Yesterday evening we watched as a couple of ravens brazenly pulled up almost every single label in my veg garden and just left them there.  One raven would cleverly pull out a tag, while the the other raucously cawed him on, like evil laughter!  They don’t seem to have any purpose or motive, other than pure gleeful mischief, much like insolent human toddlers.  All that effort was rewarded by crowding into the small birdbath for a drink.  Sorry again for the blurry quality.

Speaking of emboldened wildlife, just when I thought I’d seen everything, this happened.  It was 8:15 AM, the rain just giving way to sun, and all the ravens and critters, including Misu, were very agitated.  There was what had to be a coyote, just meandering alone around our garden!  (You can just make out all the labels strewn around by the ravens.)  At first I thought it was a fawn, as it was tan, long-legged, and sleek, like a deer.  Maybe a younger coyote, or a hybrid?  It seemed more curious than wary, so I was able to catch a few somewhat focused photos from windows (while Misu raced nervously from one to the other for a better look).  After a few moments the coyote calmly trotted off.

I understand coyotes living in close proximity to humans may become more nocturnal, but may still come out in early morning or evening to hunt for food; while in less populated areas, they feel safe hunting during the day, and not always within a pack.  They prefer small rodents and rabbits to human or pet food (or pets).  There have been more rabbits around here lately (as well as the odd scraps).  I confess I’m pleased by all these “encroachments” of wildlife back into their stolen territories.  You have to admire the chutzpah.  They are putting up with us, after all.