BETWEEN NOB AND TELEGRAPH

There used to be raccoons there, now there's something else. A long time ago an elderly furry couple lived on Nob Hill, we saw them once crossing at the light ahead and ambling up Hyde Street, checking each door and basement entryway, hop-scotching towards Washington Street.
They seemed comfortable in their pelts, and self-confident.
Long time residents, just looking for tasty garbage.

One of them had an unfortunate accident late one summer at Larkin Street and Clay. The other one was probably just as old, and may not have lived long after. Some raccoons mate for life.

I haven't seen any raccoons in several years, even the Chinatown trash-pandas seem to have disappeared from the radar.

But there are coyotes now.
At least one of them.
Maybe more.



We first saw the beast at Jones and Pacific several weeks ago in the middle of the night, heading uphill toward the north. And we were surprised, as wild canids are not a normal feature of the San Francisco urban environment.


The coyote is related to both dogs and North American wolves, and inter-type mating that produces mixed offspring is not uncommon. Most wolves have some coyote dna, and vice-versa.

Here in the city we have no wolves, but there are bucketloads of dogs.
There may be a connection. Causal, Casual, and carnal.
The happy possibility of canine sex.


Last night I saw a coyote at Pacific and Larkin Streets. It passed me, quite unconcerned with my presence, and only a about four or five yards away.
It stopped to look at me, I stopped to look back. Then it trotted up Clay toward Hyde.

It may be the same coyote. Or a different one.
But again, in the middle of the night.


Coyotes are opportunistic blighters.
But in a way, beautiful.
Canis latrans.




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