{"id":3051,"date":"2011-09-02T18:22:42","date_gmt":"2011-09-03T00:22:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=3051"},"modified":"2026-02-18T09:56:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T15:56:48","slug":"friday-photos-coyote-in-a-prairie-grassland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/09\/02\/friday-photos-coyote-in-a-prairie-grassland\/","title":{"rendered":"Friday Photos – Coyote In A Prairie Grassland"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CoyoteCoyote in a prairie grassland – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1\/1250, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

This morning I braved going out to Antelope Island State Park<\/span><\/a> knowing full well that this weekend is the “Antelope Island Stampede Festival”. Traffic is up during events like this but because it was the first day of the festival I thought I could get some photography in early in the morning before the masses started arriving.<\/p>\n

Except for the causeway to the island bird photography has been a bit slow, but the causeway is full of gulls, shorebirds, and long distance views of a Peregrine Falcon.<\/p>\n

As much as I love and am addicted to bird photography I also enjoy taking photos of other wildlife, scenery, and the flora of the places I visit, so when a Coyote steps into view I’m always happy to photograph them.<\/p>\n

\"Coyote'sCoyote’s piercing stare – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1\/1000, ISO 540, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

It is my opinion that Coyotes; like Wolves,\u00a0have an undeserved\u00a0“bad” reputation. In some places they are shot on sight or caught in metal traps to suffer a slow, agonizing death.<\/p>\n

I honestly don’t get it. I know they can attack pets and livestock and I feel for the owners of the pets and the for the ranchers the financial loss of the live stock.<\/p>\n

Pets often kill the native birds and other wildlife and I believe that the estimates of bird deaths caused by domesticated pets is grossly under estimated. And it isn’t shouted from the roof tops either.<\/p>\n

But Coyotes and Wolves are predators and without those predators nature is pushed out of balance. Coyotes kill rodents which include mice, voles, and rats, etc., and by doing so they keep nature in balance.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year I saw a Coyote hunting; and possibly eating, the chicks or eggs of a pair of Short-eared Owls. I adore Short-eared Owls and it caused me distress to watch the event but I did nothing to interfere with what the Coyote was doing.<\/p>\n

The Coyote was only doing what comes natural. I had no right or business to intrude.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Coyote Hunter –\u00a0<\/strong>Nikon D300, f6.3, 1\/1250, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at\u00a0<\/strong>325mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

Coyotes and Wolves help to cull out the sick and weak animals in herds of deer, antelope, and elk which in turn can help to keep those herds in better health and the populations in fewer numbers thus increasing the likelihood that those healthy animals survive and thrive.<\/p>\n

What isn’t natural <\/em>are all the chemicals that are used to kill those same mice, voles, and rats when they bother human beings with their presence, droppings, and the diseases rodents can spread.<\/p>\n

Those chemicals can sicken the workers at the production plants and the other pets and humans who come into contact with them.<\/p>\n

\"CoyoteCoyote is a Noble Beast – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1\/1600, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

These are simply my opinions about Coyotes and Wolves and how they are needed to keep a healthy balance in nature, I know other people feel differently.<\/p>\n

I know that I could never shoot them with anything other than my camera. Just saying.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Coyote photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Coyotes and wolves help to cull out the sick and weak animals in herds of deer, antelope and elk which in turn can help to keep those herds in better health<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":151454,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[511,100,1022,26],"tags":[4004,733,4002,3347,4109,4038,937,4035,938,4233,4032],"class_list":["post-3051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-coyotes","category-davis-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-canis-latrans","tag-coyote","tag-coyotes","tag-grasses","tag-grasslands","tag-hunter","tag-nature-photography","tag-noble","tag-prairie","tag-wildlife-photography"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/coyote-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-4092.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-Nd","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5901,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/08\/12\/coyote-pup-in-prairie-grasses\/","url_meta":{"origin":3051,"position":0},"title":"Coyote Pup in Prairie Grasses","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 12, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I simply could not resist posting this gorgeous Coyote pup that I photographed today even though I posted another one recently. I loved the look the pup was giving me, the warm, beautiful morning light and wonderful prairie setting.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Coyote pup in prairie grasses, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/coyote-pup-mia-mcpherson-7916.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/coyote-pup-mia-mcpherson-7916.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/coyote-pup-mia-mcpherson-7916.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/coyote-great-salt-lake-1-mia-mcpherson-1783.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/coyote-great-salt-lake-1-mia-mcpherson-1783.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/coyote-great-salt-lake-1-mia-mcpherson-1783.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/coyote-great-salt-lake-1-mia-mcpherson-1783.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14638,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/03\/28\/spring-wildflowers-and-coyotes-on-antelope-island\/","url_meta":{"origin":3051,"position":2},"title":"Spring Wildflowers And Coyotes On Antelope Island","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 28, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"On my last visit to Antelope Island State Park five days ago I noticed that some of the wildflowers have started to bloom including Gray's Biscuitroot and Redstem Filaree.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Coyote surrounded by Gray's Biscuitroot, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-grays-biscuitroot-mia-mcpherson-4741.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-grays-biscuitroot-mia-mcpherson-4741.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Coyote pup in a grassy prairie, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-pup-mia-mcpherson-7872.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-pup-mia-mcpherson-7872.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-pup-mia-mcpherson-7872.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-pup-mia-mcpherson-7872.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14457,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/02\/27\/coyotes-on-the-antelope-island-state-park-causeway\/","url_meta":{"origin":3051,"position":4},"title":"Coyotes on the Antelope Island State Park Causeway","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Starting the day photographing Coyotes always makes me want to howl with delight. They are amazing adaptable creatures who help to keep nature in balance.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Coyote running in a fog along the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-running-fog-mia-mcpherson-1314.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-running-fog-mia-mcpherson-1314.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-running-fog-mia-mcpherson-1314.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-running-fog-mia-mcpherson-1314.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9264,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/08\/25\/coyote-aka-the-prairie-wolf\/","url_meta":{"origin":3051,"position":5},"title":"Coyote aka The Prairie Wolf","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 25, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the nicknames for a Coyote is the \"Prairie Wolf\" and like wolves; they can be very efficient hunters.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Coyote portrait in low light from the causeway, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/coyote-portrait-mia-mcpherson-0696.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/coyote-portrait-mia-mcpherson-0696.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/coyote-portrait-mia-mcpherson-0696.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/coyote-portrait-mia-mcpherson-0696.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3051"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3051\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/151454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}