Kip the 30-pound terrier smells a stranger.
It had been a great July 4th as things began to wind down and the sun was setting. The traditional hot dogs and hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans and of course watermelon had been enjoyed. Full and completely satisfied, the three of us — Papa, Mama and of course Kip the 30-pound terrier — had settled down to watch the fireworks and hear the traditional holiday music on TV.
Ten o’clock rolled around, and it was time for Papa to take Kip out in the backyard for his final walk-around before he went to sleep in his spot under the bed. The sliding glass door opened, and Kip’s fur on his back stood straight up – tail extended. He ran out the door and started barking. He very rarely barks when in the backyard. We don’t want him to bother the neighbors. This particular night, Kip ran around the perimeter several times sniffing – on the trail – for some critter that had “violated” his sacred space.
A rabbit? There seem to be plenty of them from Jake’s Wetlands up through our La Costa neighborhood in Minden. Little doggy generally keeps the rabbits at bay by running after them as they slip under the side gates. Finally, content that no other critter was in his yard, he curled up and went to sleep.
Bright and early the next morning, Kip went to the door to go out and survey his property. Sniffing at the side gate, he knew something had been out the night before. Soon we received a text from our next-door neighbor that he found coyote scat and a small piece of fur-covered skull by his gate next to ours. Kip was right. Something had been near his backyard.
Talking with our friends across the street, it seems they heard a loud noise in their backyard the same night and the sound of a cat screeching. Being from Carson Valley, they figured a coyote had jumped their 6-foot fence while chasing its prey. Oh, my goodness, this Valley is full of surprises. Where we were raised and lived in the Florida Keys, we had iguanas up to 5 or so feet, and an occasional crocodile swimming among the mangroves along with several fat sea cows – manatees - coming in from the coastal marine waters…but never a coyote.
Since moving to our gorgeous, new neighborhood in Minden in 2020, we have seen several of these intelligent, adventurous wild creatures. The first time it was at sunset.
The interesting, bold animal was crossing a pasture off Monte Vista and Muller Parkway in search of dinner. The next day while walking Kip, we found the leg of a calf. Guess our cunning coyote had gotten a successful dinner. A few days later, while doggy was out exploring Jake’s Wetland, we watched a coyote leave the Wetlands, cross over Lucerne Street, go under a fence and walk through a shallow irrigation ditch into a large, metal tube. A couple of weeks ago, another neighbor spotted a coyote crossing the field on the corner of Ironwood Drive and Monte Vista Avenue. Curious and beautiful - still wild – creatures.
Our latest sighting was over on Jacks Valley Road while driving in the late afternoon. Cows were in the pasture near a lake and prancing in the field was a single, elegant, small coyote. The rays of the late sun presented a striking picture of this versatile creature as if he had been painted with reddish, golden flakes along his fur. The animal was very focused as he searched for his evening meal — perhaps a rabbit, rodent, bird or maybe some other small being.
People are here living amongst these interesting animals, and we have to adapt and appreciate the diversity which this beautiful Valley affords us while still protecting our dear, cherished domesticated animals.
Robin Sarantos is a Minden resident.
