Fauna Series No. 4

Fauna of the National Parks — No. 4 Ecology of the Coyote in the Yellowstone

CHAPTER VII:
ANTELOPE IN RELATION TO COYOTES

ANTELOPE-COYOTE RELATIONSHIPS

During the winter of 1937—38, I obtained relatively little information on antelope-coyote relationships. While winter conditions over most of the park were unfavorable to the ungulates, the antelope fared well because of the light snowfall on their range, which lies in a tongue of the Upper Sonoran Life Zone. Much of their range was free of snow so that low vegetation, such as Atriplex oblanceolata, was more available than usual. The antelope were in fairly good shape and perhaps on that account, at least in part, no coyote depredation was observed. Furthermore, there was much carrion available, so coyotes were not hungry. Apparently coyotes sometimes run down antelope but the condition of the victim may be a factor in causing predation. The animal might be sick or aged. Since antelope and coyotes existed together in numbers in early days it seems probable that the antelope must be constituted to take care of them selves under usual circumstances.

Observations were made at various times which give some information on coyote-antelope relations. On May 14, 1937, a buck followed a coyote, at a brisk walk, for about 150 yards. The coyote was about 150 yards ahead of the buck. From across a swale the coyote stopped briefly to watch his pursuer. The buck began to feed but the white hairs on the rump remained raised for about 2 minutes.

On August 17, 1937, at Yanceys, Martin Murie watched a coyote trot towards four does, four fawns, and a buck lying in a swale. The antelope ran up the side of the hollow, then turned in unison and chased the coyote. When coyote and antelope disappeared, a couple of hundred yards away, the antelope were only a few yards from the coyote.

On June 8, 1937, about noon, high on the ridge north of Cache Creek, I saw a buck and two coyotes together on a bare promontory. At times the coyotes were only 4 or 5 yards from the buck. Once he nearly ran down one of the coyotes by making a sudden charge, and several times he pawed the earth and lowered his horns threateningly. Once the buck stood looking at a coyote in front of him while the other sat 4 yards behind him. For a few moments all three stood surveying the Lamar Valley stretched out below and then the coyotes gradually moved off and out of sight. On an adjoining ridge a doe and fawn were resting about 200 yards apart.

On January 12, 1938, in the Turkey Pen, 24 antelope were resting 150 yards from where 2 coyotes were lying down.

Shortly before dusk on April 17, 1938, along Blacktail Deer Creek about 1-1/2 miles from the road, I saw about 100 antelope galloping easily along an open ridge in a compact band. About 200 or possibly 300 yards behind the antelope sped a lone coyote. While the chase was in sight it seemed that the coyote was rapidly being left behind. I suspect that the antelope were running because of high spirits, and the coyote may have given chase for the same reason, unless perchance it was a pup who knew no better and was galloping hopefully. On September 17, 1938, a coyote passed within 50 yards of a doe and fawn without disturbing them.

Rangers have reported seeing coyotes chasing antelope. Such chases, however, may sometimes be unimportant, for often antelope take the slightest excuse to express their exuberance in dashing over the hills. Often an entire band, and especially fawns of the year, dash wildly about in play. It is possible that under unusual conditions a healthy adult antelope might be killed by coyotes, although I have no evidence as to this possibility. Isolated cases of adults being run down by coyotes are reported but usually the circumstances arc not given or known, nor is the condition of the animal given. Thus an important element in the case is lacking.

Figure 36— The vertical line shows the postion of a former boundary fence. The range on the left, with the sagebrush nearly destroyed, had been more heavily used by antelope prior to removal of the fence.

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Last Modified: Thurs, Dec 20 2001 10:00:00 pm PDT
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