In the Field

The Gaze: Wily, Wary and Wise. Calgary, AB, Canada. March 16, 2006.

If you were to take the local news media in Calgary at face value, you'd be too terrified of coyotes to ever venture out-of-doors within the city. Supposedly, a significant coyote problem exists in Calgary (although I suspect the coyotes are of the impression that the problem is more one of human over-population within their historic range!). Regardless of your opinion, the city DOES have a lot of coyotes and they're a lot more approachable than their rural counterparts and hence much more "photographable".

This image was shot along the Bow River near downtown Calgary - this particular coyote had been involved in an apparent territorial spat with a second coyote and was more concerned about the whereabouts of its conspecific tormentor than it was with me.

The almost "dreamy" look of the image was both intentional and unavoidable - I was forced to shoot through snow-covered branches. I waited until only the eye region alone was unobscured by branches and shot!

Behind the Camera

The Gaze: Wily, Wary and Wise. Calgary, AB, Canada. March 16, 2006.

Digital Capture; Compressed RAW (NEF) format; ISO 100.

Nikon D2X with Nikon 200-400 mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR lens @ 400 mm (600 mm equivalent with digital conversion factor) supported on Gitzo G2220 tripod with Really Right Stuff BH-55 ballhead and Wimberley Sidekick. VR turned to "On" and in "Normal" mode.

1/250s @ f6.3; no compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.

At the Computer

The Gaze: Wily, Wary and Wise. Calgary, AB, Canada. March 16, 2006.

RAW Conversion to 16-bit TIFF, including first-pass sharpening and levels adjustment, using Phase One's C1 Pro.

All further digital correction on 16-bit TIFF file using Adobe's Photoshop CS2, including selective saturation enhancement, selective lens blur, and selective sharpening for web output.

Conservation

The Gaze: Wily, Wary and Wise. Calgary, AB, Canada. March 16, 2006.

Ten percent of the revenue generated by this image will be donated to Wildsight.

Species Status in Canada*: Not "Endangered" or "Threatened".

The Coyote (Canis latrans) is anything but endangered. Its historical range has expanded dramatically since the mid 1800's. This range expansion has been in parallel - in both time and space - with the range contraction of the Gray Wolf as it was extirpated over most of North America. Coyotes are now found in a huge array of habitats (including the centres of major cities) from Panama north to about 70 degrees N latitude. The key to the success of the coyote is primarily twofold. First, historically both local coyote populations as well as their overall geographic distribution were kept in check by Gray Wolves. As humans eradicated the wolves with deadly efficiency, more "safe" habitat became available. Second, coyotes exhibit a tremendously plastic behavioural repertoire than is continually expanding. In short, they're amazingly adaptable and intelligent. My hat is off to this clever and fascinating animal - it represents a true species success story. It also serves as a reminder that many factors influence population dynamics and that the removal of one species (in this case the wolf) can have completely unexpected consequences.

Wildsight is an effective conservation organization that protects biodiversity and promotes sustainable communities in Canada's Columbia and Rocky Mountains. Support for Wildsight, through donation or becoming a member, will help ensure that they remain effective in their efforts to conserve threatened or endangered species and ecosystems.

*as determined by COSEWIC: The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada