Posted by Jim Hackley on March 19, 2011 at 1:34 AM
I thought I would share an interesting encounter between desert ground squirrels and a coyote.
I had just stepped out the back door heading into the desert for an afternoon walk when I spotted these desert ground squirrels hanging out by their burrow. I took a couple of shots of the squirrels and was checking camera settings when I looked up again to see a coyote come out from behind this big prickly pear cactus. The ground squirrels quickly jumped back into their hole and the coyote continued to approach their burrow until he noticed me taking pictures. At that point the coyote stopped and gave me a couple of interesting looks and turned away to go back into the desert to join another coyote that was waiting.
Posted by Jim Hackley on March 19, 2011 at 1:36 AM
Image #2 - Coyote comes out from behind prickly pear cactus keeping a keen eye on the ground squirrel burrow.
Posted by Jim Hackley on March 19, 2011 at 1:38 AM
Image #3 - No luck in approaching the ground squirrels as the coyote looks up to see me.
You really do have a window to the natural world in your back yard Jim. Neat eye contact in the third shot. Our coyotes still have their shaggy winter coats.
Posted by Richard Ditch on March 19, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Neat story. I agree with Ron about the eye contact in the third shot.
Posted by Nate Chappell on March 19, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Discussion
8 repliesI had just stepped out the back door heading into the desert for an afternoon walk when I spotted these desert ground squirrels hanging out by their burrow. I took a couple of shots of the squirrels and was checking camera settings when I looked up again to see a coyote come out from behind this big prickly pear cactus. The ground squirrels quickly jumped back into their hole and the coyote continued to approach their burrow until he noticed me taking pictures. At that point the coyote stopped and gave me a couple of interesting looks and turned away to go back into the desert to join another coyote that was waiting.
Love the eye contact in the third image -
Sandy
The eyes have it in the third shot for me.