Coyotes can see them
I tried again just now. For the sake of science and purposes of this entry, I stared at the image above for more than 30 seconds. During that time I let my eyes gently cross. At the end, the only thing I got was mild eyestrain and a headache. And I never saw whatever image is supposedly hidden in the pattern. Rumor has it that it’s a picture of Pope Francis having tea with a velociraptor in a vineyard.
The image in question is called a stereogram, or an auto-stereogram. It’s an optical illusion that depicts an image that can only be seen while crossing one’s eyes. More specifically, while staring at the two-dimensional stereogram image, a three-dimensional object will eventually appear.
Not so fast, I say. I’ve tried to spot hidden images in stereograms since way back in high school. Then one of my classmates had a picture of a stereogram he was showing everybody. I was curious, so asked to see it. He showed the picture to me and said:
“Just stare at it real hard and cross your eyes. Then you’ll see the hidden image.”
“What image?” I asked.
“Just look at it,” he replied, “see, there it is.”
But no matter how hard I tried, I could only see geometric patterns. I told the guy that the picture was nothing but dots—and that he was full of BS. An animated back and forth ensued with repeated efforts on my part to be able to see the second image. At some point, my classmate looked at me quizzically as if I’d suddenly sprouted a third arm out of my forehead or developed a case of leprosy. Then he quietly said OK and started to back away. I don’t think he spoke to me again for at least a week.
I’ve never been able to see stereogram images. However, I looked online earlier and found more specific instructions: “converge your eyes at a position twice as far away as the picture and focus on the picture. After a few minutes you’ll see the image.”
The article also says that most people find it extremely difficult to spot the image the first time. This is because to see the second image you supposedly have to focus on a point that’s different from where you’re actually looking. As if that makes any sense. This mysterious technique is called “de-coupling.” And here I thought de-coupling is what happens when you’re unexpectedly interrupted during a bout of inner-tribal wrestling.
The article goes on to relay some disturbing information. Apparently, there are people who will never be able to see stereograms. Said individuals have binocular or stereo vision impairments such as deviations or misalignments in one or both eyes, astigmatism, or cataracts. They may also have seriously flawed visual-cranial software. I think I may be a victim of the latter.
All this aside, I wonder if coyotes can see stereograms. After all, they’re one of nature’s most industrious and cunning mammals. And they can thrive in practically any kind of environment. Photos taken of coyotes in densely urban settings like the financial district of San Francisco are commonplace.
Recently, Carla showed me a video she took at a field near the Nature Center in the North Valley of Albuquerque. The field was full of Canada geese and Sandhill cranes. In the background, far behind all the squawking and feeding birds, a lone coyote was skulking about. He was probably trying to figure out how to nab one of the geese for a much-needed nosh. But no matter how hungry the coyote may have been, he was smart enough not to attempt an attack on such a huge flock. They would have kicked his mangy ass in a heartbeat. Instead, he quickly slinked off screen, probably headed for the Dunkin’ Donuts up on Fourth Street. People say you can find day-old crullers in the trash bin there.
There are coyotes here in Rio Rancho, even though I infrequently see them. But I’ve heard packs of them yipping and barking regularly over the years. No doubt they’re in pursuit of dinner. It’s amazing they can live in such hot—and cold—weather and extreme conditions.
As for stereograms, I’ll keep at it. I just tried again with the image above. Still no go. I wonder if a coyote could see it? I bet one of them could spot the hidden image in seconds. And you know what they’d see in the stereogram above? Pope Francis and the velociraptor giving them the finger. Maybe there’s a reason you’re not supposed to see the second image.
Enjoy this blog post?
Read more of my tales from decades in the wine industry,
all published in one collection.
BUY NOW
It's a shark...