2302_0195 The Decisive Moment - a photo on Flickriver

            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.

Taken in: Canada / Saskatchewan / Gergovia (show map)

Taken on: February 9, 2023

Tags:

Coyote

Canis latrans

animal

mammal

predator

canid

hunting

success

Black-tailed Prairie Dog

Cynomys ludovicianus

rodent

prey

winter

snow

wild

prairie

Grasslands National Park

Saskatchewan

Canada

copyrighted

James R. Page « less

Sets appears in: • Best 2023 • Coyote more » • Predator-Prey Relationships « less

Groups appears in: • Best Nature Shot Of The Day

Camera: Nikon D850, f/8.0, 1/2000 sec, 700mm, ISO 640 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D850
Lens:	500.0 mm f/5.6
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/2000)
Focal Length:	700mm
ISO:	640
Exposure Bias:	-0.33 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 22.5 (Macintosh)
Show full info

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