scavenging coyote

Posted by Kelly on Tue Nov 11, 2003 10:10 pm

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This photo seems to show some of the challenges for wildlife, especially animals living along a busy road. A bighorn ewe was hit by a vehicle, and while still kicking, two coyotes came to feed on her. Meanwhile, a lamb was bleating on the hill above this scene, and I was so relieved when Dennis assured me that it didn't belong to the dying ewe. I have no idea how he knew, but I had to trust a vet.

This post is really a cooperative effort. Chas loaned me his 1D after my camera broke. Then Cheryl burned the images on to a CD, that my computer didn't like. So I could get in the Jasper posting frenzy, she picked an image and e-mailed it to me.

ISO 400, f/6.3, 1/400, 100-400 on Chas' 1D @ 400mm handheld. Thanks for all the help already received, and for comments and suggestions.

Kelly O'Neill

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by NDCheryl on Tue Nov 11, 2003 10:36 pm

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Kelly,

You got a really nice shot of the coyote intently feeding. I like the comp you chose with the strong horizontal emphasizing the 'interaction'. This really was hard to watch, but nature is not always 'pretty' and I think it is important to show many 'sides' of the circle of life. Are you hooked on digital yet???

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by Tim Grams on Tue Nov 11, 2003 11:32 pm

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The Road Kill Cafe serves up a large variety of unfortunate victims, in some areas it the main form of "predation." Like moose in Anchorage.

He's certainly intent on getting his share of fresh mutton! Nice exposure and a good action shot.

A touch more room on the bottom for his hidden front paws would be nice.

Tim
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by Kelly on Tue Nov 11, 2003 11:35 pm

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Tim Grams wrote:A touch more room on the bottom for his hidden front paws would be nice.

I agree, but I forgot to mention that some of the road was cropped from the bottom.

Kelly O'Neill

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by Safariguy on Tue Nov 11, 2003 11:46 pm

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I like the intensity of this and I appreciate the careful framing of the shot to avoid some of the more graphic elements that were in that scene.

Good job especially with equipment that you were using for the first time!

Cheers,

Jeff
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by Dennis Olivero on Wed Nov 12, 2003 1:01 am

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Excellent work kelly... In the end you pulled it all together despite equipment struggles. Nice job of framing here, to exclude the road...this was a tough reminder of the efficiency of nature and the food chain..Well done..

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by Carol Clarke on Wed Nov 12, 2003 4:46 am

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Good catch Kelly. Excellent detail showing nature as she is.

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by cjw on Wed Nov 12, 2003 6:59 am

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This is an excellent capture, Kelly. I agree with the others about the framing - you've done a great job with that.

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by Chas on Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:30 am

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Kellt, this is a teriffic image. The gear was loaned, but the eye and ability to pull this off was yours alone. Way to go! I konw you have a few others up your sleeve, and I look forward to viewing them on site.

I should have zigged, when I zagged :roll:

Best and thanks,

Chas

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by Jenny Ellerbe on Wed Nov 12, 2003 9:08 am

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Kelly,

This is one of those images that is going to bother me for a long while. I understand nature can be harsh but it's so sad that she was still alive when the coyotes showed up. You have created a very moving image (with borrowed gear at that).

Jenny Ellerbe
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by E.J. Peiker on Wed Nov 12, 2003 9:31 am

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A really cool shot which illustrates the laws of nature very well.

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by Paul Skoczylas on Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:34 am

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Awesome! I don't find it hard to look at, at all. Did you guys see it get hit? That would have been hard to see, because it's certainly not part of nature. But presented like this, it's just the "circle of life". (A few weeks ago I watched the wolf pack at Medicine lake devaouring a moose; I missed the kill by an hour or two, but the aftermath was very interesting to watch.)

Did the wardens shoo you guys away from this soon after?

Too bad about your camera, though. Since I've got virtually the same one, can you tell me what went wrong?

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by Maxis Gamez on Wed Nov 12, 2003 11:13 am

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Cars, cars, cars

I hate when animals get hit by them, I see it all the time at the Everglades National Park

Maxis Gamez

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by Matt Cox on Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:31 pm

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This is a very well-done shot, Kelly. You did a nice job framing it to minimize the graphic nature of the situation, and the exposure is right-on.

Matt Cox

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by Kelly on Wed Nov 12, 2003 6:31 pm

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Thanks for the feedback everyone!

No, we didn't see it hit, but must have arrived very soon after. She sustained some serious injuries and was bleeding from the mouth, and probably incapable of living for long. Shortly after, a warden arrived to collect the carcass, probably to take it to another location for scavengers, but away from a road where more accidents might occur.

The shutter curtain on the camera was pushed inward, probably while changing film quickly. I think gloved fingers were more of an issue than the camera model.

Kelly O'Neill

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by Rich S on Thu Nov 13, 2003 6:04 pm