Photographer Pamela Underhill Karaz regularly sees wildlife on her 48-acre rural property in Trenton Falls, New York. One of the animals she sees (and often hears) are coyotes. A few years ago, Pamela experienced something magical and photographed a coyote doing something very dog-like.
While having her morning coffee, she spotted a coyote down her driveway. After marking a branch with his scent he popped up at the edge of her yard and while sniffing around he noticed a dog toy. What he did next had Pamela reaching for her camera…
According to Pamela, “He smelled it, cautiously picked it up then proceeded to PLAY with it, tossing it high into the air, throwing it around and very obviously thoroughly enjoying the experience…he then trotted off with his prize, the toy.”
“It was very evident the coyote never thought this toy was prey, he didn’t pick it up to see if it came to life, it didn’t smell of being an animal…it only had the saliva from our dogs on it and as someone once suggested, perhaps that had the scent of fun,” Pamela wrote.
“There’s no doubt in my mind from watching his actions, it was all play, yes even wild coyotes need and like to play as do all the animals in the animal kingdom…” said Pamela. “Truly one of my most memorable wildlife experiences.”
Photographs published on Reshareworthy.com with permission from Pamela Underhill Karaz.
These photos were also published on Mother Nature Network. To see more of Pamela’s photography visit her on Facebook.
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