Juvenile Coyote on Antelope Island

 

Generally,  life is good.

Where Should I Go Next

Encounters with coyotes don't always end with a photo, but there are days when coyotes stop briefly for different reasons. I always look forward to these moments.

Life goes on.

Sketches in March - I. Today

Today I saw hundreds of American Avocets on Antelope Island, who gathered in one long line offshore.  It was such a joy to see them after a long and cold winter.

Later, I met a coyote, who crossed the road right in front of my nose. That was so unexpected that I didn't know what to do for the first few seconds. When I grabbed my camera and came out of the car, the coyote was heading into desert.  Following him seemed silly at the begging but it paid off at the end.

Life goes on.

Strong and Beautiful

 

My husband taught me how to notice things in nature that are so easy to miss. "If something doesn't belong to the environment, look carefully," he used to say.

At first, I noticed the ears that were sticking out from behind the bushes and thought that I am imagining.  Soon a muzzle showed up and thе coyote himself,  strong and beautiful.

This photo is my favorite.  I like the way the coyote is gazing into the distance with its neck outstretched.  He must have noticed or smelled something. 

I followed the coyote as long as I could.  It often disappeared into the bushes and suddenly appeared, as if the coyote was playing hide and seek.  

Life goes on.

Curious Teenager

He stepped out of the sage bushes onto the road, skinny and very young, and immediately as soon as he saw me disappeared again in the bushes. But his curiosity was stronger that caution.

Generally, life is good!

Coyote in the Desert

 

I met my first coyote in the Yellowstone Park several years ago. A lot of time has passed since then but I still remember this coyote that scared me and fascinated at the same time. 

This morning the coyote on the photo above appeared almost out of blue.  He was dirty, wet and was walking in the most unattractive part of desert. 

The coyote often stopped, checking to see if I was following him. 

I noticed long ago that sometimes coyotes do not immediately leave you in a hurry. Some of them are very curious. 

The coyote whom I met today was one of those who was interested in everything that surrounded him.

And then the moment came when the coyote suddenly turned around and started to walk into the desert. He walked away slowly without looking back until he turned into a small dot.

Generally, life is good!

The Salty Desert Wildlife - III. Coyote

 

In the beginning of September we were looking forward to rain. The rains came in October and we overjoyed by them.  The desert suddenly got dressed in lovely autumn colors and looked so alive.

When I saw a coyote walking along the road (Causeway, Antelope Island) I thought how nice it would be if he would stay even for a few minutes among colorful desert plants.  

The coyote seemed to hear my thoughts and stopped. The background was almost perfect, the coyote was in the nice proximity and everything fell into place. It happens so rarely.

Generally, life is good!

The Salty Desert Wildlife - I. Coyote

During our severe drought all animals who found a home on Antelope Island were affected by it because of lack of water and food supply.

 

There are over forty freshwater springs on island to support the island's wild life but many of them dried up.

This morning I met a coyote while I was driving along the Causeway.  Autumn is almost arrived and it brought nice fall colors.  The coyote was resting among desert plants enjoying the cool morning.

The coyote's rest was short.

 

The Great Salt Lake is salty and when water in the Great Salt Lake evaporates it leaves the salt behind.  The coyote is standing on the dry salty ground that is white and solid.

The coyote is walking his way in the salty dry desert.

Will we recover from our extreme drought eventually?  I hope we will but it will take several good winters with plenty of snow.  We get our water from the snowy mountains.

Generally, life is good.

Coyote in November

 

I don't know for how long this coyote was around, I only can tell that he certainly was very cautious and silent.  I was photographing a porcupine on a tree and at some point I heard that a branch was broken and saw the coyote.

He was so close that for a few awkward seconds we just stared at each other and then I decided to be "submissive" and show that I am harmless and friendly.

Well, my way to show "submissiveness" was to get lower to the ground and to my surprise it worked, the coyote didn't run away.

At the beginning of our encounter the coyote was with the dry leaf in his mouth and he kept it for a while.

Today I was blessed with a wonderful opportunity to watch and photograph a coyote and be in a close proximity to him.

Generally, life is good!

Coyote on Antelope Island - II. Finale

Usually Coyotes try to stay invisible and avoid humans but this young Coyote was busy hunting for food and my presence didn't bother him.  

During winter the Coyotes develop a thick fur coat that keeps them warm. This fur coat will have two layers, first layer will keep the animal dry in snow and rain and the layer underneath will keep Coyotes warm.

This Coyote still have a summer coat.

Coyotes are howling like wolves but if wolves give their pups teaching lessons how to howl and reward them with food and praise I have no idea how Coyotes learn howling.

The Coyotes eat pretty much anything they can find, birds, rodents, fish, frogs, deer, rabbits.

These animals mate for lifetime.

Generally, life is good!

Coyote is Hunting

It's an interesting technique the Coyotes use for hunting. They raise themselves onto their hind legs as they smell and hear something and then make a jump ready to catch a prey.  This time a prey was a mouse.

The mouse is in the Coyote's mouth.  He didn't swallow it right away, just walked with it to a more safe place.

He gave me a few quick glances as if I was going to steal his prey. 

Ready to swallow a mouse.

Finally, a mouse is swallowed. The Coyotes have a strong sense of taste.  Here he is certainly enjoys his meal.

It's time to leave and hunt somewhere else. 

Generally, life is good!

Coyote on Antelope Island - I.

The Coyote was skinny and looked grayish when he crossed a road but when I approached closer I realized how young he was. The Coyote resembled a little bit of beta Wolf.

Today afternoon was very warm on Antelope Island and the Coyote kept his mouth often open showing his dark pinkish tongue.   

I have a soft spot for Coyotes that goes all the way back when I first time visited  Yellowstone Park where I met my first Coyote.  Since that when I am on Antelope Island or Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I am always looking for Coyotes.

Generally, life is good!

Coyote During Sunrise at Bear River

I used to see coyotes at Antelope Island but never had an opportunity to photograph them. To see a coyote walking in the marsh during sunrise at Bear River was something unexpected.

Walking in the marsh. At some point the coyote gave me a curious glance.

Still walking in the marsh, sniffing and exploring.  

Almost out of marsh but still in the mud. His fur is so dense, so beautiful.

It's time to go into the desert.

***
Life is on hold. Empty. That is how I feel right now. I listened to the news, read threads on Twitter, everything is so bleak.  I watched the videos coming out of Italy, people are singing and playing music on their balconies and the sounds floated through the city streets. Almost in instant our lives changed forever.

I will continue to post my photographs of birds and animals as long as I will be able. Maybe, someone out there will find them uplifting.