Sheep Lakes is an area in Rocky Mountain National Park’ Horseshoe Park where sheep come in the summer to lick the minerals along the edges of the small lakes/ponds. The landscape is verdant in the spring where animals including sheep, moose, coyotes, elk, geese, ducks, Wyoming ground squirrels, and voles and mice share the space.
A coyote family built a den in the middle of meadow about 200 yards from the parking lot this year. With binoculars and high-powered cameras lenses, one got close view of the den. The family of coyotes consisted of three adults and nine pups. The adults came and went as they hunted in the meadow. The pups popped up to play in the sunshine or nurse from their mom.
As the story was relayed to me, one early morning two adult coyotes went out hunting. They came upon a newborn elk calf hidden by its mom near the meadow. They drug it away toward their den pleased that this would be a much bigger treat than catching mice and ground squirrels for their hungry offspring.
Several elk moms came charging over toward the den and began kicking at the coyotes who proceeded to drop the calf. One of the cows nudged the calf and got it up and walking away. It was escorted to safety by cows who had freed it.
Two of the elk mommas then returned to the den and began jumping up and down on it as if scolding the coyotes for even thinking about taking one of their young. One pup peeked its head out temporarily but retreated quickly. Apparently satisfied, the elk moved away and headed up into the trees away from the meadow.
I did not see this episode firsthand, but it reflected the circle of life in the wild. Had I been there, I would have cheered for the elk calf. On the other hand, feeding those hungry pups is no small task for coyote adults. I am glad I was not present for the drama. Yet, it reminds me of the Lion King and the circle of life:
In the circle of life
It’s the wheel of fortune
It’s the leap of faith
It’s the band of hope…
In the circle, the circle of life.
I hope that elk calf has a long life, and I also hope the coyote pups survive. The value of public lands like Rocky Mountain National Park is that it is a place to balance ecology—a place for conservation, preservation, and acknowledging the circle of life.
Update as of June 19, 2022: The Coyotes have moved their den twice and it is no longer visible from the Sheep Lakes parking lot. Visitors have reported that seven pups are still alive.
I am really glad you shared this story- I liked it a lot. I hope the coyote parents find lots of ground squirrels for all those pups, and the elk mamas successfully raise their calves, but maybe their circles of life can be separate from each other! 😊❤