Did you know that the entire family of canids – from dire wolves to African jackals – emerged in what is now the American Southwest/ northern Mexico? Did you know that there are many stories older than Gilgamesh that feature Coyote as their protagonist? Or that you can think of Wile E. Coyote as an avatar for the modern American and all its failings?

These are a few of the many interesting things I learned from my discussion with author and historian Dan Flores about his fascinating book, Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History, which charts America’s embattled relationship with this charismatic indigenous American.

Thank you to David Larzelere for playing the guitar on the “Coyote National Anthem.”