While in Yellowstone National Park last week with my friend Ray Bednar, we came across a coyote that cared little about us. He gave us a really nice pose on a hillside, with perfect backlighting.
I overexposed a bit to get some detail in its fur, and the coyote eventually stared right at me. I saw a proud, defiantly wild animal with little need to acknowledge us or even the existence of mankind and our silly ways.
After awhile, the coyote sniffed at us dismissively and took off on a slow trot, running in a big loop around us and eventually back to the same ridge where we first saw it.
Coyote running along field near Firehole Lake Drive, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. Canon 1DX II. 800mm. ISO 1600. f/9 @ 1/1200 second. EV +1.
What kept drawing this coyote back to the same spot, I wondered? A nearby den full of fuzzy little pups? A bobcat treed in the canopy above? What could it be that so held the attention of this noble, wild beast?
Finally we got our answer. The coyote made his way down to the road and a half empty soft drink cup left by the road. My indomitably wild coyote had just wanted a sugar fix.We left him alone as he lapped up the last bit of spilled Dr. Pepper.
