One year ago I followed a family of coyotes with pups for about four months at Sweetwater Wetlands, an artificial wetlands created by the City of Tucson to recharge treated wastewater. The coyotes raised the pups on the far side of a catch basin that is closed to the public (usually dry but occasionally filled with water). This year they had a litter in the same place (a litter of five this time with three adults; last year was a litter of ten, nine of which survived, and five or six adults). I got one of the adults and two pups in this shot a week ago when they came a little bit closer, though I still had to crop this photo about two hundred percent (even when using a crop sensor and telephoto lens and extender that gives a full frame equivalent of 1050mm).
Unfortunately when I was there yesterday I did not see any (adults or pups) and a daily visitor said he has not seen them the last few days and thinks they may have moved the den. (The normally dry Santa Cruz River runs behind giving animals a free travel corridor). So I may not get to follow them again, but I had a good experience last year. Coincidentally, last year's story and photos are running in this month's issue of a local magazine called The Desert Leaf. If you are interested you can read the online version here: 2021_05_May (fliphtml5.com)
@birdsandbats It probably wasn't that brushpile, as that is across the catch basin and quite far away. However the bobcats do appear regularly on the main path. I am convinced it is the best spot in all of North America to see wild bobcats.
