Naturalist Notes: Leavings from a Coyote Pack

I lead a series of family tracking/nature observation programs this past weekend as part of the Massachusetts ‘Great Park Pursuit’ which culminated with a finale at Blackstone River and Canal State Park in Uxbridge. There was a whole host of activities from horse-drawn carriage rides, to live animal displays, live music, naturalist-led nature programs (that was me), crafts and more.

 I was stationed across the canal from the main event area, in a grassy field bordered by the canal and an oxbow of the Blackstone River with shruby edges. When I arrived, some of the  rangers had discovered a pellet, probably owl, under the tent and marked it off with sticks so I could share it with families that came out.

One of the scat deposits left by a coyote pack

I had two families in my first program, and after examining the pellet we compared it to a bit of scat that was laying nearby. As we continued to scout around, we discovered 6 more scat deposits all along the brush edge, and the obvious remnants of a lay.  I took some notes – included below – after the program ended to record my findings.

 Blackstone River & Canal State Park, Uxbridge, MA
9-15-12, 2:20 PM.
Sunny, breezy & warm, ~75°F 

Led a last-minute family tracking & nature observation program for the DCR. Stationed in a large, grassy field right on the brushy edge of an oxbow of the Blackstone River. Relatively shallow water here, but moving. Scat located right along edge, very fresh – just a few hours old. Contains some hair but not much – could be domestic dog, but prob. not given other findings right near by.

At least 6 but probably more scat deposits, most likely all coyote. Several were about the same age, likely indicating the leavings of a pack in this area. All scat deposits found were along the brush line, stretched along for roughly 20 meters.

Coyote lay – circular in shape, approx. 14″ in diameter.

In the brush were some clear lays – definitely from coyotes and assuming the same pack, given the clear territoriality markings left here. I can see individual impressions of bodies where a coyote would have laid curled up in some places, stretched out in others. Near the largest matted-down area of grass is a covered and protected portion, which has the well-matted look of much use. Despite being relatively hidden, this doesn’t strike me as a den where pups would have been raised.  It’s very close to the field and human activity, and I’d imagine there’s probably spots dug out along the bank that would make better dens.

Confirming my assumption about this being a lay for a coyote pack, there are several scat deposits in and around these grassy areas, of varying age. What a great find from my day – totally unexpected!

The more ‘den’-like area of the lay