Antelope

<img width='110' height='99' border='0' hspace='5' align='left' src='http://www.sarpysam.com/sarpysam/uploads/antelope.serendipityThumb.jpg' alt='' /><img width='105' height='110' border='0' hspace='5' align='right' src='http://www.sarpysam.com/sarpysam/uploads/coyote2.serendipityThumb.gif' alt='' />I don't know much about coyotes killing antelope fawns but <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/04/09/build/state/85-coyotes-antelope.inc" target="_new">this story</a> reminds me of the time I saw an antelope defending her baby from a coyote. It was a interesting and informative sight.<br />n<br />nI was riding along and was coming over a little hill and was hearing a strange noise I couldn't identify. As I came over the hill I saw an antelope standing there facing a coyote. She kept making this funny coughing sound and stamping her foot to threaten the coyote. It reminded me of the way a domestic sheep stamps it's foot when its threatening something. The coyote kept trying to circle around her and she kept moving which finally drew my attention to a little fawn laying in the sagebrush that the antelope was trying to protect.<br />n<br />nI must have sit there 10 minutes watching this exchange just amazed. I never knew antelope defended their young that way or made such noises. I finally worked around and left the situation without disturbing them. I was afraid if I rode up the doe would run off and leave her fawn so the safest thing to do was leave them alone.<br />n<br />nI have always remembered that experience and the story reminded me of it. I wonder why the antelope their don't protect their young from the coyotes? It would be interesting to know.<br />n<br />n<b>Once you bring life into the world, you must protect it. Elie Wiesel</b>