I had always heard that San Angelo State Park was home to an American Badger, or two. I had never before seen one. That is until yestereday, when leaving the park, one wandered across the road just a few yards outside the south gate entrance. I stopped the car and used my binoculars to see where he may have went after he entered the buffalo enclosure. I could just make him out lying in the tall grass.
I got out of the van with my Canon 7D and my 100-400mm soom lens. I set it for aperture priority and spot-focus. I walked up to the the fence and through the lens I could see him watching my every move. He had backed himself into his lair so only his head and upper body was outside. I moved back and forth and side to side, trying to get my spot-focus on his eye. Getting the eye in focus is the utmost important thing in photographing any wildlife. With the eyes out of focus, the image is a throw-away. But I think I got it with this shot. Enjoy, and click the image to see an enlargement.
American Badger peering through the grass
Excellent shot! I have something else to look for – I’ll have to get out to the park a little more often and look for it myself. Thanks for posting and sharing the info.
Thanks, Mike. I hope you can find it.
Bob,
That is a great shot. The only badger I’ve ever seen was dead one on the side of the road. They are on the endangered list here is Ontario. Congrats on this.
Thanks, Dave. I appreciate your kind words.