April 3, 2021

I have two trail cams on a lek at the farm. On Sunday, April 4, I replaced the SD cards in each trail cam. Upon arriving home, I went through about 6,000+ photos from the last week. I found one sequence to be very intriguing. If you wonder how close sharptail grouse will let a coyote come to the lek, just look at the above photo, with a coyote just on the fringe with a sharptail grouse probably not more than five yards away. You will notice the other sharptail grouse are very alert at the moment. The trail cam is pointing to the northwest.
The coyote looks to be in the same spot. However, the grouse look as if they are starting to move some. The sharptail grouse that was to the right is now out of the photograph and the coyote appears to be running towards the grouse in the middle of the lek.
The coyote is gettting closer, with the sharptail grouse starting to turn and move away. They still haven't left the lek with the coyote closing in. The three shartail grouse, sensing danger, leave the lek and the coyote looks as if it has slowed down (that photo will enlarge if you click on it).
The coyote leaving the lek.

Photos from other trail cam below

These are photos from a trail cam that is pointed to the southwest. You will notice that the sharptail grouse are alert.
One sharptail grouse, to the far left, sensing danger, is starting to leave the lek. The others remain very alert. Right - the coyote, on the lek, about seven seconds after the previous photo.
The coyote checking out the lek before leaving.