"Song Dog Reunion"
Lamar Valley, Yellowstone Wyo. Jan 2021
On a cold cloudy day in Lamar Valley, this male Coyote was impatiently waiting its turn to eat on an Elk carcass that was being claimed by a single black wolf. Other coyotes were in the area doing the same. After 20 minutes he began to howl and all the others chimed in. The entire valley erupted in the melodic sounds of the Coyote as if to say "go away wolf, we're hungry!"
As the others quieted down this one kept bellowing long lonely howls with his head straight up. We then heard behind us an answer. High up on the ridge a single Coyote began answering every call from this male. The beautiful songs of these two Coyotes echoed back and forth across the valley. Then they stopped and an eerie silence returned. Less than ten minutes later we saw her. A single female had come down the hill, crossed the road and joined her partner. They met with such joy and excitement, as if they had not seen each other in a year. They danced and played and postured. They would stand cheek to cheek motionless then explode once again into their playful dance. It was obvious they were a mated pair. How long they were apart no one knows, but their excitement to be back together was obvious!
