Throughout spring and early summer, mountain goats shed the thick coat that they develop in the winter. This image was actually taken later in the summer, but the mountain goat was still holding onto that last bit of winter fur. Photographed up on Mount Evans in Colorado. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1250th of a second.

There are two species of roadrunner in the world, the greater and the lesser roadrunner. This is the former. I photographed this guy in Anza-Borrego State Park in southern California. True to his name, he was running across the desert floor, presumably looking for something to eat. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 260mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/800th of a second.

I can’t be certain if this was a fight or foreplay, but these two marmots were really going at each other. Photographed up on Mount Rainier in Washington state. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/250th of a second.

A bull elk makes his way through the sagebrush, looking for willing females during the fall rut in Yellowstone National Park. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/400th of a second.

I figured it was about time to start adding a few photos from the rest of the world to the mix of all the recent Africa posts. I’ve shared a few images from this particular morning before. Here’s another. Photographed quite a few years ago in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 400, f/7.1 at 1/800th of a second.

Coyotes can look quite different from each other depending upon which part of the country they are from. Those in the southern California deserts are more wily and scrappy looking, whereas the ones in Yellowstone appear more full bodied (mostly because of their thick fur). Out here in the east, we get coywolfs, which have their own subtle differences in appearance. This guy was photographed in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/800th of a second.

The eastern lubber grasshopper makes quite an impression in both size and color. They are usually a bright orange and typically about three inches long. They can be found throughout the southeastern United States. I photographed this one in Everglades National Park in Florida. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1000th of a second.

A coastal brown bear takes a quick corner to the right, chasing down the silver salmon at Lake Clark National Park in Alaska. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/1600th of a second.

A nine-banded armadillo stops for a quick drink before carrying on with his other armadillo-y tasks. Photographed on Merritt Island on the east coast of Florida. Have a great Thanksgiving weekend everyone. Be back on Monday. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.