250 The Mammals of Colorado 
make interesting pets. One quite frequently sees them about 
ranches thus tamed. An old coyote was seen by me on the 
bank of the Snake River, near Lily, Routt County, having 
a game all by itself. The animal was at first observed at some 
little distance away, apparently acting in a very peculiar 
manner. On taking advantage of some trees and approach- 
ing closer, the coyote, which was on the opposite side of the 
river, was seen to be playing. It would run along the shore, 
pick up a stick in its mouth, shake it and run along with it, 
playing much as a puppy does, but this was a full-grown 
coyote; it was too early, July first, for the young to be about, 
and besides they would not have grown as large as that one 
by that time. Finally the coyote saw that he was being 
observed, and promptly took his departure. 
Recently I saw something very interesting and rather 
puzzling. While driving with a friend toward Silver Cliff, 
and a mile or two outside the town, two coyotes suddenly 
came over a little rise, trotting along in single file, and 25 
or 30 yards from the road. A few yards behind and following 
them was a badger. The animals paid but little attention 
to us until the cart was stopped, w^hen the coyotes ran off, 
the badger following in their tracks. A hundred yards or so 
away the coyotes stopped and watched us a minute or two, 
then turned and trotted slowly off, the badger still following. 
I have been told of something similar on the plains of 
eastern Colorado, a friend having told me that he had seen a 
coyote and a badger apparently in company several times, 
and that they seemed to be hunting together. Of course 
there is a beautiful opportunity here to enlarge upon the 
association of the two animals, and theorize upon the fact 
that a partnership had been formed, with the understanding 
that the coyote would chase the game into a hole, and the 
badger dig it out, and then the spoils were to be divided. 
But I decline to take the responsibility of any such theories. 
