Project Coyote

Did you know that August is National Make-A-Will Month?  Though estate planning can be daunting, it’s a time when we can reflect on the future we’re shaping for the next generations on our shared planet. 🌎 Project Coyote’s work is only possible because people like you care deeply about protecting wild lives for their intrinsic value, fostering thriving ecosystems, and promoting compassionate coexistence in our multispecies communities.  This month, we’re excited to share our partnership with FreeWill to make it as easy as possible for you to write a will—for free! This online resource is a simple, but essential way to ensure your loved ones and the causes most dear to your heart are protected.  Please consider protecting wolves, bears, mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, and all wild carnivores in your future planning. In the wake of the Wyoming wolf torture incident, legalized killing of wild carnivores with snowmobiles throughout most of the Northern Rocky Mountains, and tax-dollar funded wildlife killing programs, our work to shield wild carnivores from unjust persecution is more important than ever. Get started today: https://lnkd.in/e8CDxPfz

Where'd you get those peepers? 👀 Almost all coyotes have striking golden-brown eyes, but not this rare blue-eyed beauty, shared with us by #CaptureCoexistence Contributor, Tara Johnson. Scientists believe this unique and uncommon eye color results from a genetic mutation, or may even indicate recent hybridization with domestic dogs in certain areas. In such cases, these animals may display other noticeable phenotypic changes—such as coat color, facial structure, and proportions. While blue eyes are common in domestic dogs, they can be a disadvantage in the wild, potentially disrupting a coyote's natural camouflage or increasing light sensitivity. However, the greatest threat to coyotes by far remains human activity, including unethical wildlife killing contests and lethal "management" policies that disregard scientific evidence and modern values. This glimpse into coyote genetics reminds us how wild nature continually surprises and inspires us. 📷 Tara Johnson, #CaptureCoexistence Contributor

How does that old saying go? Coyote see, coyote do? 🐺👀🐱 This is an interaction you don't see every day! These two species generally avoid each other, but competition or other scenarios can lead to the occasional encounter. While it is relatively rare, coyotes will sometimes hunt bobcats, particularly when resources are scarce or if a bobcat is young or otherwise vulnerable. However, it is more common for a coyote to scavenge a bobcat rather than actively pursue one. Coyotes are clever and adaptable, but bobcats have some tricks up their sleeves. Armed with stealth, expert knowledge of their territory, and the ultimate escape route—climbing trees—bobcats have plenty of ways to give coyotes the slip! 📹 Annica Kreuter

✨ You're invited to an upcoming conversation and Q&A with author, nature advocate, rewilding facilitator, and Project Coyote Ambassador, Vanessa Chakour! ✨ Vanessa and Project Coyote Founder & Executive Director Camilla Fox will be discussing: 🐾 Vanessa's new book, "Earthly Bodies: Embracing Animal Nature" 🐾 Her role as an Ambassador for our Artists for Wild Nature program 🐾 Wild Voices Collective—an initiative that helps artists advocate for wildlife 🐾 An upcoming “Writing For The Wild” workshop and lecture series this fall, with 50% of proceeds benefiting Project Coyote! Project Coyote supporters get a 12% discount on workshop registration with code COMPASSIONFORCARNIVORES8. Register today to save your spot! https://lnkd.in/eE9_8WCN

Personally, we're a 1.

There is nothing quite like observing wild coyotes, wolves, and bears in their natural habitats. Few people are lucky enough to experience these sights in-person. Thankfully, wildlife photographers and videographers will wait patiently for hours, days, or sometimes even weeks to capture these sentient beings on camera. Project Coyote is continually inspired by the dedication of our #CaptureCoexistence Contributors to showcasing the beauty of wild lives and sharing impactful stories and observations from the field. We spoke to Josh Shandera recently, a Contributor since the inception of our #CaptureCoexistence campaign, about his experiences documenting wildlife.  Josh’s passion for wild carnivores has led him to Yellowstone National Park countless times, as well as other areas of wild nature across the country, to observe and document gray wolves, red wolves, bears, coyotes, foxes, and numerous other species. Like our team members at Project Coyote, Josh is passionate about ending the unjust and unscientific persecution of wild carnivores by inspiring new audiences to care about these animals as individuals.  We hope you’ll enjoy hearing about Josh’s journey as a wildlife photographer and his captivating stories from the field. 🐺 Read it here: https://lnkd.in/e282tpf9 📷 Josh Shandera, #CaptureCoexistence Contributor

As private interests turn profits on public lands, wildlife and taxpayers pay the price. “Since the first European settlers set foot on this continent, they viewed predators as a threat to species humans hunt for game or raise for food,” says Camilla Fox of the California-based Project Coyote. “Public attitudes, science and ethics have evolved since then, but federal practices and policies haven’t kept up.” Don't miss this crucial discussion featuring Project Coyote Founder & Executive Director, Camilla H. Fox.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 (H.R. 8998), a bill containing anti-environmental and harmful provisions for wildlife, notably removing federal protections for gray wolves across the lower 48 states. The bill passed largely along party lines with a vote of 210 to 205. Despite opposition from over 80 environmental organizations, wildlife continues to suffer from irresponsible decisions driven by political gain. The elimination of these crucial ESA protections would have severe consequences for gray wolves. In states where protections have been lifted in recent years, thousands of wolves have been shot or trapped. Furthermore, the absence of ESA protections has resulted in individuals like Cody Roberts facing virtually zero repercussions for torturing and abusing wolves. Wolves need your help! 🐾 Join The Coyote Collective: a monthly giving community of wildlife advocates who collectively ensure Project Coyote's success in protecting wild carnivores and promoting coexistence. https://lnkd.in/eCAtb3cq 🐾 Sign our petition calling for the restoration of federal protections for ALL wolves. #RelistWolves https://lnkd.in/euWJW7Vp 🐾 Share this post with your network to raise awareness.

In the summer, we often see a spike in reports of people being followed by a coyote while walking along a path or sidewalk. While this behavior is often misinterpreted as “stalking” or “aggressive”, in reality that coyote is likely just trying to protect their offspring. In the summertime, coyote parents are protective of their growing pups, and they will often “escort” humans away from their families by following them until they feel secure — especially if humans are accompanied by a dog, which coyotes may see as a threat to their young. If a coyote follows you, be sure your dogs are leashed and calmly continue walking away. If you feel that the coyote approaches too closely, you may consider using humane hazing techniques. It’s also common to see larger groups of coyotes at this time of year. Coyote mothers typically have 3-7 pups, though the exact number is influenced by resource availability and competition. In response to population drops and disrupted social systems due to intentional killing, including trapping, hunting, and killing contests, coyotes have a unique adaptation to produce larger litters—often with greater pup survival. Therefore, in areas that experience high amounts of indiscriminate killing, larger numbers of coyote pups may be born and survive to adulthood due to increased resources following a brief population decline. However, the mortality rate of pups usually rests between 50 - 70% in their first year. Help coyote families this summer by promoting coyote coexistence in your community, keeping your distance from known coyote dens, and keeping your dogs on leash while walking or hiking. 📷 Larry Taylor, #CaptureCoexistence Contributor | @taylor.nature.photography

The Perks of Appreciating Wild Neighbors as Sentient Beings 🐺🌎🐻 Science journalist Brandon Keim’s book "Meet the Neighbors" was recently featured on Psychology Today in an interview with Marc Bekoff, Project Coyote Science Advisory Board Member. The book and discussion explore understanding wild animals as sentient beings, emphasizing how this perspective can enhance coexistence and foster greater appreciation for wildlife. "In "Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-than-Human World", acclaimed science journalist Brandon Keim explores what animal personhood—knowing these neighborly animals as thinking, feeling beings—means for our relationships with wild animals and nature. He asks what would it mean to take a knowledge of animals as fellow persons out onto the landscape. Can thinking of nonhumans as our neighbors help chart a course to a kinder, gentler planet? [His book] offers many reasons for rewilding ourselves, taking sentience seriously, and for all of us to routinely take in many breaths of fresh air." - Marc Bekoff, Project Coyote Science Advisory Board Member 🔗 Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/e8QhxVPB