This coyote in Yellowstone was hunting in tall grass near the road and looked up at me briefly before returning to the hunt. Taken in the fall, its thick winter coat is coming in nicely.

There are benefits and drawbacks to visiting Yellowstone at any given time of the year. There are many things I love about the fall, one of which is the beautiful winter coats that the mammals wear in preparation for the harsh winter. This coyote is a good example of the rich, full coats that the mammals put on as the weather gets colder. Combined with the weight they put on while food is plentiful, the animals are looking their best as the leaves turn golden.