2302_0195 The Decisive Moment
Part 2 of a 5-part set showing how this Coyote is getting through the lean season...
It happened in a heartbeat. If you saw yesterday's post, you may have noticed the little predator's hind legs curled up underneath him (or her - it's so hard to tell unless they urinate), like a spring-loaded, lethal killing machine. It has just launched; the hind legs haven't touched down yet and its jaws have already found the target.
A hapless, sleepy Black-tailed Prairie Dog had woken from its slumber due to the warming weather, and ventured up to check out the world. It happened to be looking the wrong way, and had no chance to react before the jaws closed around the back of its neck and head. The outcome was determined in an instant.
Prairie Dogs are really cute, so it's hard not to feel a twinge of remorse for this one, but so it goes: this is the fate of a high percentage of the members of each prairie dog colony. They are a keystone species. Many, many other species depend on them.
The next three images will show Coyote enjoying its meal - a substantial caloric reward for its efforts. Coyotes are efficient killers but messy eaters, so I won't post the one truly gory shot. Let us say that not a morsel went to waste.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2023 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
2302_0195 The Decisive Moment
Part 2 of a 5-part set showing how this Coyote is getting through the lean season...
It happened in a heartbeat. If you saw yesterday's post, you may have noticed the little predator's hind legs curled up underneath him (or her - it's so hard to tell unless they urinate), like a spring-loaded, lethal killing machine. It has just launched; the hind legs haven't touched down yet and its jaws have already found the target.
A hapless, sleepy Black-tailed Prairie Dog had woken from its slumber due to the warming weather, and ventured up to check out the world. It happened to be looking the wrong way, and had no chance to react before the jaws closed around the back of its neck and head. The outcome was determined in an instant.
Prairie Dogs are really cute, so it's hard not to feel a twinge of remorse for this one, but so it goes: this is the fate of a high percentage of the members of each prairie dog colony. They are a keystone species. Many, many other species depend on them.
The next three images will show Coyote enjoying its meal - a substantial caloric reward for its efforts. Coyotes are efficient killers but messy eaters, so I won't post the one truly gory shot. Let us say that not a morsel went to waste.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2023 James R. Page - all rights reserved.