February 2, 2024: Coyote Midnight Chorus at the North Nest
Channel: Raptor Resource Project
Date: 2024-02-05

Coyotes began singing shortly after midnight on February 2. While Mr. North and DNF hardly stirred a tailfeather, it upset a local dog. The next morning, Mr. North, a subadult Bald Eagle, and a group of American Crows found a dead racoon near the North nest tree. Did the coyotes kill it? Did Mr. North or DNF leave it partially eaten on the ground? We don't know, but we do know the freshly killed and chilled meat was deeply appreciated by everyone who found it: https://youtu.be/0ImLhUbgGlo?si=ooZf6Ulfi2ABdCGY

Carrion has some interesting tradeoffs with live prey. A carcass can't run away or bite, but its nutritional and energetic returns diminish pretty quickly as it decomposes and other animals join the putrefying picnic. Fortunately, the refrigerator-like air - cold and a little damp - is delaying decomposition and keeping the meat's energy content high. Note the crows! Crows are unable to tear the skin from fresh carcasses. They benefit by feeding in association with eagles, who tear everything open and leave behind relatively fresh scraps behind for other animals to clean up.