I wasn’t really sure how to title this blog entry. In fact I thought a lot about just what it was I was trying to say.
It began for me though with an experience I had today. With excitement and anticipation I drove along a cold wintery road hoping to see some wildlife. The morning light was sublime and my vehicle thermometer was dropping as I got out of town. I could feel the relaxation and peace come over me as I looked out over the snow, trees and warm orange colors of the horizon at sunrise. As I drove along the curves and hills in the foothills I recounted in my mind the places along the way I had been blessed with sightings of wildlife in the past. However, the spell ended abruptly when I noticed some ravens in the trees and in the ditch along the road. They were on a carcass of a dead animal, it was a carnivore of some sort, I could see the paws from my position on the roadway. I decided to walk down to the carcass to see what animal had died, it was a coyote. The coyote had died very recently and it was apparent it had been shot. The snow had been packed down and there was urine marking on the site where the coyote had died just 40 steps from the road. At this time of year the coyotes are starting to mate so they are more visible than usual.
I am quite certain I had seen this coyote before in this same location. The coyote would be out hunting in the ditch when I would drive by. This coyote was quite wary, he would duck into the woods whenever I got within a quarter mile and I thought, “smart coyote”! I had hoped he would survive, he was wary of humans. I honoured this coyote because he seemed to be just trying to survive, he was all about survival. Looking for food, minding his own business…admirable I thought. Unfortunately, this coyote I had began to know just a little bit was sacrificed.
I was saddened by my encounter and rather confused. Why did this coyote have to die? I know that I and many photographers and nature lovers appreciate the gift of seeing coyotes and other wildlife in nature. We are grateful for their presence and we try and fully recognize their true worth.
I decide to share the gruesome photo of the coyote that was shot near the road, his body left for the ravens. In stark contrast I am also posting a photo of a pair of coyotes I photographed in February of 2019. It was -40 degrees and the pair were hunkered down on the leeward side of a small hill waiting out the storm. I believe there is a stark difference here in how humans view the world around them and the wildlife that is trying to remain a part of it. To the individual who made the decision to kill this coyote I would hope that you reflect on why it was necessary. Try and love all things, there is another way. Go In Peace My Friend.
