February 4, 2009 at 12:58 pm

Coyote on Portland’s Max

coyote_pdx
I needed something to cheer me up. This photo illustrates one danger of building light rail to the far-flung suburbs: unwanted riders.
H/T to Gordon Werner.

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Comment by Squints
2009-02-04 13:04:57

Wow, that’s awesome!

 
Comment by EvergreenRailfan
2009-02-04 14:08:59

Even Coyotes need a break from their normal mode of getting around, I guess.

Comment by Mike Skehan
2009-02-04 15:23:46

There’s a roadrunner making its way through train. Lunch anyone?

Comment by EvergreenRailfan
2009-02-04 16:19:47

New Mexico’s RailRunner actually paid royalties to Warner Brothers to be able to use the Road Runner’s “Meep, Meep” sound to announce doors closing!

Comment by Dave
2009-02-23 14:08:06

That’s interesting because WB used a single sound clip recorded by one of the producers for every instance of “meep, meep” on the show so they wouldn’t have to pay royalties to a guild voice actor.

Apparently after they first aired the clip the guild complained and insisted that all future recordings be done by a guild member who would get royalties. WB decided to reuse the already-recorded clip would always be used. Cheap bastards.

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Comment by Andrew Smith
2009-02-23 14:25:15

Really? That’s hilarious. I wodner why they couldn’t have made their own Meep sound.

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Comment by Jane
2009-02-23 20:11:12

Copyrights, baby.

 
Comment by Phil
2009-02-24 05:54:09

Not copyrights as much as fear of litigation. The use of a “meep meep” sound could arguably fall under fair use provisions.

 
 
 
 
 
Comment by Chris Stefan
2009-02-04 14:12:13

Even Wyle E. knows taking the train beats driving!

I don’t know about the Portland area, but the Seattle area has coyotes much closer in than you might think. I’ve personally seen one down near Mercer Slough and I’m told they are all over the Delridge Greenbelt.

Comment by tom sparks
2009-03-03 12:12:52

I live in the Fremont Neighborhood and I have seen coyotes walking down my street twice in the last 20 some years, I love that they are here; to bad for the cats that become their dinner, but that’s natures way.

 
 
Comment by Chris Stefan
2009-02-04 14:17:19

The story behind the photo.

There are a number of coyotes living near the PDX airport, which is where he hopped on the MAX Red Line.

Comment by Zach
2009-02-04 20:29:55

Guess he was hungry like a wolf…

That was for us ’80s kids.

BTW: word is that Senator Murray is planning a second try on the transit amendment to the stimulus…

 
Comment by Andrew
2009-02-04 23:47:53

That article is awesome.

 
 
Comment by Sam
2009-02-04 15:03:31

Agreed. We wouldn’t want lone suburban coyotes to interfere with the urban wolf packs who will soon be riding Link.

From yesterday’s Seattle P.I. 911 blog:

“When police arrived in the 9700 block of Rainier Avenue South about 11:45 p.m., officers saw about 50 juveniles – both teenage boys and girls – lingering in the street, knocking over traffic cones.

Many in the group were recognized by police as members of the 74 Hoover Criminals – a gang linked to several violent Seattle events.”

Those 50 gang members and associates will soon be swarming Link. God help the lone tourist in a car when they get on.

Comment by Sam
2009-02-04 15:09:05

Oh, and rail fetishists, save your “there will be transit police!” replies, and statistics about how rail is safer than … blah, blah, blah. It was just a coyote/wolf play on words. Lighten up.

Comment by RK
2009-02-04 15:22:07

If you feel the need to say “lighten up” before anyone responds to your post that should tell you something about who is being uptight. This was a pretty light-hearted comment thread until your comments.

Comment by Scott Stidell
2009-02-04 15:31:23

but…but…the traffic cones! Won’t somebody please think of the traffic cones?

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Comment by Sam
2009-02-04 16:45:55

I know. Aren’t I a dick of a troll?

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Comment by del
2009-02-23 12:53:22

My thoughts exactly

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Comment by mike87
2009-02-04 16:54:28

Wait until Bernard Getz Jr gets on the train with them.

Comment by Andrew Smith
2009-02-23 14:25:35

Dude, NOT cool.

 
 
 
Comment by phillip
2009-02-04 20:49:01

There was a Sleater-Kinney song that mentioned this incident- “Light Rail Coyote”, from the album “One Beat”.

Comment by Ben Schiendelman
2009-02-05 08:06:33

I bet it’s happened more than once. :)

I wonder how Sleater-Kinney even rode light rail. They’re from Olympia!

 
Comment by Asa
2009-02-09 14:28:35

This picture (or one very similar) was in the liner notes of that album.

 
Comment by conner
2009-02-23 10:35:35

i miss sleater-kinney. thanks for mentioning this, i actually scrolled down to comment about the sk connection but you beat me to it.

 
 
Comment by Craig
2009-02-05 14:11:14

They are from Olympia but I think they moved to Portland a long time ago.

 
Comment by anthony pittarelli
2009-02-23 11:25:45

thats so awesome!

 
Comment by The Retroist
2009-02-23 12:22:58

The coyote who commutes to work next to me every morning hogs the seat and talks loudly on his cellphone. So annoying.

 
Comment by Bay Area Seattler
2009-02-23 13:29:56

How did the coyote get the money to buy tokens ? Did the coyotes in Seattle have credit cards ?

 
Comment by Shoop
2009-02-23 13:31:11

I’m still keeping my eye out for cougars on the train….

Comment by Bernie
2009-02-23 13:50:13

I imagine any Cougars in Portland try to keep a low profile to avoid being hounded by Ducks and Beavers.

 
 
Comment by Jason Weed
2009-02-23 15:22:04

Wow, he is soooo cute! I want one!

RT
http://www.anonymity.eu.tc

 
Comment by Julie A. Woods
2009-02-23 16:07:06

Hahaha…So glad you’ll have company on your commute, Nick!

 
Comment by Micah
2009-02-23 17:06:57

I used to see them in the morning when I worked at the airport a few years ago. I saw a momma one carrying what I think was a rabbit with a couple puppies following.

I’ve also seen them out as far as the western edge of Gresham wandering through the neighborhoods.

The airport is hardly the far flung suburbs. The airport just happens to be surrounded by wetlands and the river.

 
Comment by Jonny
2009-02-23 19:19:07

looks like the pic posted today on guple

 
Comment by Robert
2009-02-23 20:46:20

danger, only if the train derails, poor thing looks exhausted and malnourished, that’s why humanity needs to stop breeding and give the planet a chance to heal.

Comment by Fred Fnord
2009-03-02 09:36:04

Coyotes always look malnourished. It’s just the way they’re shaped.

He actually looks like he’s in pretty good condition… just terrified out of his mind.

I want to go up to him and say, ‘It’s okay, little guy, public transportation isn’t scary!’ Or, y’know, something.

-fred

 
 
Comment by Jared Lorz
2009-02-24 00:20:48

Coyotes are all over Portland. That coyote probably hopped in downtown.

Comment by Chris Stefan
2009-02-24 06:03:41

Actually it hopped on at the airport. I posted a link to the story above.

 
 
Comment by Dee
2009-02-24 08:38:03

That is awesome. I see he has taken up the whole car. Such as what happens on the E Train in New York when a homeless person is resting. On the Long Island Rail Road, they make commuters remove the feet and bags from the seats. I’d love to see a LIRR conductor take care of this coyote matter.

Comment by Traveller
2009-02-26 09:22:00

Looks to me like he’s being very polite and trying to use only one seat, at least!

 
 
Comment by sara
2009-03-01 17:27:00

I hate Them they kill helpless creatures!!!!

Comment by RJ
2010-02-03 10:04:44

What do you expect, a vegetarian coyote? You need a serious reality check!

 
 
Comment by Laura J
2009-03-02 05:18:30

But where was he going?

 
Comment by Fred Fnord
2009-03-02 09:34:34

> I hate Them they kill helpless creatures!!!!

So, Sara, do you eat meat?

Wear leather?

-fred

 
Comment by Kristine
2009-03-02 09:37:01

This reminds me of the instance when a pigeon took a ride on one of the el cars in Chicago. Anyway, back to coyotes, they’re not really just a suburban dweller. We’ve got coyote sightings downtown, one walked into a quizno’s in the loop I think last summer and sat down in one of the coolers.

 
Comment by Michael
2009-03-02 15:37:37

Better yet, a couple of years ago a coyote wandered into a convenience store across from my work, in Chicago near Adams and Wabash (in the Loop, a block from the Art Institute), and climbed in the cooler to cool off. It made the TV, but unfortunately I missed it.

 
Comment by michele
2009-03-02 17:32:21

This photo is on the back of the album that the Sleater Kinney song is on.

 
Comment by Marcy
2009-03-08 22:21:12

I’m just wondering how they will get the poor thing off, lol. Found this looking for coyote pics when the kids heard them howling outside and wanted to know what they look like. What a cutie!

 
Comment by Abbie
2009-03-15 19:24:37

I dont blame the poor thing, besides it’s habitat is probably being destroyed.

 
Comment by ProfessorJWN
2009-10-21 06:09:19

Well,

Just another reason why gun laws should be relaxed a bit more.

That Coyote could be keeping someone warm this winter, as either a coat, gloves, or a hat.

In any case, either the people go or the Coyotes.

I vote Coyotes, because coyotes can’t vote.

In Light Rail etiquette Who gets the seat if it is last one, Coyote or a Pregnant woman?

Ok, what if the Coyote is pregnant?

BTW – Unless this occurred again, I believe that photo was from several years ago.

 
Comment by RJ
2010-02-03 10:11:02

Coyotes should be admired. They have adapted to the complete invasion and destruction of their habitat wonderfully. They make great pets when crossed with dogs. In nature (no humans), they are day hunters but have also adapted to night time hunting. I believe that lap dogs and cats are on the menu. I see them all the time hiking in the desert. They don’t mess with my two 70 lb. dogs. Live and let live!

 

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