Caribou Stag Crosses Mud Flats Near Mexico City

Bright midmorning sunlight falls through overhead leaves, casting dappled patches of gold and shadow across wet, grey-brown mud flats. A massive caribou stag with wide antlers moves steadily across the slick surface, its hooves churning the soft earth. To the left, a tidal inlet reflects the clear sky, while a flock of distant birds scatters into the air, wings blurring in sudden motion. The stag’s coat is thick and dark brown, against the pale, wet mud. Green vegetation lines the water's edge, heavy with wet-season growth. The ground ripples slightly where the animal steps, showing the depth of the mud. The birds take flight in a chaotic arc above the water line.