T he coyote has been celebrated and reviled in American history for centuries. On one hand, the coyote is regarded as a trickster, a lover, a magician and a prankster that has special power to affect the course of man's events. The coyote spirit is respected, if not revered, in many Native American cultures, and the lessons it teaches are valuable to man, if sometimes painful to bear. In some cultures, the coyote is a spirit guide that can enjoy causing mischief and willfully mislead people, but it is also viewed as a spirit that can impart wisdom and knowledge. W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | A P R I L 2 0 1 8 | Parks & Recreation 45