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Show his hand ripped open by its razor sharp claws and teeth. The kittens were taken to a zoo in Salt Lake City where they could be cared for. The old mine shafts in the canyon are put to good use by the lion population in the Canyon. They spend their time in the cool reaches of the tunnels, protected from the icy blasts of winter storms and the oppressive heat of summer. THE SHREWD AND CRAFTY COYOTE Coyotes are shrewd and crafty animals and will outwit man or beast if given half a chance. Many times the Byrams witnessed the cunning antico of this wild cousin to the dog. Each spring at lambing season the ewes, which are ready to give birth, become prime targets for the wily coyotes which seem to possess a sixth sense. They will kill the ewe, rip her stomach open, remove the tiny, unborn lamb and carry it off to its young, or eat it on the spot. The coyote will never touch the flesh of the ewe, preferring to feast on the tender meat of the lamb, a trait that is hard for man to understand. THE COYOTE AND THE PORCUPINE Porcupines are awesome antagonists to most animals, but to a coyote they are good candidates for a cat and mouse game. Alonzo Robinson related a real life drama when a coyote outsmarted a porcupine, despite the latter's formidable coat of armour. The coyote began badgering the quilled animal, running after it, pestering it until the porcupine was thoroughly enraged and frustrated. This cat and mouse game continued until the porky fell and flipped over on its back, leaving its un¬protected belly exposed. Like a flash the coyote was on top of the hapless porcupine, its belly was torn open and it died. Despite its formidable armour it was no match for the wily coyote whose predatory instincts and sharp brain makes it an antagonist to be fear¬ed, especially by smaller animals of the forest. 64 A COYOTE 'SINGS' IN THE BRIGHT SUNLIGHT |