Coyote Nature-Spirit (Maya)
Among Maya communities of the Yucatan Peninsula the coyote nature-spirit occupies a distinct role as a protector of aluxob, the small forest spirits inhabiting unspoiled wilderness. These forest guardians work in hierarchical relationship: aluxob tend to immediate needs of specific trees and plants while the coyote nature-spirit oversees larger territories and coordinates multiple aluxob under its jurisdiction. According to Maya oral tradition the coyote spirit was created by Yum Kaax, the Maya god of forests and wild animals, specifically to manage the interface between human agriculture and