A timeless image: snow falling gently in the wilderness, cloaking land and its creatures in silence. This is the kind of wildlife photography I like to do: showing the creature intimately tied to its environment. This Coyote (also named by Lewis & Clark as the "Prairie Wolf") has undoubtedly weathered many a storm, and its luxurious coat will keep it warm during this one. In Yellowstone, unlike most areas where coyotes are prevalent, hunting is not allowed, so I was able to get closer to the creature than would normally be the case. I stayed with this animal for several hours, and this photograph was one of the best.

This photograph was taken in Yellowstone National Park in 1990, before the reintroduction of Gray Wolves. Since that event in the 1990s, Gray Wolves have decimated the Prairie Wolf population in Yellowstone. Nature's balance constantly shifts as the fortunes of species rise and fall with human and natural changes.

Lee Rentz