"WITHOUT CONTEXT, SOME MOMENTS CAN BE DECEIVING"

Coyote - 4 Photos

Note: All photos taken from a safe distance with a long camera lens. 

I had crossed over into a thick wooded area, turned around and up the path between two lines of trees, came this young coyote (Photo #1). (He/she may look large but it's because of the lens size.)

The second deception is the coyote's demeanor in Photo #2. This is the only shot I managed to obtain in his/her search for small prey because of the quick head movements of sniffing, lifting & moving on. The photo is, of course, that split second when the coyote raised his/her head, before trotting off into the woods (Photo #3 & Photo #4).

I found the coyote several minutes later surrounded by fir trees, looking out from the branches and then like before, it was "bye-bye", definitely don't want to know you & I have much more important tasks to tend to, like finding something to eat.

I do carry a small pepper spray on my camera bag but it was purchased because of one too many aggressive approaches by usually small dogs, illegally off-leash some distance from their owners. I love dogs, particularly the larger breeds. I've lost count of the German Shepherds, Labradors & even Greyhounds that I've met, walking placidly beside their pet parents. I've even met a couple walking their wolf dog and its companion, a dashhound who was definitely the boss of the two. (I had to ask the owners because there was no mistaking the larger dog's yellow eyes.) Like the coyote, the larger dog's interest was only the smells being encountered on the ground & in the air. Guess it's the adage, don't blame the dog for bad behaviour, blame the owner. 

The coyote is definitely at least one of two youngsters born last Spring, as I've seen them hunting together on several occasions. Unfortunately, for me, the moments have been fleeting. New pups will be arriving within the next few months and it will be "all paws on deck" searching out food for the family.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4