I watched and followed them for about an hour.  After some time a big male horse approached the group.  As he approached another approached him and they engaged.  Not real exciting.  It was well over 100 degrees.  They probably did not want to exert to much energy.  The approaching male laid his ears back and walked head down straight at the other male.  Just as they met the male of the existing group quickly walked away.  And he kept his distance from the big new male.

Next the new big tough male wanted to see what I was all about (good thing I was protected in my car).  It occurred to me that he looked the bad boy movie star with the long bangs over his eyes.  I kinda think he felt the same way.

I tell people all the time that very little of my time is spent in front of a mirror.  For obvious reasons I’ll bet this guy feels the same!

This article may explain a lot of what was experienced….

Yellowstone Wolves Teach Nature Knows Best

More than half of the third day photographing the “wild” at Yellowstone was spent with a Coyote.  Way off the beaten path.  He was hunting.  I was following.  Needed that perfect exposure.  Perfect background.  And perfect execution by the Coyote.  As one hour turned to two and soon four I was almost out of memory in my CF card.  A total of 98 GB had been burned…….

Then the shot was there.  It was late.  The ISO was turned up to almost 8000 (did that a few times this trip with great results..stay tuned).  Zing, Zing, Zing, Zing…four shots.  Literally the last four of that outing!

I couldn’t resist the layer blend!!!!

Mom never and I mean never took her eyes off the blind I was in.  The end of the lens was the only thing that she could see except the blind.  I have read that the huge glass in the lens draws attention with wildlife.  She was incredibly nervous.  Pacing and obviously disturbed with the new object (blind/lens glass)60 yds or so too close to her kids.

Then there is the Fox dad.  (Mom is the one standing with the disturbed look and the half ear).  He’s like a “Disney” dad.  Not at all concerned about the blind, glass, or anything much more than feeding and playing with the little foxes.  This photo really portrays what happened a lot of the time I was there.  Mom nervous – Dad not nervous.

Then it happened.  Mom started chasing the little ones.  Not to play.  But rather to pick one up.  She was out of there.  And the kids where going with her………

Off she went with the first of six fox cubs.   Oh, by the way Dad was off hunting when she carted the first fox away.

Dad came back with breakfast.  One less cub and my lens.  This is one of only two times that I photographed him looking at the blind.

Many times Mom tried to take a cub.  The cubs thought she was playing.  She would look over at Dad almost as a confirmation to take the cub.  Note in this photograph she is not looking at me she would key in on the dad every-time she tried to pick up a pup.  When Dad was not paying attention she took another pup.  Two down four to go.

Mom’s third attempt Dad interceded.  He would not let her take a pup.  Then off he went with Mom in tow.

Dad was bringing back the pups.  WHAT?  Mom was nowhere to be found just Dad and a mouth full of Fox pup.

Dad’s second trip back Mom was right behind.  This went on for hours.  Mom would take one and Dad would bring it back.  Until they each had three.  For the last two hours or so Dad was sleeping, playing and feeding the pups.  Who knows what Mom was doing…maybe taking valium or just fuming about the whole thing.  In some ways I felt bad that I was the cause of her consternation.  Dad however made me feel that maybe she was just being a true MOM with motherly insincts.  Not all bad looking out for your kids welfare.

In the end Dad seemed normal and Mom….well I am not sure because she was just over the hill watching her three cubs that she ended up with.  I left when Dad went hunting and the cubs were in the den.  Hopefully everything is back to normal today.

Have you ever spent 9 hours in a blind?   A camouflage blind – not something related to vision.  It started this morning for me at 3:30 a.m.  A fox family of eight.  Mom, Dad and six little ones.  An adventure of a lifetime.  I can’t post it all tonight.  Watch for tomorrows post.  It really was incredible!   This photograph is of the mother (the one with the partial ear), Dad (the good looking one), and two little foxes.  Quite a story filled with humor and adventure and that’s just the fox family.

I stopped by “Out of Africa” park last Thursday and found a lot of new friends.  Hiked the whole park with camera gear in tow (60 lbs).  It was a blast!!!!

Some up close.

Gorgeous

Hopefully not hungry.

Incredibly beautiful.

Lazy?

This is the one I dream about photographing!  If only in the wild.

Yes it’s a wolf!  And yes it’s looking at me!  And yes that’s blood on his  face!  Shot last year near Canyon Village in Yellowstone.  Like Moose Peterson has been experiencing the past few weeks…what a thrill to be there with the wolves.