ENTRY DESCRIPTION
I captured this image on a January afternoon in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park. There was a heavy snowstorm moving into the region and the park rangers were clearing the park. I was one of the last people leaving, with the ranger in his vehicle directly behind me when this large coyote came out of the trees a couple of hundred yards ahead and started walking in my direction next to the road. I quickly pulled over, along with the ranger behind me, told him that I was a photographer and asked if I could have a couple of minutes to snap off some images. He quickly reminded me that it was illegal to approach any predator within 100 yards. We agreed that I could simply sit in the snowbank and see if the coyote would keep coming our way. As I dug down into the snow, the ranger stood behind me. The coyote kept coming our way until he was only ~30 feet away when he stopped with a menacing growl. After capturing a few quick images the ranger decided it was time to get back into our vehicles and continue out of the park. I have to say that after having seen many coyotes in various parts of the country, this was a magnificent creature and looked as big as a wolf. It may have been his full winter coat or the angle and proximity, but its certainly an experience I’ll never forget.

AUTHOR
Jim is a self-taught photographer who began exploring photography in 2007 as entertainment on weekends during long business trips to Europe and Asia. Jim ventured deeper into photography after retiring and continues to hone his craft on the local area's scenic vistas and through an active travel schedule. Jim’s priority is collecting images from around the world, intended to stir awareness and offer glimpses of elements in nature and distant cultures that are rapidly changing, and in some cases at risk of disappearing entirely.

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