Scan barcode
Reviews
Don Coyote: The Good Times and the Bad Times of a Much Maligned American Original by Dayton O. Hyde
takeahikedani's review
5.0
This wholesome story is based around two unlikely entities becoming friends, a cattle rancher and coyotes. I think I enjoyed this story even more because I visited the area around Yamsi Ranch, which is the setting of this book. It makes for a good period piece about how our relationship with nature shouldn't be to dominate it but to work with it. This wholesome story might make you even appreciate Coyotes if you're not already familiar with them.
jeanetterenee's review
3.0
Dayton Hyde was an environmentalist rancher in Oregon back in the days when there was no such thing. He had to hide his activities and sentiments from his gun-totin', varmint-poisoning hick neighbors. He loved coyotes and other predators, even though conventional wisdom at that time required killing them to save your livestock.
This guy befriended a male coyote, then later raised four coyote pups until they chose to leave him and live wild.
He was really just a dreamer who wanted to find a way to live in harmony with the native plants and animals and still run a profitable ranch. What's more, he succeeded. He created a lake and some marshlands, providing habitat for thousands of birds and rodents and other animals. These critters served as food for coyotes, so they were never hungry enough to go after domestic animals. It was impressive how he was able to restore ecological balance in a relatively short time.
The writing is a bit folksy and sometimes circular, but intelligent. I loved reading all the parts about coyotes and other animals, including a tame porcupine named Toby who liked vacuum cleaners and fresh fruit!
I didn't care as much for the parts about ranching---all that manly stuff with heavy equipment and pushing dirt around...meh...kinda boring.
This guy befriended a male coyote, then later raised four coyote pups until they chose to leave him and live wild.
He was really just a dreamer who wanted to find a way to live in harmony with the native plants and animals and still run a profitable ranch. What's more, he succeeded. He created a lake and some marshlands, providing habitat for thousands of birds and rodents and other animals. These critters served as food for coyotes, so they were never hungry enough to go after domestic animals. It was impressive how he was able to restore ecological balance in a relatively short time.
The writing is a bit folksy and sometimes circular, but intelligent. I loved reading all the parts about coyotes and other animals, including a tame porcupine named Toby who liked vacuum cleaners and fresh fruit!
I didn't care as much for the parts about ranching---all that manly stuff with heavy equipment and pushing dirt around...meh...kinda boring.
satyridae's review
3.0
A very enjoyable sojourn on Hyde's ranch, where he learned to love coyotes and also learned to work with nature to maximize the productivity of his ranch. I love coyotes, despite having lost a cat to one, and this close look at a few was welcome.
More...