Coyote In The Snow

[Teton Chuck]

Coyotes in northwestern Wyoming fine food by finding voles under the snow for nearly six months out of the year. This one was "mousing", hence the snow on its nose. I see coyotes near my home almost every day.

[Shadowman]

Nice capture.

[Bobobird]

Vole = fine food. For coyote, only if desperate.

Excellent capture.

[Wavelength]

Very nice

[Teton Chuck]

Thanks to all for the comments. It is fun to watch them turn their heads and zero in on the location of the prey under the snow. Then sometimes they will jump a number of feet to capture the little guy.

[terrib]

I've seen foxes do this but have not witnessed a coyote hunting. I like the shot. You did great with the snow!

[Teton Chuck]

Thank you Terri. Shooting in the snow is a challenge. I was out ten hours that day and the time passed so quickly I could hardly believe it. Remind me later, I have a really special spot for you to photograph not far from your home in Colorado.

[IzzieK]

A video link was sent to me sometime ago about a coyote hunting in the snow...I will try to find it if it is still there in my messy Inbox...Anyway, your shot is very good. I like the space between the coyote and the foreground...

[Downrigger]

Handsome animal, well captured.
They are among the few, real survivors of the anthropocene and often lovely to look at like this one.
Like wolves, but moreso in a way, I find these are much despised in the West. See http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=25052737
Wolves have advocates... these guys don't.

[jamn4ex]

Great shot Chuck! lol I hid in a bush for 3 hrs waiting for a pair that I have been watching , Thinking I could get some closer shots but they must have Identified me. They stayed 200 yards or better away from me, then my feet got cold had to slink home empty handed.

[Teton Chuck]

Isabel, thank you for the note. I hope you find the video and post it. Coyotes are marvelous animals, well adapted to their habitats and beautiful to watch.

[Teton Chuck]

Mark, thank you for the comment and the link about the senseless killing of coyotes in Utah. Unfortunately it happens all over the western part of the United States. When I was growing up on a ranch in Colorado a neighbor offered a quarter for each magpie we could kill. A quarter was quite a sum in the early 50"s. He said the magpies were eating holes in the backs of his cattle. I ask my dad why they didn't do that to our cattle. The bottom line: magpies were being killed based on a myth. I am an advocate of ecosystems with all of the components - predators and prey. I welcome the fact that when I go for hikes near my home I need to carry pepper spray in case of encounter with a grizzly bear, a mother moose, etc. My life is richer for it.

[Teton Chuck]

James, often I wait for hours to get a shot and go home without success. Stay with those critters. I'm looking forward to the photos you will get. It seems each time I go out to photograph birds in the winter the temperature is -9 F. I know what you mean by being cold.

[IzzieK]

Here is the video link (I hope this works...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rx6MR13zUc

Enjoy...

Isabel, thank you for the note. I hope you find the video and post it. Coyotes are marvelous animals, well adapted to their habitats and beautiful to watch.

[Teton Chuck]

Thank you Isabel, it worked like a charm. I hope others will watch it. I know the exact spot on Yellowstone Lake where the coyote footage was taken.

Cheers, Chuck