The Ugly Side of Wild

I came across this guy this morning (7-25-06), and while I was glad to get a close picture of a coyote, I was horrified at the condition he was in. Mange is a mite that has decimated our local coyote population. They die a long slow and painful death over months. I spoke with a wildlife officer this evening and he said they usually freeze to death once winter comes.
I think we sometimes think that nature is all wonderful, but as this shows our transgressions are not the worst that nature faces.
Canon 20D
400mm 2.8 with a 1.4 extender.
Lincoln, Nebraska