Coyote Wisdom

“My openness is a gift of my animal nature.

It allows me to try new paths, to taste unfamiliar foods, and to live in places I never expected.

The Coyote teaches me that curiosity is not recklessness—it is the willingness to learn from every step.

Today, I choose to let the Coyote remind me that my adaptability is my superpower.

I am allowed to be fully, freely, and fiercely curious.”

Coyote Behavior

The Coyote is the most adaptable large predator in North America. It lives in deserts, forests, grasslands, and the middle of sprawling cities. It eats rabbits, rodents, insects, fruit, garbage, and even pet food left on porches. The Coyote learns quickly—which neighborhoods have easy food, which humans are safe, which traps to avoid. Its openness to new experiences is not aimless; it is survival intelligence.

Openness

Openness to experience is the love of novelty, change, and new ideas. Open people are curious, creative, and comfortable with ambiguity. They enjoy travel, art, abstract thinking, and trying things they have never done before. The Coyote teaches us that true openness balances exploration with discernment.

Reflect on Your Own “Animal Nature”

· Remember a time when your openness led you somewhere wonderful. What did you discover?

· Do you ever chase novelty to avoid commitment? What might you be running from?

· Where did you learn that change is either exciting or threatening?

· If the Coyote could speak to you, what might it say about the difference between exploration and escape?

“The Coyote finds its dinner in the landfill—and still howls at the moon.”

What do you share with the Coyote—and what might it teach you about your own animal nature?

The Natural World

The coyote seen in the image is the coyote (Canis latrans). Its name comes from the Aztec word coyotl. Coyotes once lived only in the open plains and deserts of western North America, but they have now spread across the entire continent, even into major cities like Los Angeles. In the Santa Monica Mountains, coyotes live in family groups with a breeding pair and their offspring from previous years. They eat mostly rodents and rabbits, which helps keep those populations in balance. Coyotes are not endangered, but they are often poisoned by rodenticides when they eat poisoned rats. Using non‑toxic rat control and keeping trash secure allows coyotes to stay wild and healthy.