Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Scavenging

Sometimes you hear about mammalian scavengers feeding on marine mammal carcasses washed ashore, but I hadn't seen it myself until this past weekend.  

Joe stopped by to mention that he had just seen a coyote feeding on a seal.  Luckily, I had my large zoom lens on my camera at the time.  

I managed a few distant photographs, so here's one for the record:

 

Coyote (Canis latrans) feeding on a Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) carcass, 15 July 2018

P.S.  Many thanks to Joe for the wildlife alert! 

ADDENDUM (18 July 2018): KB asked if the coyote was hit by any waves.  Since you asked, the answer is:

Yes!

 

Although the coyote didn't seem to mind slightly wet feet:

 

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4 comments:

  1. Mama Loves the Beach!July 18, 2018 at 10:31 AM

    Incredible capture!!
    I've seen bobcat and coyote footprints circling a seal carcass but have never witnessed anything other than turkey vultures and ravens actually feeding on one. So glad you caught this image and thanks to Joe for the alert!

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  2. Alice ChanJuly 18, 2018 at 11:57 AM

    I'm always so happy to see evidence that we still have a coyote population. Thank you!

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  3. AnonymousJuly 18, 2018 at 5:48 PM

    This photo is awesome! The foreleg sloping with the shoreline, the feet buried in the sand. Did coyote get hit by any waves?
    KB

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  4. Jackie SonesJuly 18, 2018 at 6:22 PM

    Hi! Re: whether the coyote was hit by any waves -- see additional photos added on 18 July!

    :) J.

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