Coyote resting on the edge of the Great Salt LakeA Coyote resting on the edge of the Great Salt Lake – Nikon D810, f10, 1/320, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited or called in

Any day that I see a Coyote is a great one, seeing a pair of them it is even greater and yesterday I photographed a pair of coyotes I am very familiar with. The sun had been up long and there was still a golden glow to the light when I began to photograph the coyotes from the causeway overlooking the blue water of the Great Salt Lake. The larger of the two laid down right next to the shoreline.

Pair of Coyotes on the shore of the Great Salt LakeA pair of Coyotes on the shore of the Great Salt Lake – Nikon D810, f10, 1/320, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited or called in

And the other Coyote crossed the causeway and walked slowly up to the one on the shore. I know that second one well and have been following it since the 16th of February.

Coyote with a healed injuryA Coyote with a healed injury – Nikon D810, f10, 1/320, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited or called in

This Coyote was injured some time before the 16th of February and to see it healed now gives me a sense of relief and joy. When I saw it after its injury I was not 100% sure it would survive. But it has.

The Great Salt Lake and a resting CoyoteThe Great Salt Lake and a resting Coyote – Nikon D810, f10, 1/500, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited or called in

I love seeing Coyotes especially along the shore of the Great Salt Lake.

Injured Coyote - February 16th, 2015Injured Coyote – February 16th, 2015 – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 450, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited or called in

The first day I saw this Coyote with the injury was February 16th, I believe that the injury was caused by fighting over food or territory. In some photos I took that day you could see into the coyote’s nasal passage. It was not pretty and I wasn’t sure that the coyote would survive.

Injured Coyote - February 25, 2015Injured Coyote – February 25, 2015 – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited or called in

Nine days later though I photographed the injured Coyote and the healing process had begun. It looked and acted healthy.

Injured Coyote - March 6, 2015Injured Coyote – March 6, 2015 – Nikon D810, f8, 1/500, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited or called in

And nine days later I could see more healing.

Injured Coyote - April 28, 2015Injured Coyote – April 28, 2015 – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/400, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited or called in

By the time I took this image on April 28th the healing process was pretty much finished with very little scarring to the Coyote’s muzzle but I can tell this is the same one because of the “Roman Nose”, a slight hump on the bridge of the muzzle.

Healed Coyote - June 7, 2015Healed Coyote – June 7, 2015 – Nikon D810, f10, 1/640, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited or called in

Yesterday when I took this image of the Coyote curled up in the morning sun it felt good to know that nature healed it and I have been privileged to photograph this beautiful animal on the path of its recovery.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to view more of my Coyote photos plus facts and information about this species.