Call of the Wild

Some years ago, we had an owl in the woods behind our house, and after dark (especially in the fall) we would hear his call.  We often heard it when we were walking down the street, and he usually received an answering call from the trees nearby.  I loved to hear the owls; it was sort of a lonesome sound, but a homey one, too -- like the sound of a train whistle in the distance.  I could even hear them after I went to bed, but for some reason I don't hear them anymore.  It may be those new, double-paned windows, which do block out more sound, or the owls may have found another home.  I miss their soft hooting in the night. 

Hal's photo of the supermoon -- 2011

   A few evenings ago, Mr. Forest Manor returned from a walk with Duncan to tell me they had heard the coyotes.  It's been a while since we've heard coyotes here, and I went outside with him to listen.  They were making quite a racket.  Unlike the owls in the trees, the coyote sounds were anything but comforting.  They were the loudest I'd ever heard them; I don't know if that meant they were closer to our house or if there were just more of them.  It sounded like a pack of coyotes, rather than just one or two.   I was thinking about it afterward, and I think this sound awakens something very old in us, harkening back to our long distant, cave-dwelling ancestors.  Hal agreed with me that the sound coyotes make in the night is eerie, and for me, it raises the hair on the back of my neck.  We know that these physiological responses were passed down to us from our early ancestors and those responses can still warn us of danger.  I'm glad we keep Duncan on a leash when we walk him because coyotes are a menace to domestic pets.  I always wonder what response they arouse in Duncan; it's hard to tell because he doesn't seem to react much.  He probably recognizes the sound of a canine cousin, but these are not cousins he could pal around with. I believe coyotes can be found in almost all parts of the United States now, even in urban areas.  Have you ever had one come into your yard before?  To our knowledge, we have not.  Have you heard coyotes howling in the night? 

  Thanks so much for stopping by -- I hope you have a lovely day!