The mind of a coastal wolf

When I took this photo, the tide was out, giving this coastal wolf a large expanse of tidal flats to travel over. It could have easily avoided us by keeping its distance, or by simply slipping into the forest. Instead, it came by to check us out.

We had seen it do just that on other days. But for whatever reason, the wolf showed some curiosity toward us leading to a remarkable encounter before it went on its way.

The mind of a wolf is a complex thing. Trying to decipher what’s going on in there often leads to a lot more speculation than answers. And, maybe that is just as it should be.