I believe so but I’m not completely convinced. (9 photos)
I’ve posted many of these coyote photos before, as long ago as October of 2013 when the series was taken. But they were split up into at least three different blog posts over several years, which didn’t allow me to fully document the most interesting of several behaviors the coyote exhibited that morning. Today’s post is meant to rectify that.
All photos are presented in the order they were taken.
Back then I watched as the coyote explored along the Antelope Island causeway and eventually found a duck or shorebird carcass (probably leftovers from a falcon kill) that ‘he’ gnawed on for a while. After giving up on that meager meal he continued to look for something else, almost anything else, to eat.
When he reached the end of a rocky spit jutting out into Great Salt Lake he began to display some fascinating behavior. At first he showed interest in what I’ll call a “bump” near the end of the spit’s terminal rock. Perhaps he thought it might be food or maybe he was just curious, but that bump may have been what drew him out to the tip of the spit in the first place.
He began to place his left paw on the bump and that’s when he noticed…
his own reflection on the undisturbed and mirror-like surface of the water. In a heartbeat his behavior changed from food-scrounging to intense interest in that reflection.
At first when I noticed his slightly raised hackles I thought it might be an aggressive or fearful reaction to his reflection but I’ve rejected that possibility for two reasons: I now believe the raised hackles were caused by his body posture when skin over his shoulder blades was tightened when he lowered his head. In addition, none of his other behaviors or postures even hinted at aggression or fear.
And then, for quite a while, he stared and stared straight down at the reflection of his face and head.
Like I was, you’re probably curious about that “string” coming off of his right foot. When I zoomed in on the high-resolution version of the photo it turned out to be nothing more than a stream of muddy water that had been pulled up by his foot.
He swayed his head back and forth slightly and watched intently as his reflection followed.
He slowly turned to face more in my direction and watched as his reflection mimicked his every move.
It took a while but eventually he raised his head to check me out. I like his cross-legged pose.
After some time he lost interest in his reflection and strolled into the very shallow lake.
After one last quick glance back at me he resumed his scrounging for food.
At the risk of opening a Pandora’s box, I’m fairly confident that the coyote was “self-aware” as he was looking at his reflection, recognizing it as his own. Depending on the definition of self-aware, how a behavior is measured and interpreted and what “expert” you’re talking to, self awareness in many mammals and some birds remains a hot topic.
Passing the “mirror test” is one of the hallmarks of being self aware but the “experts” can’t even agree on that.
But after watching this coyote for as long as I did and studying my many photos of him as carefully as I have, I lean toward him being fully aware that the reflection he was watching was his own. My observations and photos don’t prove he was self-aware but that’s the way I lean.
As they say, convince me otherwise.
Ron
Note: Image techs for this series are at or close to 1/1000, f/11, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc
What a cool series and such a gorgeous coyote! There could be a couple of signs of unsureness (squinted eyes in one shot, the lifted paw in another), but hard to tell from a single pinpoint of time.
All my foster puppies and kittens get “mirror time” and most of the adults do as well (depending on behavioral issues we may be working on). It’s always a treat to watch the littles as they discover their reflections. 😀
I love this series. I have played around a bit with mirrors and birds. Some I feel have realized it is a reflection of themselves. Others see the reflection as a rival and fight the mirror image and look behind it for the hidden bird. I remove the mirror for this group. The ones that realized after a moment or two it is not a rival but their own reflection then parallax and get close, then far, tilt their head left and right. These birds loose interest in the mirror after a few days when left in their enclosure.
Charming photos! He does indeed look as if he is pondering himself!
Thanks for this precious little photo series.
You’re welcome, Susan.
I’m going with Frances’ explanation – Venus Effect, Mirrors, Reflections, Naive Physics! That was my immediate impression when I opened your post at 4:42 this am – “OK class, were you paying attention to yesterday’s lesson? Real World Application here.” I went back to sleep calculating reflection angles, left/right reversal problems, and trying to figure out what he was actually seeing. But of course, self-aware! I love that he was watching while swaying back and forth – that seems to take it to a whole other level!
I enjoyed your comment, Carolyn. A lot. Remarkable retention!
Regardless of what was on the coyote’s mind, those are the best coyote photos I’ve seen. Beautiful.
Much appreciated, Buff. I’m pretty fond of them myself,
First, “Who is that handsome devil?” Then, “Golly, I’m good-looking!”
I vote for a self-aware, sentient being, though his thoughts may not be exactly as suggested. I do love that cross-legged pose, but the one just before is my favorite. It is very disheartening to think that water is no more, just ten years later.
Chris, there was actually water there until 3 – 4 years ago. The lake is disappearing quickly.
Absolutely agree the coyote is self-aware. They’re pretty smart! See them often when I walk here in AZ. What a joyful series Ron. Thank you!
Thanks, Kathleen.
Absolutely wonderful reflection on the coyote. Thanks
Thank you, Kent.
When my farm dogs, who worked together as a predator control pack, first encountered their reflections in a full length mirror at my parents’ house, their behavior was fascinating. First the pack leader walked up to the mirror, smelled it, backed up, and cocked her head and stood sidewise to it. Somehow she cued behavior from the second in command. Second came from behind her to put both front paws on top of the leader’s back as both stared into the mirror. This convinced the dogs that it was them. I don’t remember what the third dog did. This behavior “mirrors” what the coyote is doing in your photos. I am certain dogs and wolf-dog crosses are self aware. Why not coyotes and foxes?
Indeed, why not, Pam!
That cross legged pose may be an individual parallel to one dog on top of another pose.
Whether the coyote recognizes the reflection as his or just “coyote” is a mystery, but the apparent lack of fear or aggression does seem to argue for self-awareness. One of our cats gets up on the bathroom counter snd sees his image in the mirror. He meows as if talking to it. Our other cat has never noticed his reflection as far as i know. Or perhaps recognizes himself and is just blasé about it.
Now that’s an interesting difference between your two cats, Lyle.
I think that coyote is definitely smarter than my ( indoor ) cat ! I’ve watched
her looking intently for long periods of time in my large mirror– I think she’s
confident –finally– that that “other” cat is not threatening to her, but she’s
not sure why.. ! Must be a submissive other cat……..
I don’t have a lot of experience with cats. Thanks for relating yours, Kris.
Fascinating. What intrigues me most about your photo series is the idea that this was likely not the first time this individual has seen his reflection in the lake. There he was, double checking a thing (the bump), and it would appear that the thought it was something other than just a bump of rock drew him out that spot on the water’s edge. Then, with this reality check fresh in his mind, he sees his reflection and pauses as if to ponder. On what we can only speculate. Some of us will tiptoe into the anthropomorphic. A bridge too far, or is it closer than we think? We may never really know or understand. It’s all part of the beautiful mystery of life.
Thanks for taking us all down this trail.
You’ve had some interesting thoughts on this, Michael. But then you often do on my posts.
I’m in the self aware camp. He didn’t freak like kittens/puppies/ some cats/dogs do when first encountering a mirror. 😉 Wonderful series, Ron. Coyotes are smart critters and do hunt cooperatively at times.
Good point about not freaking out. Thanks, Judy.
Crystal clear here. The coyote is an FP reader and a scientist and is investigating the Venus Effect and the left-right or, more accurately, backwards- forwards effects of mirrors or pools of water. If only s/he could post her/his reflections.
That must be it!
This is an awesome series of photos! I agree that there is self awareness. I was wondering If he ever reached a paw to touch his reflection? And that poignant look at you caught my attention also. What is to become of Salt Lake and of all wildness? Thanks for the story!
“If he ever reached a paw to touch his reflection?”
Not that I remember, Beth Ann. And not that I photographed.
What will become of the lake is still up in the air. But I’m far from optimistic.
No argument here! I think we make a great noise about our “position of superiority” in the animal world. Which strikes me as an invention to help us feel good about our precious selves.
Have you read “The Tiger” by John Vaillant? A Russian poacher shoots a large male Amur Tiger, wounding him. The animal then stalks him for days, waiting at the hunter’s cabin for his return. And after killing him, sets out on a rampage.
Nope, haven’t read it, Sallie. Sounds interesting but I’m still not doing much reading after my surgery.
What a beautiful series to start off the morning. Great job Ron. I agree with your observations and conclusion. I believe that if he saw that as anything else such as a threat he would have struck at it with his foot or even leaped on it. And we don’t know of course, but he may very well have seen his reflection in the lake or creeks many times before.
The more I look at each photo the more I appreciate this as both excellent photography and a very interesting look at wildlife in action. He was interested in you, but not afraid.
I have studied coyotes here for a long time now and have gained a strong appreciation for them. I have met many face to face and have had some interesting stand offs with neither knowing exactly what to do until I stamp my feet and yell causing it to run off.
Thank you, Everett. I suspect he’d seen his reflection on earlier occasions. Back then coyotes would regularly hunt the causeway. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one on the causeway because of the disappearing lake.
You remind me of the behavior of two coyotes at Bosque del Apache in New Mexico. One paraded out in front of a large gathering of (mostly) Snow Geese. The other crept up on the opposite side of the flock and succeeded in getting quite close. The second suddenly ran right into the flock as they all took wing. This seemed to be such a purposeful strategy, presumably to capture an unaware or disabled goose, although none were left behind and the ploy was unsuccessful.
Kenneth, that sounds to me like cooperative hunting.
I love your post today, Ron!! Not just for your assessment of the coyote’s interest in his reflection & explanation to us. The last photo when he looked at you made me sad. Sad for him and all our wildlife that are losing homes/territory to humans. He’s so beautiful to me & makes me wonder what his future holds for him
It makes me sad too, Jo Ann. Today there’s no lake water anywhere near that spit.