Do Coyotes Actually Put Out Small Fires?

Discuss other canids (coyotes, foxes, dholes, etc.).

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Silvamord
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Do Coyotes Actually Put Out Small Fires?

Post by Silvamord » Fri Mar 13, 2015 10:19 am

I have heard from grandparents that coyotes put out small fires they come across. They allegedly find the small fires and stamp their paws on them, extinguishing the flame. Is this a true behavior, or is it just a myth?
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Koa
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Re: Do Coyotes Actually Put Out Small Fires?

Post by Koa » Fri Mar 13, 2015 10:29 am

To my knowledge, they don't. I did a search and all I could find was this website that outright mentioned it (http://coyoteyipps.com/2011/05/08/did-y ... out-fires/), with reference to this book-
http://articles.latimes.com/1989-12-24/ ... hope-ryden

It seems like the source cited, or at least when it referenced the particular "incident" was more anecdotal and came from another source, rather than Hope herself. I've never heard of such. I am only seeing folktake-related results and ilk; I am not seeing any actual scientific journals or evidence that would support that claim, which somewhat points it to being otherwise. I'm assuming it is a myth.

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