Last night, the same-sounding pack was much less active and close. They were only loud enough and close enough to wake me twice. I've got the ranch rifle and 12g close at hand, but of course, no daylight sightings and I won't go blasting into the dark. I glassed around some at dusk, but couldn't see anything and the slight rain prevented me from hearing anything. We do have a lion or two around - I'm hoping that they will remain very few, but will help keep the 'yote population in check.
My current theory is that the 'yote population has increased a bunch in the last year, either due to procreation or migration (or both), and they have found plentiful small furry food down in the bottoms, mostly because of a relative lack of predators in previous years. Our mouse and raccoon issues over the last few years attest to this, along with frequent rabbit and squirrel sightings, the occasional skunk, etc.. So now, the small furry food supply is getting thin, they are overpopulated for the habitat, hungry, desperate, and willing to come right up to human-occupied spaces. I know that just killing one or two won't have much impact, but maybe like said, some shooting will increase their fear and keep them a bit farther away until they completely exhaust the food supply and move on again. My hope is that the visit night before last, where they seemed to circle the whole area, was food reconnaissance, and they found that there was not sufficient prey right here. I'll do whatever I can to also discourage their close-in visits with some gunpowder and lead. My F-I-L's Great Pyrenees should also help, but it stays in the goat pen or dog pen. I suspect the 'yotes know that the penned Pyr is not too much of a threat. The wife will have to keep the "house" dogs on-leash for the night-time potty breaks until all that plays out. And keep firearms handy at all times.
