Canid
155 creative works found
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19.5×25.5 colored pencil. Original unavailable. The gray wolf (Canis lupus), also known as the timber wolf or wolf, is a mammal of the order Carnivora. The gray wolf is the largest wild member of the Canidae family and an ice age survivor originating during the Late Pleistocene around 300,000 years ago. Its shoulder height ranges from 0.6 to 0.9 meters (26–36 inches) and its weight varies between 20 (sometimes even lower) and 68 kilograms. DNA sequencing and genetic drift studies indicate that the gray wolf shares a common ancestry with the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) and might be its ancestor. A number of other gray wolf subspecies have been identified, though the actual number of subspecies is still open to discussion. Though once abundant over much of North America and Eurasia, the gray wolf inhabits a very small portion of its former range because of widespread destruction of its habitat, human encroachment of its habitat, and the resulting human-wolf encounters that sparked broad extirpation. Considered as a whole, however, the gray wolf is regarded as being of least concern for extinction according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Today, wolves are protected in some areas, hunted for sport in others, or may be subject to extermination as perceived threats to livestock and pets. Gray wolves play an important role as apex predators in the ecosystems they typically occupy. Gray wolves are highly adaptable and have thrived in temperate forests, deserts, mountains, tundra, taiga, and grasslands. Wolves have been featured in the folklore and mythology of many cultures throughout history. Norse mythology tells the legend of the giant Fenrir. More sympathetic depictions include the suckling of Romulus and Remus in the Roman creation story. Wolves have also appeared in Western fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs, in which the wolf plays the role of the villain. (information from Wikipedia) Complete 2003
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20×26 pastel on velet paper. Original unavailable. 50% of sales will be donated to Wolf Hollow Social structure / Wolves function as social predators and hunt in packs organized according to strict, rank-oriented social hierarchies. It was originally believed that this comparatively high level of social organization was related to hunting success, and while this still may be true to a certain extent, emerging theories suggest that the pack has less to do with hunting and more to do with reproductive success. The pack is led by the two individuals that sit atop the social hierarchy: the alpha male and the alpha female. The alpha pair has the greatest amount of social freedom compared to the rest of the pack. Although they are not “leaders” in the human sense of the term, they help to resolve any disputes within the pack, have the greatest amount of control over resources (such as food), and, most importantly, they help keep the pack cohesive and functional. The ranks in a wolf pack are the alpha pair, the beta pair, the delta pair, the elders, the sentinel pair, and the omega pair. Alphas are the most dominant, omegas are the lowest of all, being harassed and shoved to the side. While most alpha pairs are monogamous, there are exceptions. An alpha animal may preferentially mate with a lower-ranking animal, especially if the other alpha is closely related (a brother or sister, for example). The death of one alpha does not affect the status of the other alpha, who will quickly take another mate. Usually, only the alpha pair is able to rear a litter of pups successfully. Other wolves in a pack may breed, but when resources are limited, time, devotion, and preference will be given to the alpha pair’s litter. Therefore, non-alpha parents of other litters within a single pack may lack the means to raise their pups to maturity of their own accord. All wolves in a pack assist in raising wolf pups. Some mature individuals choosing not to disperse may stay in their original packs so as to reinforce it and help rear more pups. The size of the pack may change over time and is controlled by several factors, including habitat, personalities of individual wolves within a pack, and food supply. Packs can contain between 2 and 20 wolves, though 8 is a more typical size. New packs are formed when a wolf leaves its birth pack, finds a mate, and claims a territory. Lone wolves searching for other individuals can travel very long distances seeking out suitable territories. Dispersing individuals must avoid the territories of other wolves because intruders on occupied territories are chased away or killed. It is taboo for one wolf to travel into another wolf’s territory unless invited. Most dogs, except perhaps large, specially bred attack dogs, do not stand much of a chance against a pack of wolves protecting its territory from an intrusion. Wolves acting unusually within the pack, such as epileptic pups or thrashing adults crippled by a trap or a gunshot, are usually killed by other members of their own pack. Hierarchy / The hierarchy, led by the alpha male and female, affects all activity in the pack to some extent. In most larger packs there are two separate hierarchies in addition to an overbearing one: the first consists of the males, led by the alpha male, and the other consists of the females, led by the alpha female. The male and female hierarchies are interdependent and are maintained constantly by aggressive and elaborate displays of dominance and submission. After the alpha pair, there may also, especially in larger packs, be a beta wolf or wolves, a “second-in-command” to the alphas. Betas typically assume a more prominent role in assisting with the upbringing of the alpha pair’s litter, often serving as surrogate mothers or fathers while the alpha pair is away. Beta wolves are the most likely to challenge their superiors for the role of the alpha, though some betas seem content with being second, and will sometimes even let lower ranking wolves leapfrog them for the position of alpha should circumstances necessitate such a happening, such as the death of the alpha. More ambitious beta wolves, however, will only wait so long before contending for alpha position unless they choose to disperse and create their own pack instead. / / Loss of rank can happen gradually or suddenly. An older wolf may simply choose to give way when a motivated challenger presents itself, yielding its position without bloodshed. On the other hand, the challenged individual may choose to fight back with varying degrees of intensity. While the majority of wolf aggression is ritualized and non-injurious, a high-stakes fight can easily result in injury for either or both parties. The loser of such a confrontation is frequently chased away from the pack or, rarely, may be killed as other aggressive wolves contribute to the insurgency. These types of confrontations are more common during the mating season. Though rare, deaths can and will occur, as the average alpha male wolf kills two to four wolves in his lifetime. Rank order within a pack is established and maintained through a series of ritualized fights and posturing best described as “ritual bluffing”. Wolves prefer psychological warfare to physical confrontations, meaning that high-ranking status is based more on personality or attitude than on size or physical strength. Rank, who holds it, and how it is enforced varies widely between packs and between individual animals. In large packs full of easygoing wolves or in a group of juvenile wolves, rank order may shift almost constantly, or even be circular (for instance, animal A dominates animal B, who dominates animal C, who dominates animal A). In a more typical pack, only one wolf will assume the role of the omega: the lowest-ranking member of a pack. Omegas receive the most aggression from the rest of the pack, and may be subjected to different forms of truculence at any time—anything from constant dominance from other pack members to inimical, physical harassment. Although this arrangement may seem objectionable, the nature of pack dynamics demands that one wolf be at the bottom of the ranking order, and submissive individuals are better suited for constant displays of active and passive submission than they are for living alone. Any form of camaraderie is preferable to solitude and, indeed, submissive wolves tend to choose low rank over potential starvation. Despite the aggression to which they are often subjected, omega wolves have also been observed to be among the most playful wolves in the pack, often enticing all of the members in a pack into chasing games and other forms of play. In general, omega wolves exist to help relieve pack tension, be it as punching bags or as pack jesters. (information from Wikipedia) Complete 1999
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19×24 colored pencil. Original unavailable. A pair of wolves Complete 1997
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10×14 watercolor enhanced colored pencil. Original available. Photographic reference from Mike Dulaney. The Mexican Wolf is the rarest, most genetically distinct subspecies of the Gray Wolf in North America. / The Mexican Wolf is the smallest grey wolf subspecies present in North America, reaching an overall length no greater than 135 centimetres (53 inches) and a maximum height of about 80 cm (31 in). Weight ranges from 27 to 45 kilograms (60–100 pounds). / History’ / Until recent times, the Mexican Wolf ranged the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts from central Mexico to western Texas, southern New Mexico, and central Arizona. By the turn of the 20th century, reduction of natural prey like deer and elk caused many wolves to begin attacking domestic livestock, which led to intensive efforts by government agencies and individuals to eradicate the Mexican Wolf. Hunters also hunted down the wolf because it killed deer. Trappers and private trappers have also helped in the eradication of the Mexican Wolf. (Note that recent studies completed by genetics experts show evidence of Mexican wolves ranging as far north as Colorado). / These efforts were very successful, and by the 1950s, the Mexican Wolf had been eliminated from the wild. In 1976, the Mexican Wolf was declared an endangered subspecies and has remained so ever since. Today, an estimated 200 Mexican Wolves survive in the wild. / Reintroduction to the Southwest / In March 1998, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) began reintroducing Mexican Wolves into the Blue Range area of Arizona. The overall objective of this program was to reestablish 100 Mexican Wolves in the Apache and Gila National Forests of Arizona and New Mexico by 2005. On March 30 1998, government biologists released 11 gray wolves — 3 adult males, 3 adult females, 3 female pups and yearlings and 2 male pups — from 3 chain-link acclimation pens within the 7,000-square-mile, federally designated Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area in east-central Arizona. A population count completed by the Interagency Field Team (IFT) in the winter of 2006–2007 estimated 60 wolves living in the recovery area in several packs. (info from Wikipedia) Complete 2008
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Fennec Fox / Vulpes zerda Weighing three to 3.5 pounds, the fennec fox is the world’s smallest canid. Home Range / Northern Africa, Sinai and Arabian peninsulas Habitat / Deserts, arid areas Diet / Vegetation, rodents, birds, and their eggs, lizards, insects Reproduction / Two to five young Social Structure / Travels in family groups, in pairs, or alone; active at night Fun Facts / Those satellite-dish ears help the fox hunt at night—it can hear prey moving underground—and keep cool. Fur on the soles of the fennec fox’s feet help protect them from hot sand.
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European Red Fox Canon EOS 50D with Canon EF 400mm L f/5.6 lens
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My favorite red fox area has just been too overgrown in the summer to take pics. This was my first day back since the early summer, and with all the coyotes moving in to the area, I was a little concerned that I would find any foxes. Fortunately, I quickly located 2 foxes, and I’m a little relieved. This little guy was trotting down my trail and was kind enough to pose briefly for me. Wheatridge, CO
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You’d think that with their bright coloring, the red fox would stand out like a sore thumb and find it hard to hide. Not so. Despite their color, they blend in remarkably well. I interrupted her search for breakfast this morning, briefly, but she didn’t seem to mind much. Wheatridge, CO
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I only had an abbreviated morning of fox photography today, so I was a little more active in tracking them. I was watching 2 males for a bit, and then had to trot back down the trail to stay on schedule. It was then that I ran into this little vixen (so to speak). I couldn’t resit a shot of her with her coat illuminated by the warm morning sun. Wheatridge, CO
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We had our first real snow of the season last night, so I was more than ready to head out to my favorite fox location early this morning.. The foxes were a little more subdued today and harder to find (but easier to track). This male was reluctant to leave cover for a cleaner shot, but he still looks great against the snow. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) / Wheatridge, CO / Sony Alpha700 / Sigma 300/2.8 / Giottos tripod, Acratech ballhead, Wimbereley Sidekick ISO400 f/5.6 1/60sec +1EV
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Sure, stick your nose right in my lens hood. This little vixen obviously feels comfortable enough with me that she approaches me pretty closely. So closely I was afraid I’d have a nose print on my front element. This is a full frame shot, no cropping. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) / Wheatridge, CO / Sony a700 / Sigma 300mm f/2.8 / Giottos tripod, Acratech ballhead, Wimberley Sidekick ISO400, 1/640sec, f/5.6, +1EV
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We had a little Bubblers trip to my favorite fox location today. This is my favorite fox (and I know I’m a spoiled nature photographer when I have a favorite fox), who was kind enough to pose for us for a few minutes. City park in Wheatridge, CO Subject: Red fox (vulpes vulpes) / Sony Alpha700 / Sigma 300/2.8 / ISO 200 f/4.5 1/160sec
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Something caught this guy’s attention – some movement. The coyotes were out today early, so the foxes are a little more wary than usual. Wheatridge, CO Red Fox (vulpes vulpes) / Sony Alpha700 / Sigma 300/2.8 ISO 800 (and not bad for 800!) f/2.8 1/250sec
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European Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) – 30-Dec-08 Canon EOS 50D with Canon EF 400mm L f/5.6
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We had a nice snow last night, so I was out early this morning chasing coyotes. I was also testing a new lens – the Sigma 150-50. Since i can’t afford the 500mm f/4.5, the 150-50 seemed like it might be a reasonable compromise with a longer focal length until I can afford it. The coyotes made it pretty easy for me today – there were 3 of them just off the parking lot, and they didn’t seem too troubled to have me around (strength in numbers, I assume). The highlight of the morning was watching this big female hunt and consume a vole (field mouse). Nothing like 500mm to bring the view a little closer, too – this is almost full-frame, minor cropping done to help composition. Coyote (Canis latrans) / Crown Hill Park / Lakewood, CO / Sony A700 / Sigma 150-500 / Giottos tripod, Acratech ballhead, Wimberley Sidekick ISO500, 420mm, 1/320sec, f/6.3
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I know, I know – another fox shot. “Hi, I’m Jay, and I’m a fox addict . . .” If you’ve been following my reports of my little fox world, you’re already familiar with the alpha male, Pock. I have no idea why the locals call him that, but that is his name. He’s easy to identify – he has a fairly light colored coat and a squinty, rheumy left eye. Local rumor has it that he was playing with one of his kits and it accidentally scratched his eye, and it never full recovered. It does seem to give him more trouble in really cold weather. In this shot, you don’t really see the squinty eye. Despite this, for a long period he’s been the alpha male of his little area. Other foxes would defer to him and even jump and run out of his way hen challenged. He’s a bold little guy as well: I’ve seen him hold his own in a confrontation with a coyote at least 3 times his size. He trots down the same trail as me and passes within a few feet of me, and even uses me for shade on bright mornings. I’ve also caught him rooting through my camera bag when my back was turned. There seems to be a shift in the political structure in the fox world, though. The beta male, who has never been as bold, stole food from Pock the other weekend. It was only a few months ago he was running away if Pock gave him a sour look. Pock’s not a youngster anymore, but he’s still very active, and my most commonly spotted fox. We’ll see what happens in the following weeks and months in this little soap opera. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) / Wheat Ridge, CO / Sony a700 / Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4TC / Giottos tripod, Acratech ballhead, Wimberley Sidekick ISO640, 1/320sec, f/2.8
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I decided to take a day off from work and hit my fox location – I figured it would be less busy on a weekday, and the foxes might be more relaxed. Pock was out early, and he was all over the place, trotting here and there in search of breakfast. He’d trot down one trail, and a few minutes later, trot down another trail from a different direction. He didn’t mind passing close by me, he just would sit still for a photo. This vixen, the alpha female, on the other hand, was more than willing to pose for me. She perched on top of a little rise, facing east, with some lovely directional morning sun lighting her up – I don’t think I could have had better light if I had her in a studio. We tried several poses, but settled on this one as our favorite. Near the end of our portrait sitting, I noticed one of the big coyotes down the trail. he noticed the fox, but I don’t think he saw me until I walked from around the tripod – once he saw me, he took off, and the fox ducked into one of the pipe openings they use as a den. This is the new mom – at least as far as I can tell. The beta (maybe now the new alpha) was feeding her on Sunday, and her tummy does look distended and a little red. I’ll post more as the situation develops. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) / Wheat Ridge, CO / Sony a700 / Sigma 300mm f/2.8 / Giottos tripod, Acratech ballhead, Wimberley Sidekick ISO200, 1/400sec, f/5
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I know, corny title, but I’m trying to highlight the drama of the little fox community. This is the alpha female (one of the locals calls her “Pock’s wife”). Here where the drama starts (or continues, if you’ve been keeping up the the story so far). Last year, she was the mother of Pock’s (the until-recently alpha male) litter of kits. This season, she was being fed by the beta (well, until recently beta, now possibly alpha) male. Foxes usually don’t share food unless the male is bringing food to the nursing female or the female brings food to the kits when they’re older. You can pretty clearly see evidence that she’s been nursing, and she must have popped out of the den to get a little fresh air. I have some other photos from this series that really demonstrate she’s been nursing (if you know what I mean, and I think you do). Another tough exposure day, with bright sun reflected off snow mixed with deep shadows. This days photos turned out better overall that the day before (too much shooting into the sun and washed out colors), and I do like the cooler blue tone and chiaroscuro lighting on her face. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) / Wheat Ridge, CO / Sony a700 / Sigma 300mm f/2.8 / Giottos tripod, Acratech ballhead, Wimberley Sidekick ISO200, 1/1600sec, f/5
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Fennec Fox (vulpes zerda) at Africa Alive, Kessingland, Suffolk, England. Any manmade cartoon character couldn’t be any cuter! I was besotted with these critters! ;o) Canon EOS 5D MkII with Canon EF 70-200mm L IS f/4 lens (through double perspex… ugh!)
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The slushy, rainy, snowy slop finally stopped yesterday, and temps got low enough last night to freeze the entire mix into a hard, crusty frosting. Since I figured my fox area would be a sloppy mess, I decided to go look for coyotes. I ran into a friend who had the same plan, and we had a great coyote day. The skies were finally clear, and we had some great directional morning sun. This is a good sized coyote who was out in the open field hunting for voles. I was hoping to catch a leap in the air as he hunted – he tensed up a few times, but never did the jump. Maybe the snow was too hard for that kind of hunting. Today, he didn’t mind us getting too close for some shots. I filled up an 8gb card. Coyote (Canis latrans) / Crown Hill Park / Wheat Ridge, CO / Sony a700 / Sigma 150-500 / Giottos tripod, Acratech ballhead, Wimberley Sidekick ISO400, 1/1250sec, f/10, 500mm
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Back at the fox location today – I got there very early in my quest for fox kits. Eivor was there, too, with a handful of other photographers. And as Eiver mentioned, the weather was great (assuming you like gray, overcast skies – which I do), making for some rich color. And guess who wasn’t there . . . if you guessed fox kits, you’d be right. So this looks like it’ll be my second fox-kit-free year. The fox den had become such a popular location that it was swamped not just with photographers, who usually keep a respectful distance, but all sorts of people. People with crying babies, loud-talkers who walked right up to the den entrance, folks with dogs off-leash. The poor momma fox was reported to be so stressed out that they moved the den. I’m still kicking myself for going after coyotes last weekend end instead of fox kits. I think this is the beta male – he was out looking for food, so I followed him for while in hopes he would bring food to the new den, but he just lead me in circles (deliberately, I suspect). Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) / Wheat Ridge, CO / Sony a700 / Sigma 300mm f/2.8 / Giottos tripod, Acratech ballhead, Wimberley Sidekick ISO400, 1/200sec, f/2.8, +1/3EV
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Sorry to bore you all with another shot of the baby fox Luna, but she is just too cute! What a poser, eh???!! ;o) Canon EOS 5D MkII with Canon EF 70-200mm L f/4
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Thank you all so much for your kind comments on my previous shots of “Luna”, the Red Fox Cub! Just one last pic before I try to find another theme….......
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