The Coyote brothers are up to their old tricks again.  For months they have been trespassing into my territory.  It all started on Thanksgiving when we saw one of the Coyote brothers headed across the field towards Inky’s house.  He was no doubt pretending to be a distant relative in search of a family meal.  On Christmas we could hear the entire Coyote family barking and howling in the predawn hours celebrating Santa’s arrival.  That noise was nothing though compared to the ruckus they were making on New Year’s Eve.  Our neighbor Trouble got so mad he started barking at them to be quiet.  Doesn’t he know that only encourages them?  However, since then the Coyotes have been eerily quiet.  After realizing we haven’t heard the Coyote brothers in over a week, I thought we’d better go out to investigate their suspicious behavior.

Patrolling our woods is different than our usual neighborhood watch duty.  In the woods we need complete concentration.  We are Golden Wolves on a mission protecting our territory from predators.  However, as usual Asa didn’t understand the seriousness of the task at hand.  Would you believe he started making snow angels!  Embarrassed, I methodically scanned the forest to make sure the Coyotes weren’t hidden in plain sight laughing at him.  Luckily they weren’t.  In fact, there weren’t any signs of them at all.

In previous winters we’ve always seen their paw prints in our wood line.  Once we even found the leftovers from their midnight snack!  I thought for sure with their recent activity there would be signs everywhere.  But yesterday I found nothing.  Even more disturbing, there were absolutely no signs of Deer either.  Now that’s a disappointment, because Deer leave behind the most delectable treats.  Where was everyone?

Asa thinks Trouble’s barking scared them away.  Dad believes Trouble joined their pack and led them to new hunting grounds.  I, on the other paw, know the truth.  The Coyote brothers know that the recent Wolf Moon awakens my primal hunting instincts, for which they are no match.  They are no doubt laying low, scared, knowing that this neighborhood belongs to my Golden Wolf pack!  Whatever the case, I will enjoy the peace but will keep an eye to the woods in case they return.  One can never be too careful around the Coyote brothers!