June 8, 2013 Badger in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Badger
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Canon EOS 1D X, 600 f4 II & 1.4x III, 1/1500 sec, f5.6, ISO 640
Image taken on June 7, 2013.
I spent almost an hour and a half yesterday afternoon in Yellowstone National Park with the most cooperative badger I've ever photographed. When I arrived, she was just starting to dig out some Uinta ground squirrels from their den. She was really focused on hunting and did't mind me setting up on a tripod low to the ground about 25 yds (23m) away. She must have hit the jackpot because after she was in and out of the new hole while digging, she was down in the hole for 25-30 minutes and I thought about leaving. When she finally came back out, she didn't mind the other 20-30 people watching and photographing as she continued to hunt in the immediate area for about 35 minutes. I was so glad I stayed!