My Little Project: Tracking the ‘Wolves’ in the Heat
Okay, so last summer was brutal, right? The heat was just relentless. Day after day. And around that time, I started noticing the coyotes – yeah, I know, not real wolves, but that’s what some folks call ’em around here, kinda like ‘prairie wolves’. They seemed… louder. More active at odd hours, especially late evenings. It got me thinking, wondering what was up with them. Was the heat driving them nuts?
So, I figured, why not try and see? Just a little personal project. Nothing fancy. I decided I’d try to observe them, see if their behavior changed because of the crazy temperatures.
Getting Started
First thing I did was dig out my old pair of binoculars. Not great, but better than nothing. Grabbed a big water bottle – essential, learned that the hard way on day one. My plan was pretty basic:
- Head out super early, like just before sunrise, to the edge of the woods near the creek.
- Or try again right around sunset, when things cooled off a tiny bit.
- Find a spot, stay quiet, and just watch. Listen.
- Don’t get too close, obviously. Don’t want to bother them or get into trouble.
Seemed simple enough on paper. But doing it was another story.
The Actual Process – Sweating and Waiting
Man, those first few mornings were rough. Even at 5:30 AM, the air was thick and sticky. Mosquitos were having a field day. I’d find a spot, maybe under a big oak for some shade, and just sit. And wait. And sweat.
Most of the time, I saw nothing. Seriously. A few deer sometimes, looking equally miserable in the heat. Rabbits. Lots of birds starting their day. But no ‘wolves’. It was kinda discouraging. Felt like I was just sitting out there getting baked for no reason.
I did find some tracks down by the creek bed where the mud was still dampish. Definitely canine. Big enough to be them, I thought. But tracks aren’t exactly thrilling viewing.
The evenings were a little better. Less buggy, usually. And that’s when I’d hear them more. Lots of yips, short howls. Not like the long, lonely howls you imagine, but more like quick calls back and forth. It definitely sounded like communication.
What I Think I Saw
After about a week or so of this, going out most days, I started piecing together a vague picture.
They weren’t more active overall because of the heat, they were just shifting their activity. Makes sense, right? Who wants to run around when it’s 100 degrees? They were laying low during the worst of it, probably deep in the cooler woods or dens.
But those cooler periods – dawn and especially dusk – seemed packed with activity. It felt condensed. Like they had to cram all their hunting, socializing, whatever, into those few hours. Maybe the ‘heat’ wasn’t just the weather, but also some internal pack dynamic? Mating season stuff? Pups getting older? Hard to say from my distance.
I never got a really clear, long look at them. Just glimpses. Shadows moving at the tree line. A flash of fur crossing a clearing way off. But hearing them so consistently, seeing the fresh tracks, knowing they were there, managing their lives despite the oppressive weather… that was something.
So, What Was the Point?
Did I become some expert wildlife tracker? Absolutely not. Did I get amazing photos or videos? Nope.
But I got out of the house. I spent time observing something patiently. It reminded me how tough and adaptable wildlife is. They just deal with it. Find a way.
It wasn’t really about the ‘wolves’ specifically, in the end. It was more about the process. Getting curious, trying something, paying attention to the world right outside my door, even when it’s uncomfortable. And yeah, confirming that even common animals have their own little dramas going on, especially when things get extreme like during that heat wave. It was… an experience. Better than sitting inside complaining about the temperature, anyway.
