74 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE YOSEMITE 



when they are occasionally used by rangers, little chance of confusion on 

 that score is likely to arise. The four toes and one heel pad each make 

 an impression, that of the heel being only slightly the larger. On soft 

 ground or snow, into which the feet can sink, the claws, also, leave imprints. 

 The foot impression as a whole is longer than broad, that of a large animal 

 in soft snow measuring 80 by 70 millimeters. The Mountain Lion track 

 is much larger, and proportionately wider, the heel imprint is much wider, 

 and no claw marks ever show. The wolverine's track shows five unequal 

 toes and a very large triangular heel pad. The tracks of all the other 

 mountain carnivores (bears of course excepted) are much smaller than 

 those of the Mountain Coyote. 



The coyote's foot is so constructed as to give the animal, in spite of its 

 weight and size, a decided advantage when traveling over snow. The toes 

 spread somewhat, thus giving an expanded area of support. The coyote 

 is thereby enabled to run over relatively soft and deep snow, where a deer 

 would break through and make, at best, only slow progress. 



The gait of a Mountain Coyote resembles in certain respects that of 

 a dog. Undisturbed, the animal walks or trots. When stalking prey, such 

 as a mouse or gopher, in the open, it proceeds very slowly and with caution. 

 Its best gait for making distance is a gallop, which is easier than the gallop 

 of most dogs. The speed at which a frightened coyote can lope away is 

 surprising to anybody observing one for the first time. The animal now 

 and then casts a crafty glance to one side or the other but this in no degree 

 lessens the rate of its departure. We did not ourselves catch sight of more 

 than a single coyote at any one time. Ranger Townslej' reports seeing two 

 together on one occasion. We have no definite knowledge of the animals 

 occurring in larger groups at any time, in spite of rumors that thej^ some- 

 times "hunt in packs." 



The Mountain Coyote as compared with the Valley species is thought 

 to be of bolder disposition ; and it is much more of a hunter of the larger 

 active sorts of prey. The Mountain Coyote seems to prefer to get its prey 

 through capture in the open or by digging it out. It is less of a carrion 

 feeder. It is not at all averse, however, to eating carrion. It will feed on 

 the carcass of a deer long dead; and we have captured coyotes in traps 

 baited with the partly decayed bodies of small mammals and birds dis- 

 carded days before in the preparation of specimens. 



On July 25, 1920, at the Dudley ranch, 6 miles east of Coulterville, 

 Mr. Donald D. McLean had an exceptional opportunity to see a coyote in 

 action. Mr. McLean had taken his position at daylight on top of one of 

 the barns. Considerably before sunrise a coyote suddenly appeared close 

 to the house and snapped up one of a flock of chickens that had just started 

 out to forage. The coyote nabbed the chicken so quickly that the bird gave 



