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.

Sea otters spend the vast majority of their time at sea. That said, they often sleep on land. I arrived at this location well before the sun came up and caught this guy just as he was waking up. I used a slow shutter and high ISO to capture what little available light there was. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/20th of a second.

I met this young red fox years ago in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. There were was a sibling as well and they were both waiting for mom to return with breakfast — which she eventually did — free-range grackle. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/320th of a second.

In honor of the two black bears that all but rang our doorbell last night (they were after our pumpkins — video here), thought I’d post a black bear cub I photographed a few years back in Minnesota. Apparently, this is a comfortable spot for a nap. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/800th of a second.

I photographed this bull moose a few winters back in Yellowstone. Well, just outside of Yellowstone in the town of Silver Gate, Montana. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 175mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/400th of a second.