MAMMALS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 



81 



dividual may climb up a tree and remain 

 there for days without coming down, 

 dining on bark or buds when necessary. 

 Much has been made of the damage to 

 trees by porcupines, but, here in Yo- 



FLESH-EATERS 



From KoJachromt by G. GalUson 

 Young mountain coyote near Badger Pass. 



Large, for a coyote, and "tame," the 

 first impression given by a mountain 

 coyote is that a German shepherd dog 

 is at large in the park. The grizzled, gray- 

 ish buff color also suggests a timber wolf. 

 True wolves are much larger, of more 

 powerful build, and have not been re- 

 corded in our area. 



Coyotes are common here, ranging up 

 to the very high country. In winter, they 

 are more numerous in Yosemite Valley, 

 presumably because deep snow reduces 



semite, they do not seriously affect the 

 scenic values of the forest. They do, how- 

 ever, give the Park Engineer a headache 

 with their gnawing of the boards in cer- 

 tain structures, such as pit privies! 



— Carnivores 



the availability of food up high. How- 

 ever, some are at Tuolumne Meadows all 

 winter. It is interesting to see coyotes 

 hunting mice in the snow covered mead- 

 ows of the valley. They seem to follow 

 the mice by listening to them as they 

 travel under the snow, then pouncing on 

 them in cat-like fashion. 



In heavy snow years, coyotes take toll 

 of the fawns or yearling deer, which 

 cannot escape readily in the heavy going. 

 Ordinarily, a healthy, adult deer is a 

 match for a coyote, and has been seen 

 successfully to ward off an attack from 

 two or more, given open ground and 

 good footing. The deer population main- 

 tains itself successfully, notwithstanding 

 the fact that the National Park Service 

 gives equal protection to all predators. 

 The usual food of the coyote consists 

 of lesser game, such as rodents, various 

 fruits, and carrion. 



The Sierra red fox is a rarity in the 

 park, and few records come to our at- 

 tention. One was seen at Tuolumne Mead- 



From castt by M. V. Hood 

 Tracks of gray fox, left, and coyote, right. Six-inch pencils. 



