Companions we Keep

Companions We Keep explores the fascinating hunting dynamics of coyotes and American badgers, who are occasionally observed working together in the wild. They typically target prairie dogs and ground squirrels, with each animal contributing a different skill to the hunt. Badgers are exceptional diggers, able to reach prey that flee to their underground burrows. Coyotes, faster and more agile, pursue those that try to escape above ground. Together, they move across the sagebrush as a team, each relying on the other to play their part in the hunt.

This relationship isn’t a friendship, but a temporary partnership formed out of shared need. These animals don’t bond with one another, but they do collaborate. That dynamic is the inspiration behind this painting: the temporary alliances we form, and the understanding that sometimes, success or survival depends on cooperation between unlikely partners.

Companions We Keep measures 15” x 21” and is custom-framed in a natural walnut frame. It will be available for purchase through the National Museum of Wildlife Art during their annual Western Visions exhibition and sale. The show opens September 6th and the Signature event is held on September 11th, 2025. Learn more about Western Visions here.