Zulu Still Roams: The Three-Legged Coyote That Refused to Die

A Year Later, the Three-Legged Coyote Continues to Defy the Odds in South

Out here in the South Texas brush, we pay close attention to balance.

At TheRanch@Camp Ka Hui ‘Ana, managing for healthy populations of whitetail deer, turkey, and other game means staying on top of predator pressure. That’s just part of responsible ranch management. We run an active predator control program year-round—because if you don’t, the land will remind you why it matters. Even with that in place, we also understand something else: no program is ever 100%.

And that’s where Zulu’s story gets even more remarkable.

From Long Shot to Long-Term Survivor

When Zulu was first spotted on January 23, 2025, missing his front left foot, the expectation was simple—he wouldn’t last long. Between the injury itself and the realities of life in the brush—competition, terrain, and ongoing predator management—his odds were about as slim as they come.

But Zulu didn’t disappear. Through the spring. Through the summer. Through the seasons that test everything that lives out here. And then again, on April 3, 2026, he showed up once more—steady, aware, and still moving like he belongs.

Living Wild in a Managed Landscape

What makes Zulu’s story different isn’t just that he survived—it’s where and how he’s done it.

This isn’t untouched wilderness. This is working South Texas ground, where wildlife management is intentional and necessary. Predator control plays a role in protecting the very species we’re trying to grow and sustain.

And yet, Zulu has managed to navigate all of it. He’s adapted—not just to his injury—but to the pressures of the environment around him. He’s stayed elusive, stayed sharp, and somehow stayed one step ahead. That doesn’t happen by accident.

A Familiar Ghost in the Brush

Over time, Zulu has become something rare. Not predictable—but familiar. A glimpse crossing a sendero. A trail cam photo that makes you pause. A shape in the mesquite that you recognize before you even realize why. He’s not just surviving—he’s become part of the landscape. A reminder that even in a place where management is active and necessary, the wild still finds a way to hold on.

What Zulu Teaches Us

Zulu doesn’t change why we manage the land the way we do. Predator control remains an important part of maintaining balance for deer, turkey, and the rest of the wildlife we’re responsible for. That doesn’t go away. But every now and then, a story like his comes along and reminds you just how tough—and how adaptable—these animals really are.

Not every outcome is predictable. And not every survivor fits the expected mold.

Zulu was last seen on April 3, 2026. Still moving. Still surviving. Still out there. And we’ll keep watching. Because in a place like this, a story like his doesn’t just stand out—it earns a little respect.