Notes On Charlie - September 6
Hunting season has begun, and MC is a guide. The hunter he had this past week got an elk, and when that happens, they take the elk to his house, skin it, and remove the lower legs before taking it to the processors to have the meat done up.
The legs are of no value to these hunters, so I asked the hunter if I could have one of the legs. I gave it to Charlie, who immediately thought he had died and gone to heaven. I took pictures...
I know it's fairly shocking to see Charlie trotting around with a severed elk leg in his mouth, especially after yesterday's pic of him dozing on embroidered pillows, but it's the nature of Nature, and it's part of who he is.
56 comments:
I'm just thrilled that parts of the animal aren't going to waste.
Heh, I just requested "more words" from you and I immediately got what I wanted! When does that ever happen?
I don't think its shocking at all and he looks very satisfied. He's a handsome boy!
Make perfect sense to me... fine dining, fine bed linens...
I absolutely love this blog. And what even better is how dedicated you are to raising Charlie. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your once in a lifetime experience with us!!!
I love this story more every day!
Not shocking at all to me.
People forget that even dogs have the instinct to kill - particularly terriers, which are literally BRED to kill. My rat terrier goes after anything that looks like a little critter. We don't have any rats or mice around the house that I know of (or maybe we did, and he made short work of them), but in the spring, a baby bird fell from its nest in our back yard. I had to wrestle the screeching thing from the dog's mouth, but by that time, he had bitten down and shaken it so hard that it was done for....
I think that just seeing a tamed coyote is remarkable. And yes, nature definitely is Nature. Wonderful blog you have!
I think we all have bits of different personalities that make us "us". Charlie is a coyote that likes elk and also to snugle in a nice soft bed...nothing wrong with that! : )
If only all coyotes could have it so good!
Hehe, as long he does not take the leg between the pillows...:P
Besides on the pic it just does not look like a leg to me but rather big piece of wood.
Severed lace or pretty pillow, Charlie is just doing what comes natural to him. He's gorgeous.
Actually if the hunters knew better shank is one of the best parts. Beef shank, lamb shank, slow cooked with tomato and garlic, and onion, yum. I bet elk shank is the same. But we won't tell them Charley.
Not shocking at all but absolutely perfect. I think the photo is great and the look on his face divine!
Glad to see Charlie enjoying the leg, much better than letting it go to waste ..........
I thought it was a branch at 1st, too. my head is not in the carnivore game, I guess.
I'm wondering if Charlie is the type to share. would he allow Shreve to have a little nibble?
I completely understand. My family hunts and EVERYTHING is used. The dogs get all the parts that human's don't eat
Also very curious about what he smells like. Does he smell like the earth and vegetation - like sagebrush maybe?
I love your blog, but especially the days when you post "notes". Your writings are remarkable! I had looked into your other blog late last night and was so drawn by your words. Like "being there" as much as words allow that. You have been given such a gift, for many things. Like that of a "whisperer".
Thanks, Shreve.
I don't agree with hunting, and I would much prefer to imagine to be just a cuddly bundle of mush, but he is after all a coyote and would rather see the entire animal be used if it had to be shot.
I give the coyote 2-3 months and he's going to be found carrying that cat in his mouth like he has this elf leg. Mark my words. It's tough to erase hundreds of thousands of years of genetics. Learned behaviors only go so far.
Elf leg? I meant elk leg.
Dear anonymous, ever the Pessimist, huh?
Hope I'm not on an airplane with you, as I'm sure your Debbie Downer attitude(and who here knows that reference?) will surely cause the plane to plummet.
Sorry - had to vent on the repeated negative comments and YES, I do feel better!
Have a GOOD DAY everyone!
I was carrying a severed chicken leg around with me just last night, so I can totally relate. He's a beautiful animal, and I'm so glad you're giving us a chance to get to know him.
I thought it was a piece of wood too, except Shreve said there aren't many trees around. I've never actually seen an elk, unless that photo of the animals with antlers last month was 3 elk. So a photo if you take one would be nice to be posted so we can see one.... for those of us that live down south. I'm in Texas and have seen lots of white tailed deer.
"Elf leg? I meant elk leg."
Hmm..picture should be renamed Nightmare on elf street..elk street...whatever :D..featuring Charlie :p
Yum! He looks so happy.
Oh and anonymous - the cat is part of Charlie's "pack." He will not harm him. I know because one of my friends had a beautiful wolf for 17yrs and he had two kitty cat and one labrador retriever friends. He was their protector.
You're enjoying your day
Everything's going your way
Then along comes Debbie Downer.
Always there to tell you 'bout a new disease
A car accident or killer bees
You'll beg her to spare you, "Debbie, Please!"
But you can't stop Debbie Downer!
I just love the irony in Charlie's charmed life...
Hehee I think that story is actually kind of cute...Charlie must have been overcome with emotion--An elk leg? All for _ME_?
Wow...we haven't been to ur blog for a while. Your pictures are stunning...you could publish...
I think you who write this blog and we who read it are all growing and learning together. I loved ur comments about being judgemental...if we could only walk in someone else's shoes everyday, wouldn't we all be wiser???
Charlie is very special...he's here for a purpose...
LOVE UR BLOG...
Marilyn
Scruffy, Lacie and Babystan...
Now, that's one HAPPY coyote! :)
To Anonymous - I wouldn't ask people to mark your words if you have never experienced living with a coyote. Coyotes are surprisingly easy animals to tame when raised as a pup. I had a coydog (half coyote and half lab) who was the most well behaved dog I have ever known, and better yet, my rabbits where his rabbits. He protected and loved them, I was even able to leave the rabbits alone in the backyard with while while I wasn't home. Hobie (the dog) also chased away a opossum trying to attack one of the rabbits. So there we go, a part coyote dog with his natural prey and they lived in PERFECT harmony for almost 6 years.
Anonymous said: "I give the coyote 2-3 months and he's going to be found carrying that cat in his mouth like he has this elf leg. Mark my words. It's tough to erase hundreds of thousands of years of genetics. Learned behaviors only go so far."
Anonymous...are you aware that humans domesticated dogs from wild canines? And in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't that long ago. How could that have been possible if each and every wild canine who was domesticated resorted to going apeshit and killing everything it could get its teeth on?
I think it is awesome that you give him wild when you can.
Things like this are what will allow him to survive if he decides he needs to live out there.
I don't think it gross....it's what he is. Better an elk leg from a hunter than a house pet.
"it's the nature of nature" !!!!
you are so right and I think you are such a great mom to Charlie. He is SO lucky to have you!!!
No shock here - my pug dog would give just about anything to get a hold of a nice juicy elk leg!
Enjoy, Charlie. :)
Loved the Debbie Downer reference and to LaChatte28, i thought i was the only girl who said apeshit! Love it!!
thanks for the pics of Charlie, always a joy.
B
The pillows and the leg make a
charming contrast. He is so elegant!
Regardless of Anonymous's Negative Nancy attitude, "elf leg" is pretty damned funny.
...not just funny but hilarious, especially considering it was part of a "dig"... hahahhahahaha
elf leg... i laughed so hard... soooo funny!!! classic!!!
Happy Charlie!
on another note... I was reading an article about Coyotes in a current magazine and they quoted a Wyoming hunting guide and outfitter, who also worked for the government as a wildlife specialist hunting coyotes and other livestock marauders (their word, not mine). He had lots of info on coyotes. I hope he isn't your MC...
agreed i think he looks kinda cute! :D
I think anonymous didn't have experience with pack animals and was trying to express concern for the kitty and about a potential heartbreak for Shreve.
But it's true that pack animals sometimes adopt their "pack" without predjudice, just like ducklings do in cartoons! I was adopted (as an adult) into a family that raised a wolf from a puppy and it protected me once from a prowler in a way that made me feel so shockingly loved! I never knew it cared one way or the other before that!
What's cool about nature, is that the nature of nature is to constantly learn and grow and change, aka: evolution. Genetic structure responds to it's environment. The more intellegent the creature, the quicker the adaptation and that's for better or for worse. (Ergo, just say No to GMO's 'cause they are in yer dna, fuxing up yer body's perception/evolution.)
So, good thing Charlie's in an atmosphere of love and respect. Not every caretaker would have gone to the trouble of securing an elf leg. Because, man, are they hard to come by now-a-days!
I am so grateful to Shreve for sharing this incredible experience, so beautifully, and no doubt we're all going to learn a few things, so let's be kind about each others gaps in information.
he looks so proud of himself - totally reminds me of my dog when he's got a bone, all trot-trot-trot satisfied...
Charlie looks very happy and I'm not shocked at all!
Oh Pah-leeeeze Anonymous-
You don't know crap about the canine mind.
I own a Korean Jindo dog-
about as close as you can get to
having a wolf or coyote in the family. The jindo, like wolves
or coyotes are notorious for their loyalty and protectiveness.
Eli could bite Charlie on the nose and Charlie would defer- if someone tried to harm a member of his family, Shreve,
Eli or MC, Charlie would fight them to the death. My jindo
sleeps and snuggles with her
cat, like Charlie and Eli; they are family. Woe to a stranger
cat though- or any one else who is not part of the pack.
Trust me when I tell you that
you are correct about centuries of genetic instinct. However you fail to add the pack instinct into your argument.
Charlie would NEVER hurt a member of his pack.
Quite the opposite for the very reason you propose. His pack instinct would not allow him
to harm Eli. Any dog who is raised with a cat or any other
critter considers it part of the pack, therefore family.
Can I get a witness?
Note to Shreve:
If you want to see Charlie in
ecstasy- get your local butcher to save a turkey neck for him.
My jindo goes into rabid bliss
if given a turkey neck to gnaw on.
Just make sure he doesn't
bury it under your pillow for safe keeping...heh.
so great
^___^
for some reason the phrase "it's the nature of Nature, and it's part of who he is" really hit me. in the best possible way. i needed to read that today. thank you.
ok, apparently i also needed to read "elf leg" coz that is one seriously high larry us comment.
No part of the elf was wasted. *giggles*
... And man, that elf needed a SHAVE!
Jenny in CO
Hah, our golden retriever has always done this with deer parts, but without the permission.
It is always interesting to get home and find PARTS scattered about the lawn...
Yesterday morning I let my dog outside (he was a stray so we continue to let him come and go as he pleases). An hour later he shows back up in the yard with a deer leg. No idea how he got it but it just goes to show it's in all dogs blood. They really love dead things! It makes them feel good about themselves and that they are doing good for their owners.
To Mags: My boxer did that too.... I live in a small town and everyone knows my dog, so I felt very safe letting her outside for hours at a time (my neighbors always give her treats and make sure she doesn't go near the road). One day, they gave her more than a milk-bone!!! They gave her an entire deer head, without the rack. She dragged it home and ate most of its face and brain before leaving the leftovers on the back steps. The next morning at 5:30 when I left for work, I tripped over it and screamed bloody murder!!!
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