1.7.21
Last Sunday I witnessed something extraordinary that changed my perception of the common understanding of predator-prey relationships.
Coyote and Deer PLAYING together. Sounds crazy to be sure, but what I experienced was not stalking behavior. I’ve never seen anything like it!
Across a grassy meadow from my spot on the trail I spied a magnificent 8-point Buck on the low hill that borders the meadow. The trail loops around the meadow to a spot that provides a closer view of the Buck. As I was admiring his majesty and basking in the beauty of the meadow, I saw movement from the corner of my eye.
When I turned my focus to find out who was there, I saw an incredible sight. A Coyote being chased by a handful of Deer! It appeared to be mostly Does, but I was too far away to be certain. The Coyote ran in circles, leaping with wagging tail while the Deer ran after him.
At first I thought perhaps the Deer were chasing Coyote away, but the energy of their activity was not fearful. And something about their movements spoke to play rather than survival.
I have been in the forest when Coyote on the prowl stalked through the bushes. When that happens, the tension in every single animal in the zone of danger is palpable. All heads turn in the direction of danger, everyone freezes – ready to run, the song birds stop singing, the Corvids squawk louder. Even the plants seem to become tense.
That tension was not in the air. The birds kept right on singing. Even the Buck seemed uninterested in the antics, merely watching calmly. Both Deer and Coyote exhibited playful energy. Eventually Coyote ran off and I could hear him barking. The whole game took less than a minute – a minute I will never forget!
A moment later, I watched a Squirrel being harassed by Woodpecker. Was that play as well? Or were they fighting over an acorn? I don’t know the answer.
What I do know is that all of Nature collaborates and cooperates to maintain the cycle of life. As scientists now know, competition is not the way of Nature as previously believed. Every single being in Nature has a role to play – everything feeds something. Even predators at the top of food chain die eventually, their bodies feeding scavengers of all kinds and the Earth herself. I now wonder if there is more to the relationship between predator and prey than simply survival.
I also know it is high time for humanity to deepen our connection to the natural world and work toward living in greater harmony with each other and Nature. We must mirror Nature and stop the destructive cycles of competition. Collaboration and Cooperation are the way forward for us all.
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