I came across this image I took of a Coyote standing on rocks on a sunny spring morning yesterday and realized that I miss seeing coyotes as often as I used to. Also, I miss having them in my viewfinder.

Adult Coyote on a sunny spring morning, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, UtahAdult Coyote on a sunny spring morning – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 540, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

When I first moved to Utah I found the Coyotes on Antelope Island State Park to be very cooperative, abundant, and gorgeous. I took hundreds and hundreds of Coyote photos in all kinds of weather and lighting conditions. My collection of Coyote photos grew. I visited the island frequently and felt at home there.

The last couple of years it seems like there haven’t been as many Coyotes on the island. I haven’t gone to the island like I used to due in part to the pandemic and my increasing allergic reactions to the no-see-ums and deer flies. The deer fly season lasts for part of the spring and all summer long.

I also stopped going to the island in part because of the development that has gone on out there including the huge new campground. Pipeline construction along the causeway to the Island which totally stripped slow-growing, bird-attracting, mature vegetation on the north side of the road. Traffic has increased. Climate change has made a negative impact on the birds and animals on the island and the increase in human presence likely has too. There are also areas of the island that I used to have access to where there were great birds that have now been blocked off for various reasons.

Antelope Island simply doesn’t feel as wild and wonderful to me as it did when I first moved here.

If I feel that way, maybe the Coyotes do too.

“Progress” isn’t always good.

Mia

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