Have you ever heard a coyote howl in the distance? Have you seen them dart out across a road in your neighborhood? Did you ever wonder, was that a big dog or a coyote? Well, now is your chance to learn more about that amazing and elusive animal, the coyote.
While I was researching the coyote, I learned that many communities are dealing with more frequent sightings as the coyote’s habitat is shrinking and people are moving into their natural territory.
As always, where possible, I suggest an alternative or supplementary nature study topic for you to choose from for each Outdoor Hour Challenge. This week the alternative suggested nature study topic is: Outdoor Hour Challenge: Dogs.
Here are a few ideas to get you started with a coyote nature study:
- Choose your resource for learning about the coyote. This can be an online site like National Trappers Association or the National Park Service. You can hear coyotes howling and yipping in this video: Coyote Howl. Our neighborhood has several coyotes and we hear them howling when they hear sirens in the distance. It can be so loud! Can you howl and yip like a coyote?
Please note that I won’t be posting the complete challenge here on the blog, but you will find the detailed challenge in the High Desert ebook that’s available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, and notebook pages.
If you don’t have a membership yet, you can click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 25 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!
Topics in this ebook include:
- Bitterbrush
- Sagebrush
- Greater sage-grouse
- Succulents
- Mountain Lion
- Coyote
- Pocket Gopher
- Bristlecone Pine
- Elk
- Turkey Vulture
- Juniper
- Snowberry
- Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel
- River Otter
Please use the discount code SPRINGBREAK to receive $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Membership
In the early spring, the meadow comes alive with popcorn flower. Next to bloom are the shooting stars, the California poppies, and the purple Chinese houses. Making observations of the meadow has become an annual activity for me and it is enjoyable to know which flowers to anticipate as the season goes on. The early spring wildflowers make their appearance before the surrounding trees leaf out and make shade. These plants quickly flower and go to seed, waiting for the next year to bloom again.
