Friendship, Coyotes, and the Beautiful Tetons
Things have been intense lately. I’m getting near my graduation date, I have to secure an internship A.S.A.P., and the regular ups and downs of life are as persistent as they ever were. Even so, it is vital to get out and do things you love, even if it’s only once in a while. Thankfully, two of my dear friends reached out after I had a total mental breakdown and invited me to explore the Tetons with them. I’m so glad they asked, and I’m grateful we made it happen.
As much as I love heading up to those gorgeous mountains, it’s a long trek, and there have been many occasions where I haven’t seen any animals. Thankfully, this wasn’t one of those times! As soon as we got into the park, we saw a massive elk herd in the refuge and noticed some predators lurking. Far from the herd were two animals, which I could confirm were coyotes near a carcass. However, closer to the elk were at least four other animals that could’ve been coyotes or wolves. The distance was too much for me to know for sure, but when I asked the front desk at the wildlife museum about it later, they informed me that the Gros Ventre wolf pack had been there a week prior. It’s possible, I’d say, that the animals closer to the herd were wolves. It would certainly explain the distance the coyotes were carefully keeping.
We watched for a while but eventually decided to leave. Just a few miles up the road, we saw some more coyotes much closer. We thought they were wolves because they were huge and fluffy with their winter coats, but alas, they were definitely coyotes (you can tell because they have large, pointy ears and narrow snouts). Even so, they were a delight to watch. We parked, and I turned off the car. The running engine generated heat waves that interfered with the photos I took when they were closest to us (this happens a lot when I photograph animals in the winter). We decided to head them off from another street in the direction they were headed, which allowed the car to cool down by the time they were near enough for some pictures. They never got as close as they had initially been, but I had the opportunity to take some beautiful, almost haunting images near a row of trees while they traveled. Eventually, they crossed the road and disappeared, so we left and went about the rest of our day.
We pulled over, and I took some pictures of my friend and, of course, a few selfies in front of the mountain range. We heard more coyotes howling between frigid gusts of wind. We stuffed ourselves in the car and cranked the heat, laughing at how ridiculously freezing it was compared to home. We alternated between conversation and quiet as we drove the remainder of the park. A car packed full of introverts means things aren’t always going to be lively, which I was grateful for. I get a lot of social anxiety, and it’s a true blessing to be able to sit quietly in company. To me, that’s a sign of true, comfortable friendship.
We ended our day by sharing a meal at the restaurant in the wildlife museum before walking through the galleries. I’d never been, and it’s worth the trip to check it out. They have spotting scopes facing the refuge, so it’s the best place to sit and watch what’s happening. There are also stunning photographs and beautiful art, an absorbing experience for anyone who enjoys museums.
Exhausted, we wrapped up our day by sharing snacks, stories, and stopping to look at some sights on the way home.
Things have been hard lately, but I’m so blessed to have friends who care enough to reach out, and I’m always humbled when I get to enjoy the splendor of nature and the animals that quietly surround us.
