Book SummaryCoyote America, by Dan Flores

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Coyote America

Indigenous peoples in America have a deeply entwined mythological and cultural heritage with the coyote.

This section delves into the deep respect and admiration that various Native American cultures held for the coyote, cherishing its intelligence and adaptability as qualities worthy of great esteem. The foundational myths, ethical lessons, and human perceptions are profoundly influenced by the significance of the coyote.

In ancient North American mythology, the coyote held the status of a chief god.

The author highlights the coyote's important role in the mythological heritage of indigenous American societies. He argues that Coyote, unlike the gods of many other cultures, isn't an untouchable, perfect being residing in a distant realm. Coyotes, as genuine inhabitants of Earth, interact with humans, mirroring both our strengths and our flaws.

Tribes of Native Americans often depict the coyote in their myths as a shrewd character embodying a range of traits that are seen in humans, from the commendable to the less virtuous.

Flores characterizes "Coyotism" as a spiritual doctrine that took root in the Paleolithic era, positing that it may have arisen earlier than the famed Epic of Gilgamesh, potentially originating over ten thousand years in the past. Coyote is often presented as the "right-hand man" of a more abstract Creator deity, tasked with shaping the world into its current form. Coyote holds a central role in the origin stories of various Indigenous American tribes, such as the Navajo in the Southwest, the Crow of the Northern Plains, and the Salish and Blackfeet, who are indigenous to the Northern Rockies.

He transcends the role of merely a deity. The author emphasizes the complex nature of the coyote, an animal often portrayed in a clash with human flaws like arrogance, dishonesty, egotism, desire, and excessive self-assurance, which results in humorous consequences. The coyote acts as a mirror, reflecting our image back to us and providing entertainment along with moral teachings. The narratives explore the interplay between personal ambition and collective endeavors, as well as the complex relationships within communities and the attraction to novel experiences and pleasures.

Context

• The coyote as a trickster is not unique to Native American mythology. Similar figures appear in other cultures, such as Anansi the spider in African folklore and Loki in Norse mythology, highlighting a universal theme of using wit to navigate challenges.
• The term "spiritual doctrine" suggests a set of beliefs or teachings that guide moral and ethical behavior. In the context of "Coyotism," it implies a framework through which people understand the world and their place in it, using the coyote as a central figure to explore themes of creation, morality, and human nature.
• Among the Salish, Coyote is a transformative...

Coyote America Summary The historical account of the relationship between humans and coyotes, particularly the efforts by those in power to eradicate them, further highlights the extraordinary resilience and adaptability of coyotes to survive and thrive under diverse circumstances.

The arrival of European settlers marked a significant change in the coyote's narrative, as the animal went from being respected to despised, leading to a widespread campaign to eliminate them that lasted over a hundred years and, paradoxically, contributed to their proliferation across North America.

The coyote's expansion across North America led to encounters with European settlers.

Prior to the arrival of European colonists, coyotes were predominantly found in the West, inhabiting the vast deserts and grasslands. The expansion of the coyote's range occurred through a series of events after their initial contact with European settlers, some of which were intentional while others were unforeseen. In the eastern and southern areas that experienced a decline in wolf populations, coyotes rapidly assumed the previously vacant ecological niches. European colonization led to substantial ecological upheaval, inadvertently creating conditions that allowed the hardy coyote to thrive, due to the severe depletion of bison herds, the introduction of livestock, and harm to indigenous habitats.

Coyotes, which were once confined to the western interior prior to European...

Coyote America Summary Our understanding of the part that coyotes have in the shifting ecological landscape, as well as the developing perspectives and approaches directed toward this creature

During the mid-20th century, there was a transformation in the perception of coyotes among the general populace and the scientific community, coinciding with a growing consciousness of environmental issues. The author emphasizes the role of academics and writers in challenging the conventional perception that coyotes are simply nuisances.

Research in ecology has debunked the idea that coyotes are undesirable top predators.

The groundbreaking work "A Sand County Almanac," authored by Aldo Leopold and released in 1949, advocated for an ethical framework that includes all living beings, challenging the anthropocentric reasoning that justified the elimination of predators. The burgeoning enthusiasm for environmental protection, coupled with the book's widespread praise, laid the groundwork for new research that started to portray the coyote in a new perspective.

Research conducted by experts such as the Murie family indicates that coyotes have a negligible impact on game species populations and often play a beneficial role in maintaining ecological equilibrium.

The comprehensive investigations carried out by Olaus and Adolph Murie played a crucial role in challenging...

Coyote America Summary The coyote has adeptly adapted to urban living and continues to crossbreed with various canine species.

This part of the story explores how coyotes have flourished in urban settings, areas once considered unsuitable for animal habitation. The author delves into the complex and disputed matter of coyote and wolf hybridization, underscoring the challenges in managing these wild dog groups within a constantly changing environmental backdrop.

Coyotes now inhabit urban areas across North America.

Dan Flores argues that coyotes have shown incredible adaptability, flourishing not only in countryside settings but also establishing themselves as iconic residents of city landscapes. The extensive conflicts with canines in the 19th century inadvertently gave rise to a unique dog breed that began to dominate within city environments.

As human settlements expanded across various landscapes, coyotes have shown remarkable adaptability to urban and suburban environments, finding suitable locations to create their homes.

Coyotes, writes Flores, have found cities to be surprisingly hospitable. Coyotes are adept at establishing their habitats in the patchwork of urban parks, verdant areas, and vacant lots. Predators thrive on a diverse diet that includes a substantial population of...