It’s nice to see coyotes and other predators on Antelope Island hunting successfully for voles once again.
For the last year or so there’s been an apparent crash in the vole population on the island (vole populations are normally cyclic). I used to regularly see coyotes, raptors and even shrikes hunting them and I’d often spot the little rodents scurrying around in the sagebrush or crossing the road in front of me but such occurrences have been rare for many months now. Only recently have I noticed a rebound in their numbers.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 160 mm, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning as we were leaving the island we encountered this coyote hunting the causeway (while processing this shot I noticed it’s a “twofer” – there’s a bird perched behind the coyote). It was very close to the road and so intent on finding food that it barely glanced my way. Here it had located potential prey by smell (most likely a vole) and did a little digging for it but came up empty. So the coyote proceeded a little further east and almost immediately…
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 150 mm, not baited, set up or called in
came up with a vole.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 150 mm, not baited, set up or called in
At this point coyotes are in danger of being bitten. Those powerful little rodent teeth can make a coyote pay a dear price for its meal, something I’ve seen (and documented) many times. It appears that the coyote is using its incisors to grasp the prey by its front feet which puts the voles teeth dangerously close to lips, nose and tongue so…
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 150 mm, not baited, set up or called in
the coyote very quickly gave the rodent a little toss…
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 150 mm, not baited, set up or called in
and repositioned the vole…
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 150 mm, not baited, set up or called in
so it could quickly chomp down and kill the prey with a serious bite to the head.
At this point the coyote swallowed the vole but sadly I missed much of that action. I was so close to the coyote that I was using my backup 7D with attached zoom lens and I had inadvertently stuck in a slower memory card so my buffer filled up at this critical point. So frustrating to once again make a rookie mistake!
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 150 mm, not baited, set up or called in
Then the coyote continued east as it searched for another meal.
I’m encouraged to see evidence of a rebound in the vole population. Perhaps this will soon draw more raptors to the island – they’ve been woefully scarce out there for much too long.
Ron
What a beautiful series of shots of a beautiful animal, Ron. (I wonder if that coyote would enjoy a few hours in our mole-infested backyard.) I am impressed that you could get close enough to use your Canon 100-400mm lens at only 150 mm FL. I am usually at the 400-mm end of mine and am cussing at it because it won’t give me more reach.
Dwynn, The causeway is quite narrow so in order to hunt it the coyotes have to tolerate vehicles. They simply get used to them there but the same animal on the island is usually more skittish. This one absolutely ignored me and at times it came within about 25′ of my pickup.
I love this. my dogs just catch the mice and rats and leave them when they quit working. Eating them would be better than eating the copious amounts of poop that they devour…..
Tana, I had a dog once that had the same bad habit. Unpleasant…
Beautiful shots Ron. I like Coyotes, and think they get a bad rap. It’s nice to see “green” popping up.
They do get a “bad rap”, Jean. What’s happening to them is simply horrible. And yes, green is nice for a change!
Given the size of voles I assume that coyotes need quite a number of them to make a good living. So yes, I hope the vole cycle is turning (and feel a tad guilty for saying that).
Great series. Again.
They eat a bunch of them when they’re available, Elephant’s Child. I once watched a coyote catch and eat 5 of them in less than 15 minutes. Thank you.
Jorge, I see Ron hasn’t answered yet… Twofer is, I guess, you’d call a conjunction of ” two for the price of one” making it faster to type? There’s a bird on plants behind the coyote’s head in the first shot.
Wonderful series, Ron… I’ve seen coyotes hunting too, but never this close so I could see details of their behavior…. And I didn’t think before of how they must be smart and protect themselves from their prey! Very illuminating series…despite your so-called rookie mistake!
Barbara, I’ve seen them bitten in the mouth and on the tongue by voles. It obviously hurts a lot and it’s something they don’t want to happen again. Thank you.
Hi Barbara
I saw your coment only now.
Thanks for the hint.
Jorge
Beautiful captures Ron. Beautiful creature. Don’t think you mae a rookie mistake. You didn’t have time to do anything else. Your shots are terrific as usual.
Thanks, Ellen but I did screw up by mistakenly using that slower card.
Hi Ron
As I said yesterday I always learn from your shots, so I am curious to know what memory card do you use and also how many shots do you take in a single burst? (I am trying to fully understand what happened)
Beeing an European I always keep the dictionary close by but I can’t find the meaning of “twofer” (perhaps two subjects in the same picture?)Can you elucidate me?
Thank you for your patience.
Jorge
Jorge, The memory cards I use most often are Sandisk Extreme Pro 16 GB with a speed of 90MB/sec. I can’t remember how many shots I get in a burst – but it’s a bunch. “What happened” is the slower card I mistakenly used meant that the card couldn’t “write” to the camera fast enough so the camera’s buffer filled up and I couldn’t fire off any more shots until the buffer cleared. That’s why I missed most of the shots of the coyote swallowing the vole.
“Twofer” is sort of a slang term that refers to “two for the price of one”.
Feel free to ask about this stuff any time you like!
Another wonder sequence of photos and observations Ron ! Thank you .
Thanks very much, John.
Nice capture Ron!
Thanks, Nancy.
Excellent series Ron, much appreciate your time and effort. I really love these series that you do. Obviously you are having better weather than we. One of these days the northeast will catch up!
Have no fear, Dick – our weather takes a serious nosedive, starting tomorrow. Thank you.
I really appreciate this sequence – and wish your raptors the best of luck catching voles! Coyotes seem to be in fine fettle on this old farm here in New Hampshire.
I’m glad they’re doing well in New Hampshire, Alison. Around here (except for on the island) they’re being killed in huge numbers by hunters and trappers.
Wonderful shots and a great catch Ron!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.