Fierce Puppies: the next generation

Over the years, my husband and I have discovered that gifts of nature may happen frequently but we are not always in the right place at the right time to receive them.  During this exceptionally dry year in much of the Southwest, we have noticed that many things are a bit askew.  The forest fires near Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and El Rito, and the smoke from them that drifted hundreds of miles effected every animal in ways we may never know.  Firefighters said that the fire behavior was unprecedented.

Around our place, the hummingbirds aren't quite as many in number, and the rough and tumble Rufous hummingbirds arrived earlier than normal.  Sheep grazing in the national forest have felt the need to drift with the wind beyond their diligent herders' eyes, through the fences.  And there has been a steady stream of coyotes at the water basins.  Two have been visiting regularly.  We suspected they were litter mates but discovered differently when they first brought one puppy with them and the following day brought three puppies.  It was quite thrilling!  The coats young coyotes sport is short and spiky, giving them a roly-poly look.  Being canines, they have to grow into their big feet and seem to do so very quickly, which makes their little stocky legs become lanky.

Of course, this presented me with a new challenge.  Every time we saw any of them poking around, I would grab my camera, generally to no avail.  But one of the more independent of the litter is a female.  Just for fun, we'll call her Gigi.  The second time she showed up nosing around on our porch, I knew I would be able to photograph her.  So, in all her furry glory, here she is.

 until next Monday

DB

a passion for the image