# Old Man Coyote — Green Meadow Stories character guide > Old Man Coyote in Green Meadow Stories by Thornton W. Burgess. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Old Man Coyote, XIX Old Man Coyote, Old Man Coyote the Wolf, crafty Old Man, Mr. Coyote **First appearance:** 0053-xix-old-man-coyote-pays-a-debt ## Snapshot A crafty, hungry coyote who hides in the grass and grins at doorways, Old Man Coyote keeps his own ledger of favors owed and repaid. ## Who they are He once did Peter Rabbit a good turn and then tried to catch him the very next time they met, which leaves Peter scratching his head in honest confusion. Little Mrs. Peter explains it plainly: a good turn paid back makes them even, and the way to keep a coyote friendly is to stay in his debt. His patient lurking and his unsettling grin make him the quiet threat that teaches the rabbits to watch the grass. ## Relationships ### [Peter Rabbit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters/peter_rabbit) _rivalry_ Old Man Coyote is a persistent predator of Peter Rabbit, creating a tense predator-prey dynamic. ### [Reddy Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters/reddy_fox) _rivalry_ Old Man Coyote and Reddy Fox compete for food and dominance, often clashing as rivals. ### [Bowser the Hound](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters/bowser_the_hound) _rivalry_ Bowser the Hound and Old Man Coyote are fierce adversaries, with Bowser often chasing the coyote. ### [Blacky the Crow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters/blacky_the_crow) _rivalry_ Blacky the Crow and Old Man Coyote are competitors, often clashing over food and territory. ### [Peter Rabbit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters/peter_rabbit) _rivalry_ Old Man Coyote is a persistent predator of Peter Rabbit, creating a tense predator-prey dynamic. ### [Peter Rabbit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters/peter_rabbit) _rivalry_ Old Man Coyote is a persistent predator of Peter Rabbit, creating a tense predator-prey dynamic. ### [Reddy Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters/reddy_fox) _rivalry_ Old Man Coyote and Reddy Fox compete for food and dominance, often clashing as rivals. ### [Reddy Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters/reddy_fox) _rivalry_ Old Man Coyote and Reddy Fox compete for food and dominance, often clashing as rivals. ### [Blacky the Crow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters/blacky_the_crow) _rivalry_ Blacky the Crow and Old Man Coyote are competitors, often clashing over food and territory. ### [Bowser the Hound](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters/bowser_the_hound) _rivalry_ Bowser the Hound and Old Man Coyote are fierce adversaries, with Bowser often chasing the coyote. ### [Blacky the Crow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters/blacky_the_crow) _rivalry_ Blacky the Crow and Old Man Coyote are competitors, often clashing over food and territory. ## In the story ### [Mrs. Peter Rabbit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/mrs-peter-rabbit) Pretends to be Peter's friend but later tries to catch him; Mrs. Peter warns Peter about him. ### [I: Peter Rabbit Loses His Appetite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/i-peter-rabbit-loses-his-appetite) Old Man Coyote's presence on the Green Meadows causes Peter to be afraid to venture far from the Old Briar-patch. ### [Peter Rabbit Plans a Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/ii-peter-rabbit-plans-a-journey) Mentioned as a potential threat; Peter waits until he hears him far away before starting his journey. ### [Hooty the Owl Changes His Hunting Grounds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/iii-hooty-the-owl-changes-his-hunting-grounds) Hooty blames Old Man Coyote, along with Granny and Reddy Fox, for spoiling the hunting in the Green Forest. ### [X: Peter Rabbit Almost Decides to Return Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/x-peter-rabbit-almost-decides-to-return-home) Mentioned as the reason Granny and Reddy Fox might return to the Old Pasture, but not actually present in this chapter. ### [Old Man Coyote Pays a Debt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xix-old-man-coyote-pays-a-debt) Repays a debt to Peter by chasing off Old Jed Thumper, showing a surprising sense of honor. ### [Little Miss Fuzzytail Whispers 'Yes'](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xx-little-miss-fuzzytail-whispers-yes) His howl frightens little Miss Fuzzytail, though Peter explains he is a friend. ### [Peter Introduces Mrs. Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xxiii-peter-introduces-mrs-peter) Pays his respects at the gathering, causing others to make way for him. ### [XXIV: Danny Meadow Mouse Warns Peter Rabbit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xxiv-danny-meadow-mouse-warns-peter-rabbit) Mentioned as a potential threat; Peter believes he is a friend, but Danny and Mrs. Peter are wary. ### [Peter Rabbit’s Heedlessness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xxv-peter-rabbit-s-heedlessness) Old Man Coyote nearly catches Peter and declares their friendship over. ### [Peter Rabbit Listens to Mrs. Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xxvi-peter-rabbit-listens-to-mrs-peter) Hides near the old house waiting for Peter, but is thwarted by Mrs. Peter's warning; he snarls and chases her briefly before leaving. ### [Peter Rabbit's Nursery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xxxii-peter-rabbit-s-nursery) Another predator lurking around the Old Briar-patch. ### [Bowser the Hound](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/bowser-the-hound) Leads Bowser away from home, setting the events of the chapter in motion. ### [I: Old Man Coyote Leads Bowser Away](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/i-old-man-coyote-leads-bowser-away) Annoyed by Bowser's interference, he uses his cleverness to lead Bowser on a chase far from home. ### [Old Man Coyote Plays a Trick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/ii-old-man-coyote-plays-a-trick) Plays a trick on Bowser by leading him far from home and breaking the scent trail with long leaps near a river. ### [What Happened to Bowser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/iii-what-happened-to-bowser) Tricks Bowser into falling into the icy water and watches with a wicked grin before returning to Farmer Brown's. ### [IV: Poor Bowser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/iv-poor-bowser) Leads Bowser to the river, then returns home, grinning wickedly as he hears Bowser's howl. ### [Bowser Spends a Bad Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/v-bowser-spends-a-bad-night) Tricked Bowser into falling into a river and led him to a lonely place. ### [IX: Old Man Coyote Gives Out Dark Hints](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/ix-old-man-coyote-gives-out-dark-hints) Returns home after leading Bowser astray and slyly drops hints about Bowser's disappearance. ### [X: How Reddy Fox Investigated](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/x-how-reddy-fox-investigated) Old Man Coyote is mentioned as the original source of the story about Bowser's disappearance, which Reddy initially doubted. ### [XI: A Little Unpleasantness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xi-a-little-unpleasantness) Old Man Coyote is at the henhouse gate, growling at Reddy and scaring him away. ### [The Cleverness of Old Man Coyote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xii-the-cleverness-of-old-man-coyote) Displays cleverness and caution by letting Reddy Fox test the henyard gate for traps. ### [XIII: The Mischievous Little Night Breeze](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xiii-the-mischievous-little-night-breeze) Watches Reddy from hiding, planning to steal any chicken Reddy catches. ### [The Difference Between Being Inside and Outside](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xiv-the-difference-between-being-inside-and-outside) Appears outside the fence, free and grinning, mocking Reddy and offering cynical advice before trotting away. ### [Where Was Bowser the Hound?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xix-where-was-bowser-the-hound) One of the two who knows what happened to Bowser; he led Bowser far away and got him lost. ### [XXII: Farmer Brown’s Boy Looks in Vain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xxii-farmer-brown-s-boy-looks-in-vain) Old Man Coyote grows bold, coming around the henyard in broad daylight, and is suspected by Farmer Brown's boy. ### [Bowser's Great Voice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xxiii-bowser-s-great-voice) Mentioned as the one who led Bowser into trouble; Blacky plans to ask him for help. ### [Blacky Tries to Get Help](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xxiv-blacky-tries-to-get-help) Old Man Coyote is approached by Blacky for help; he is amused by the proposal and laughs crazily. ### [XXV: Blacky Calls on Reddy Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xxv-blacky-calls-on-reddy-fox) Old Man Coyote laughs off Blacky's plea to help Bowser, showing no regret and stating it's every creature for himself. ### [Old Man Coyote Does a Little Thinking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xix-old-man-coyote-does-a-little-thinking) Hungry and observant, he follows the foxes and suspects they are stealing from Farmer Brown's. ### [XX: A Twice Stolen Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xx-a-twice-stolen-dinner) Craftily follows Granny and Reddy, then steals the dinner from Granny at the last moment. ### [Granny and Reddy Talk Things Over](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xxi-granny-and-reddy-talk-things-over) Old Man Coyote cleverly steals the dinner from Granny and Reddy, taunts them, and then quickly escapes before being discovered. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters/old_man_coyote - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/characters