Well, howdy there! Let’s gab a bit about these here coyotes and, uh, what’s that fancy word? Avalanche thingy-ma-jigs. Don’t rightly know much ’bout that science stuff, but I’ve seen my share of critters and snow in my days.
Coyotes, them sneaky fellers
Now, coyotes, they’re somethin’ else. Smart as a whip, some say. I seen ’em skulk around the henhouse, bold as brass. They ain’t scared of much, ‘cept maybe a good ol’ shotgun. Folks around here, they used to trap ’em and such, but there’s more of ’em now, seems like. They say it’s ’cause we built our houses and roads right smack in their territory. Makes sense, I guess. Where else they gonna go?
- Coyotes are smart.
- They ain’t afraid of nothin’.
- More coyotes around now.
I heard tell some folks get all worked up about ’em. Think they’re gonna snatch up their little Fluffy, you know, them yappy little dogs city folk like. Heck, a coyote’s gotta eat, just like the rest of us. But mostly, they eat rabbits and such. Leastways, that’s what I seen. They also like mice and fruits too if they can get them. Seen them eating berries right off the bushes in the summer time just like a bunch of kids picking a snack. Sometimes they eat trash if people leave it out so we ought to keep our stuff put away neat and tidy then them coyotes wont go rooting in it.
Avalanches, the white death
Now, avalanches, that’s a whole ‘nother story. Scary stuff, that is. I ain’t never been caught in one, thank the Lord, but I seen the aftermath. Trees snapped like toothpicks, snow piled up high as a house. They say it’s the snow gettin’ too heavy and slidin’ down the mountain. Happens more in the winter, of course, when there’s a lot of snow. But sometimes, even in the spring, when things start to melt. It just depends on the year and how much snow we gets and how fast it warms up and melts is what I figure.
Can coyotes predict avalanches?
Now, here’s where it gets tricky. Some folks say coyotes, and other animals too, they can sense when an avalanche is comin’. Like they got some kinda sixth sense or somethin’. Maybe they hear somethin’ we can’t, or smell somethin’. I don’t rightly know. But I tell you what, animals are a whole lot smarter than we give ’em credit for. They know how to survive, that’s for sure.
I remember one time, years ago, we had a real bad winter. Snow piled up somethin’ fierce. And the coyotes, they started actin’ strange. They was howlin’ more than usual, and they was movin’ down from the mountains, closer to the valley. And then, sure enough, a few days later, BOOM! Avalanche came down, right where them coyotes had been. Now, maybe it was just a coincidence, but it made me think. Maybe them critters knew somethin’ we didn’t.
What the scientists say
Now, I ain’t no scientist, but I read in the paper once, them fellers in the city, they studyin’ this kinda stuff. They call it “animal behavior” or somethin’ like that. They put collars on them coyotes, with little gizmos that track where they go. And they watch ’em, see what they do before an avalanche. I reckon they’re tryin’ to figure out if them coyotes can really predict these here avalanches. Maybe they can use that information to warn folks, keep ’em safe.
Common sense is important too
But I tell you what, you don’t need a fancy degree to know when somethin’ ain’t right. If you see the coyotes actin’ strange, or any other animals for that matter, you best pay attention. And if the snow’s piled up high and it’s gettin’ warm, well, that’s just common sense, ain’t it? Stay outta the mountains. Don’t go temptin’ fate.
Coyotes in the city
Now, I hear tell them coyotes are even movin’ into the cities now. Can you believe it? Guess they figured out there’s easy pickin’s there. Folks leavin’ out their garbage, their pet food. It’s a buffet for them critters. But that’s a whole ‘nother problem, ain’t it? Humans and animals, always tryin’ to figure out how to live together. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don’t.
So, can coyotes predict avalanches? Well, like I said, I ain’t got no definitive answer. But I believe they know more than we think they do. And it pays to pay attention to ’em. They’re part of nature, just like us. And nature, she’s a powerful force. Best to respect it, I say. Best to respect them coyotes too, even if they do steal a chicken now and then. They’re just trying to make a living just like the rest of us.
Final words
So there you have it, my two cents on coyotes and avalanches. It ain’t much but it’s honest. And remember, stay safe out there in the snow and watch out for critters and the signs they show you. Sometimes they know a whole heap more than we do.
