The Dog Days

As summer thankfully wanes, and the horizon hints that El Nino is on the way, a camera trap I just pulled nicely reminded me that the dog days do have their charms...


Juvenile coyote trotting by the cam trap


Giving it a glance on a foggy morning a week later


Fog dog at night (that's fog with a flash)


Curiosity or annoyance?





The phrase "dog days of summer" dates back to early Greece, and now permeates many cultures & languages.

It's Astronomical. "The dog days" - roughly July & August - are the days when the Dog Star, Sirius, is visible in the night sky. But since that's summer in the northern hemisphere, and often a time of heat, drought, famine and sickness, poor ole Sirius was given a pretty tough rap. Even Homer harshed on the pup:

Sirius rises late in the dark, liquid sky on summer nights,
Star of stars, Orion's Dog they call it,
Brightest of all, but an evil portent,
Bringing heat and fevers to suffering humanity.

- Homer - The Iliad


Stalking practice


Definitely siblings


Floating with only 1 paw on the ground - neat trick


You can hear the play growls and snarls in your mind, huh?




Foggy fur with mom/dad in far background

I think it's just a pair of youngsters, and no more. The cam has caught mom and/or dad too, but only going by with no interest at all in the camera. Or in hanging out and playing. :)

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses??
Because here they come...

- Florence And The Machine - Dog Days Are Over

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References:

• California Weather Blog
• Homer - The Iliad
• Florence And The Machine - Lungs with Dog Days Are Over
• Wikipedia - Dog Days
• Wikipedia - Sirius
• Nature of a Man (this blog) - Song Dogs of the Santa Cruz Mtns
• Nature of a Man (this blog) - Coyote Cute

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