The Incredible Coyote Pounce

I spotted this coyote while driving the auto tour road at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. It was working through tall weeds when it suddenly locked onto something I could not see.

A moment later, the coyote sprang into the air. I caught it at the peak of the jump.

Coyote Pounce in the Tall Weeds

Coyotes often hunt small animals hidden in grass and weeds. This one seemed to hear or see movement before it jumped.

The coyote had been moving through the area when it alerted on something in the cover. Then it launched upward and came down hard in the weeds.

It missed whatever it was after. That made the scene even more interesting to me. The photo shows the effort, timing, and focus of the hunt, even without a catch.

The coyote appeared to be a young animal. Young coyotes are still learning how to hunt. Misses are part of that process.

I photographed a similar kind of hunting behavior in a younger animal in my post about a coyote pup mousing. These moments show how much patience and practice go into catching prey.

Reading the Hunt at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge

This encounter happened on May 18, 2023, at 7:21 A.M. The morning light and tall weeds gave the scene a strong sense of place.

Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge often gives me close looks at wildlife behavior. The auto tour road lets me move slowly and watch without pushing too close.

That helped in this case. I was already stopped when the coyote reacted. I did not have to move or reposition before the jump.

Those few seconds made the difference. The coyote went from walking to airborne fast.

Photographing the Jump from My Pickup

I photographed this coyote from my pickup. My camera and lens were resting on a beanbag over the open window.

That support helped keep the long lens steady. It also let me stay ready while the coyote moved through the weeds.

The jump happened quickly. I was fortunate to have the camera aimed at the right spot when the coyote sprang upward.

Camera settings:

• Camera: Canon EOS R7
• Lens: Canon RF 800mm F11
• Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
• Date and time: May 18, 2023, 7:21 A.M.
• Aperture: f/11
• Shutter speed: 1/1000
• ISO: 2500, Auto
• Exposure compensation: 0
• Focal length: 800mm

Moments like this are why I enjoy photographing wildlife from the road. A quiet drive can turn into a memorable scene in an instant.

This coyote missed its target, but it gave me a look at the focus and athleticism that make predators so interesting to watch.