Crossing the Road in Snow

This is a portrait of a darker wolf crossing the road while it was snowing. This photo was hastily taken near the pullout known as coyote in the Lamar Valley.

 

While driving down the road, I noticed some movement in the sage on the side of the road a few hundred meters ahead of me. I quickly found a space where I could safely pull off of the road and grabbed my camera. I was actually surprised to see that it was a wolf, not knowing what to expect since I could not see much more than movement until it stepped out of the sage. The wolf then proceeded to cross the road about 100 meters away.

 

Unfortunately I am not very familiar with the wolf pack members in the park. I have a terrible memory for names, and am not able to identify this wolf. If there are any wolf watchers viewing this image, please feel free to comment below on the identity of this individual.

 

Wildlife encounters on the roadway are fairly common in our national parks. Most visitors rarely get more than a mile away from the pavement when they visit. Some of our parks are so large that driving many miles a day is the only way many of us get to enjoy these spaces. Please be mindful of the natural inhabitants of these ecosystems, and take care when traveling through their home.

 

Please excuse the slight blur, as I was handholding trying to get the shot. The entire encounter lasted just a few seconds.

 

In the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park.

Done