I was never into following celebrities until I had spent few years in Banff. After considerable amount of time outdoor, seeing the various stars roaming the landscape, I was captivated. One of those star is this grizzly crossing the road and getting the VIP treatment. Just to the front and beside me was the ever alert Human Wildlife Conflict colleague. Who was aware of any approaching train, stopping all road vehicles and keeping everyone quite while informing them about the celebrity we were watching. The goal was simple, to let the grizzly cross the road as quick as possible without being distracted. Now if I can only build up enough nerve to ask for an autograph from these celebrities.
Moose
The ever protective mother kept an eye on me, always making sure her calf was safe. She had nothing to worry about, I was about 50 meters away and had no plans to get any closer. The view was clear and my lens was easily able to reach the two moose.
Short-tailed Weasel
I was hiking among the larch trees in the fall colours. I moved away from the trees to get a different look and perhaps a pictures of the fall colours. That's when I heard and saw this short-tailed weasel moving around among the rocks and snow. The next several minutes I spent taking picture of this little one. At that time more then likely just weeks away from changing into its winter colours of while with black tail tip.
Elk
With the elk rut season coming to an end, it was interesting to see the male challengers were taking every steps to avoid fighting with the defending bull. Only when the challenger though he could take on a defender there would be a battle. First step would be to listen to the defending bull's bugle, which indicates size and strength of the defender. If the challenging bull was not deterred from the bugling, then he would locate the defender and size him out. If the challenger still felt confident, there might be bluff charge or two, both bulls walking side by side with each showing the other how big they were, this can go on for several minutes. If neither bull moves off, the next step would be to fight each other, this can last few seconds to several minutes. From my experience, in most cases the defender is the winner, even more so the larger the harem a defending bull has. Because there is a good reason why a certain bull has a large harem, the females decide which male to seek out for mating from the bugling. A weaker bull not only has tougher time defending but also keeping his harem together.
Grizzly
It's late October and the bears have started to go to sleep for the winter months. It starts with the young bears and the mothers with the cubs and in the end will be the big males. The last one normally will go off to sleep early December.
Mule Deer
Snow falls and snow melts, until cooler temperature stays, the snow will not stick around the valley's bottom. These two fawns were still finding something good to eat, from the grass to the leaves on the shrubs.
Moose
It's not always a bad thing when the plans you had for your days off get changed at the last minute. In this case it was the location where the hike was going to take place. On the way to the alternative hike, a mother moose and two calves were spotted. Most often a female moose will have one calf, but not uncommon for a cow to give birth to twins. For the cow there are big challenges trying to get one calf to survive through its first year, with twins even harder. Finding food is not the problem, but dealing with harsh winter and predators is. Moose populations and nutrition play a role if a cow will have twins. With better foraging area and lesser moose population, the chances are increased birth will be given to twins. On the day the picture was taken, the twins were busy eating and staying close to their ever protective mom.
Elk
Two elk bulls fighting to decide who will mate. Normally these fights last a minute or so, sometimes seconds. But in this case they went on for several minutes, both getting tired and foaming at their mouth. Finally it was over, the one on the left was the challenger and in the end the loser of this battle.
Mountain Goats
When returning from Jasper we came across three mountain goats along the road. They were busy licking minerals and eating grass. All together there were three goats, two adults and a one year old. In about two months they will be high up on the mountain, where they will spend their winter.
Elk
This young bull elk making the moves on this female during the rut season. Head held high, the tongue sticking out while approaching the cow when trying to attract her during the mating season.
Moose
I was on my way to a hike when I came across a moose with two calves. They were busy eating around willow shrubs. I had few trees and shrubs between us, moving side to side to get a clear pictures of the three. I came close but never did get a picture of all three in the open, as individuals, this one of one of the calf was the best one.
Elk
The elk rut season is full on, bugling can head throughout the valley. This male was busy calling out after taking his aggression out on the vegetation. The larger stronger males's bugling will attract the females who are interested in mating with this male. As well keep males away, except for those who feel they can challenge the bugling male.
Least Chipmunk
This least chipmunk was keeping busy, climbing up the sunflower stem to get at the seeds. They like other mammals who hibernate over the winter, are busy putting on the weight to survive the winter.
Grizzly
Over the summer I got to see this big guy few times, the last time was when he visited me, well sort of. I was leaving town early in the morning when I spotted him sniffing for two bears that were in the area hours before. Just the way he was moving you can tell he was on their trail, going back and forth following their every step. Grizzly's sense of smell is several times better then that of a bloodhound, they use it to track food and in this case each other. They can smell a carcass upwind from over a kilometer away and even food located in a sealed can. But in this case he was tracking two grizzlies. In this picture it looks as if he was smiling, nothing of the sort, it was all business. As soon he got the scent he was off into the bushes, I found out later the direction he headed, two grizzlies were spotted in that area.
Grizzly
It's has been a tough summer for the wildlife. Out here in the mountains wildlife does not do well when we have above normal warm summer, this year it has been a very hot summer and still days to go with above normal temperatures. Wildlife has been spending more time out of under the sun, choosing to be out in the open when the sun is low on the horizon.
Black Bear
The buffaloberries or shepherdia crop was not good this year as last year, overall. There are some area the crop was very good and then others few berries could be found. The bears were taking advantage of the areas where they could find them, This bear was working the shrubs along a very dusty trail with few berries to be found. Every bit helps.
Grizzly
I get to see this female grizzly about once a year, and normally at the start of the summer. I'm assuming she then moves to the back country, rarely seen in the front country during the summer. Each time, I see her for few minutes, after which I move on or she will walk into the forest. This summer I came across her eating along side a very skittish young black bear. The black bear ran into the forest, she sat down and stared into the distance for few minutes. The she stood up and started to eat before walking toward the forest, I was on my way before she moved away. Until next year.
Grizzly
I have been lucky enough to see this big guy few times this year, on this occasion he was visiting the town area one early morning.
Mountain Goat
Nanny and her week old kid make their way to the bottom of the valley for some well deserved minerals. The mountain goats spend most of they time above the tree line throughout the year, moving up and down within their range. Kids are born in May or June after a six month gestation period. Normally a nanny gives birth to a single offspring after isolating herself from rest of the group. The kids weighs about 3 kg when born, within few hours it begins to run and climb. A nanny will protect her kid when faced with predators and protecting it from steep slopes with her body. Kids stay close to their mother for a year, end of which the nanny gives birth again.
Grizzly
Most times the bears pass by, they are too busy looking for food. Not looking to come in human ways, but humans have other ideas. The bears just need space, not to play but to survive. But not all of us willing to share, not even for part of a year willing to give a place over to the bears for them to make a living.
