Yellowstone National Park - Pouncing Coyotes!!!!

October, 2006

The leaves on the trees are turning to gold and the grasses are also losing their color here in Yellowstone. One of the park's most efficient scavengers is out on the prowl looking for a meal. Traveling the easy route of the pavement it is quite easy to see coyotes here in the park. Since the re-introduction of wolves in Yellowstone the Park Service estimates that the coyote population has decreased perhaps as much as 50% due to direct mortality and changes in coyote denning behaviors. I have a hard time confirming that based on the number of coyotes I have seen this trip. With patience and observation it is possible to watch these sly canines as they prowl the tall grasses looking for small rodents to pounce on. Time and again I encounter a coyote on the prowl! These four images are all different coyotes on different days doing what they do best...pouncing!





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