The Coyote and the Calf

On the evening of June 1, almost at sunset, I walked up to the top of the farm to make a last check for the night of my cows ready to calve - one in particular, Simone, who had headed off to the woods by herself in the early afternoon. I saw the rest of the herd up near where I had last seen Simone, some 6 hours before. I was gratified as I approached that they took only casual notice of me. To them, I am no stranger.

Off in the bushes I saw Simone. I stopped about 15 feet away from her and just stood still. I listened. I watched. I noticed all I could. I concluded that she had not calved yet. She was standing still too, at an angle to me but facing me. At this point she turned and looked behind her. Then she turned right around. I was puzzled. Did she actually have a calf over there? Then I noticed a small shape in the grass there. It could be a calf after all!. I bent down to peer under the alders. And stared right into the rather broad face of a coyote, just 40 feet away! After 5 seconds of mutual staring, the coyote wheeled and bounded away fast.

I was left with my thoughts. It was I who had started the process that brought Simone to face birthing her calf tonight, although my plan was that calving take place in May. I know that the coyotes pup in June and are hungry then. My calves are supposed to arrive before June.

So what will happen tonight? If the coyotes trouble Simone, will Phyllis, with her horns, come to her assistance? I feel that I have come face to face with one dynamic of this ecosystem. I have touched it. Not only that; I am a player in it. This is my place and I am a small player in the drama here. I hope Simone births her calf safely tonight.

9:45pm June 1. I can hear the coyotes yelping, although they seem to be on the next farm. Hmmmm.

6:30am June 2. A sunny June morning with a heavy dew so that the cows are easily tracked. But I soon spot Simone anyway. And again there is a small shape in the grass. Wow, it's a beautiful calf, lying down but alert! The coyotes were otherwise preoccupied it seems. Or maybe they have felt Phyllis' wrath before and backed off. Simone is licking her calf. This is significant too, since just a year ago she refused to recognize her calf as being hers.

I'm happy. I can't easily draw a moral from all this. Touching the ecosystem dynamic, if this does not seem too presumptuous, was to share in the adventure of this night, having a modicum of influence but no control. It's good.

Ron Loucks,
Maple Creek Farm, N.S.