Any animal as intelligent and athletic as Charlie needs plenty of exercise and stimulation to stay happy. It’s become apparent that if Charlie were allowed to roam free, he would return to the cabin – like the cat does – after running around the hills and trotting up to MC’s and trying to nab a goose. Yet, if he was seen wandering unattended, he would be dead within a day. Even though he lives with me, even though he hasn’t harmed anything. It’s just that ingrained here – coyotes are to be shot.
Because that is the unfortunate way things are, I take him on two hikes, at least an hour each, every day, morning and evening. It’s a commitment. There are times I stumble around the hills at 5am before work, or don my Stetson and rubber boots on a rainy night. But even when I REALLY don’t want to go out, I end up loving that time in the quiet, in the land, roaming with Charlie. I have him on a really long leash but when we are away from the geese and the road I let him go so he can run top speed, uninhibited. It’s an incredible sight – he shoots past me in a blur, then makes a 90-degree turn still at top speed, then doubles back, then races up to me with a smile, then out again, then back to me.
He flattens out in the grass, hiding, then shoots out with his tail wagging as I approach. He points, standing still as a statue with one foot raised and then dives into the tall grass to catch a bug.
In addition to our daily treks, Charlie has a long runner strung between the cabin and some distant trees where I can clip him when I’m working in the cabin and he can wander and sniff and try to dig up prairie dogs, and I take him up to MC’s every few days to play with MC’s dogs.
Recently, Charlie and I have started playing catch (or fetch…?) I sit in the grass and throw a a bone and Charlie races to it and runs back to me with the bone in his mouth. Over and over and over and over…..yes, like a dog. But maybe, it’s that dogs play fetch like coyotes…
A different photo of Charlie will appear here every time you visit the blog.
You can scroll to see the archives or use the menu in the sidebar.
photo taken August 2020
one year ago:
Sittin’ Pretty
two years ago:
Evening Stroll
three years ago:
Sage
four years ago:
Holding The Universe
five years ago:
In This Place, This Hour
six years ago:
I Would Ride With You Upon The Wind
seven years ago:
Brownnoser
eight years ago:
And Again With The Carpet
nine years ago:
Summer Smile
ten years ago:
Window To The Coyote Soul
eleven years ago:
Sphinx
twelve years ago:
The Winter Coat
photo taken August 2020
one year ago:
Scoutin’ Sunrise
two years ago:
Evening Stroll
three years ago:
Growing Back
four years ago:
Hazy & Crazy
five years ago:
C’mon Get Happy
six years ago:
I Would Ride With You Upon The Wind
seven years ago:
Straight Up
eight years ago:
And Again With The Carpet
nine years ago:
It Got HOT
ten years ago:
Open Wide x 2
eleven years ago:
A Pair Of Jokers
twelve years ago:
The Winter Coat
photo taken August 2020
one year ago:
My Little Munchkin
two years ago:
Lazy Days
three years ago:
Ear Season
four years ago:
Lookin’ Sharp
five years ago:
TGIF
six years ago:
Off To Play
seven years ago:
Light’s Light Touch
eight years ago:
Summer Color
nine years ago:
Sunny Honey
ten years ago:
Brace Yourself
eleven years ago:
Pause On The Paws
photo taken August 2020
one year ago:
The Golden Edges Of Summer
two years ago:
A Pouf Of Color
three years ago:
Ear Season
four years ago:
Pretty Little Things
five years ago:
Remind Me
six years ago:
Dances With Light
seven years ago:
When I Grow Up…. I Want To Be Just Like Him
eight years ago:
Notes On Charlie ~ July 5
nine years ago:
Yay! Play!
ten years ago:
Brace Yourself
eleven years ago:
Depth Of Field
twelve years ago:
Softest Spiral
photo taken January 2019
one year ago:
Charlie In May vs Charlie In July
two years ago:
A Pouf Of Color
three years ago:
Close To Camoflaged
four years ago:
Pretty Little Things
five years ago:
Your Gorgeous Chaos
six years ago:
Angel’s Angles
seven years ago:
Interrupting A Romp
eight years ago:
Notes On Charlie ~ July 5
nine years ago:
Yay! Play!
ten years ago:
Shedding Season
eleven years ago:
Snow Nosedive
twelve years ago:
The Livin’s Easy
