I had another visitor to my camera trap this weekend. An eastern coyote. We often hear coyotes howling at night and I suspect I’ve seen their eyeshine staring back at me from the woods when I have my headlamp on, but I’ve yet to have a verified sighting in the yard. The eastern version of the coyote is supposedly larger than the western variety due to interbreeding with Canadian gray wolves. They call the combo a coywolf and I know there have been efforts to classify it as a separate species altogether. This guy, however, seems quite a bit scrawnier than those I’ve seen and photographed out west. Of course, could be the lack of a thick coat. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 500, f/11 at 1/125th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and flashes.
He does look scrawny compared with what used to trot by my back door in Gloucester. You better never let Casey out without you or Karen with him. Nice capture, Sean.
We are always careful with Casey, but it is highly, highly (that’s a double highly) unlikely that a coyote would ever go after a dog of Casey’s size. In fact, they stay out of view as much as possible and as I mentioned, I’ve never actually seen one in the yard, but apparently they creep around after dark sometimes looking for scraps. They mostly go after smaller mammals like mice and voles and whatever they can scavenge.
Do you charge the animals for these headshots? I know doing the headshots for free brings more animals to your photo trap at first, but you should be getting your beak wet is all I’m saying.
I like the green-leafed frame that surrounds your beautiful eastern coyote & the indigo sky in the background adds an additional touch of color that contrasts with the brown, black & grey-hued colors in this image. Very nice, Trapper Sean!
Thanks Sue. I love getting the sky when I can. Adds depth. As for the green, yes, those leaves are browning fast. Nice of the coyote to find that spot for his self portrait.
Here in SW Florida, coyotes move in for a while, then leave for months. We’ve had one who has been stealing our morning paper, sometimes shredding it! I find it in different places between the houses. Saw a pretty sizeable one in the fairway early one morning. The howls are spooky, but I’m glad you had yet another wild visitor to your camera trap. Keep ’em coming!
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He does look scrawny compared with what used to trot by my back door in Gloucester. You better never let Casey out without you or Karen with him. Nice capture, Sean.
We are always careful with Casey, but it is highly, highly (that’s a double highly) unlikely that a coyote would ever go after a dog of Casey’s size. In fact, they stay out of view as much as possible and as I mentioned, I’ve never actually seen one in the yard, but apparently they creep around after dark sometimes looking for scraps. They mostly go after smaller mammals like mice and voles and whatever they can scavenge.
Do you charge the animals for these headshots? I know doing the headshots for free brings more animals to your photo trap at first, but you should be getting your beak wet is all I’m saying.
Good question Louis. Most of the animals that stop by for a photo op are members of the screen actors guild so I’m forced to pay them union scale.
Actually they are probably members of WAG and not SAG. Hehheh.
Ha. No doubt Sid.
I like the green-leafed frame that surrounds your beautiful eastern coyote & the indigo sky in the background adds an additional touch of color that contrasts with the brown, black & grey-hued colors in this image. Very nice, Trapper Sean!
Thanks Sue. I love getting the sky when I can. Adds depth. As for the green, yes, those leaves are browning fast. Nice of the coyote to find that spot for his self portrait.
Here in SW Florida, coyotes move in for a while, then leave for months. We’ve had one who has been stealing our morning paper, sometimes shredding it! I find it in different places between the houses. Saw a pretty sizeable one in the fairway early one morning. The howls are spooky, but I’m glad you had yet another wild visitor to your camera trap. Keep ’em coming!