Northwest groups have anthropomorphized a number of animals. As have most of the tribes in the west. Perhaps the most common animals represented in the mythological literature are Coyote and Raven. [Coyote](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote_(mythology) or the Trickster, was famous among Northwest California as a mischievous critter who could trick people into having sex with him, take others' money or possessions, and give people they were averse to bad luck.

Prominent Coyote stories have been collected from central California to the northern Plateau. Coyote was also mythologized in the Southwest and in the Great Plains.

Coyote figured prominently in creation myths, innovations (e.g. creating fire), demonstrating normative or more accurately, non-normative behavior, and in explaining natural land forms.

Hupa Texts. P. E. Goddard. 1904

Handbook of North American Indians, Smithsonian. Volumes 7(Northwest), 8 (California) and 12 (Plateau).

Handbook of California Indians, A. Kroeber, 1970