Have you heard about the woman in Wyoming who rescued a tiny coyote pup? She brought it home to her cabin and raised it with her cat. The two animals are best friends and the coyote seems very domesticated. Here's her blog:

The Daily Coyote (http://dailycoyote.blogspot.com/)

That is very interesting. Merle's Door by Ted Kerasote was under my Christmas tree this year. I just finished chapter 2 which discusses how the dog may have been domesticated. So a coyote that started living with a person and a cat at 10 days could easily adapt to living with them. Perhaps even better than a dog that had little contact with either before 3-4 months.

With a new puppy every year, I am a bit paranoid about hawks. With Xanthe, I finally concluded when she gets as big as the neighbor's cats, that have been around for years, likely she is safe.

That is interesting. But what is the general rule of thumb? You cannot take a wild animal from the wild and begin to think that the animal will be your pet? Good for this woman who did this and hope it does work out for her.

I think the general rule is that it is illegal and often doesn't work very well. This is a case where it is legal and working so far. In Merle's Door it discusses even if the failure rate is high, eventually the successes would lead to the domesticated dog.

She adopted the tiny pup because "the alternative was him being drowned in a water tank." She has checked with the state fish and game department which says this is NOT illegal in that state.

Her next-door neighbor is "MC, which stands for My Cowboy, though technically he is not a cowboy at all - he is a coyote expert employed by the federal government, and his experience and proximity (we share a driveway) have been invaluable for me and Charlie."

She is very aware that, in Wyoming, "coyotes are the antichrist." She is now at the point where she must decide on getting him neutered. Almost all her readers think she should.

I've seen coyotes at zoos and even walking down my street early in the morning. All of those were scruffy, mangy-looking creatures. Charlie is gorgeous. I hope this story has a happy ending.

Wondergirl I have been watching this lady and her coyote for awhile. I posted this on firmbelievers artist thread awhile back. I am happy to see that other people are finding that blog. I look at it each day. The pictures are great... I hope they have a happy ending.

The book, The Daily Coyote, has been published. I've read it twice already. If you love animals, this is the book for you or a Christmas gift for someone special on your list.

From an Amazon review: "The situation is unusual: the author tells of one year spent learning to live, love and communicate with a wild animal. As adorable as Charlie is, Shreve never downplays or simplifies his essential wild nature. She has a lot of help from Eli, a splendid cat who eventually agrees to mentor the little predator, and Mike, a fine, complicated man who kills coyotes as part of his job but still saved Charlie on impulse. Behind it all lies the rugged, magnificent Wyoming scenery that enthralled Shreve in the first place.

This is simply a splendid book. It's also a very wise one, with much to say about people in relation to the wild, as well embracing what life offers. Buy it, because it's also one to savor."

That is so amazing. I can't believe I haven't heard of this before. Its truly inspiring.