate diggers and can get to them, whereas Coyote cannot. But the little rodents have escape tunnels - back door exits to use in an emergency - and perhaps Coyote has learned to hover in the vicinity and snap up any that try to flee. However, such a close encounter suggests that something else may be going on, and I'm not sure what that is. Mere curiosity? I don't know.
What will happen next? Stay tuned...
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2021 James R. Page - all rights reserved.