Wildlife Sightings

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Early this morning I set the spotting scope up on the back porch and was delighted to find 9 mountain goats browsing high in the Elkhorn Mountains.   There were 5 adults, 2 smaller that appeared to be yearlings, and two very small kids.

That was followed by 2 nice mule deer bucks in the sagebrush south of the house.  Both will be at least 4 points, and I suspect one may be the big guy from last year.  Here’s a shot of several that hung around last year.

[SeaDawg]

Thanks for starting the thread.

On our acreage in WNC, we see a lot of birds, especially turkey, and occasionally deer, very occasionally black bear. I more often see bear sign (scat, scratches on tree trunks, prints etc.,) than bear, as all neighbors are careful to not feed them. Neighbors down mountain installed an electric fence to keep from inadvertently feeding them from their big organic garden. 

Usually when I see one, I either don't have my phone, or I'm too startled to use it to get a shot.

Got this photo a few years back. I kind of think the black bear was more startled than I was. 

[Steph and Dud B]

Walking back to our trailer one evening in Grand Canyon we stumbled across some cow elk and their calves. 

1 hour ago, SeaDawg said:

Usually when I see one, I either don't have my phone, or I'm too startled to use it to get a shot.

I turned a blind corner around a rock formation in Arches one evening and came face to face with a mule deer heading the opposite direction on the trail. Maybe 4 feet away. She looked as surprised as I felt. No chance to grab my phone before she turned and ran.

[Ollie-Haus]

These are pics from our back yard at the home we sold a year ago. For being just a short distance east of Indianapolis, we got a variety of large and small visitors. 

We now live about 20 miles further from Indy and in a more secluded setting. Time will tell what we discover to be our wildlife neighbors in this area. 

This buck must of felt safe wandering the back yards along our road. He let me get a few fuzzy pics through the back door but when I slid the door open he promptly bounded to the yard next door. 

Mr. Pileated woodpecker loved the suet blocks I kept in the feeder off our patio. He was a daily regular

This little green tree frog was enjoying the shade of our patio umbrella while we ate lunch at the same table. 

[MAX Burner]

A mule deer and faun grazing outside the TT.  Pic taken near Taos, NM.

[topgun2]

Bob came to visit a few weeks ago along with his buddy - Brian the bruin.

 

[MAX Burner]

@topgun2:  Noway!  That looks way more like Felix and BooBoo!  HA!

[Steph and Dud B]

Our cat was always an optimist...

[SeaDawg]

1 hour ago, Steph and Dud B said:

Our cat was always an optimist...

Best place for a pet, when wildlife is around.

One evening, in Land Between the Lakes, we had a family of skunks wander through the campsite. I had my dog on my lap, and kept her still, as were we.

The next morning,  at the dump station, we met a couple with a Casita. They, too, had skunk visitors, but their little dog got down and chased, and of course got sprayed. Panicked, they threw the dog in the trailer, which soon stunk to high heaven, everywhere. That skunk oil is tough to get off textiles, and carpeted walls.

My heart went out to them. Still think of them when I see a skunk.

[ADKCamper]

Bison in Custer State Park, SD last May (photos taken safely from our TV on the side of the road with a 120-600mm zoom lens)

 

 

They were so much fun to watch it was difficult to move on...

 

[ADKCamper]

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ewe and Lamb), Badlands NP, SD

[ADKCamper]

Thanks for all the great wildlife photos! Sometimes we get lucky, and other times we'll go an entire trip without either seeing anything, or not being prepared to take a photo in a hurry...

Mountain Goats seen from the Needles Highway in SD

 

 

[ADKCamper]

Mule deer crossing a stream, taken from the Pa-Rus Trail in Zion NP last October...

Heron, also taken from the Pa-Rus Trail in Zion NP

 

 

[rideandfly]

Big Horn Sheep Ram, Badlands SD:

[ADKCamper]

Rideandfly... Nice one!

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I’m seeing some great wildlife photography!  Thanks for sharing!  Here  are a few more.

[Steve Morris]

17 hours ago, Steph and Dud B said:

Our cat was always an optimist...

Ours, too.

 

 

Then, just to show off, he brought his harem!

 

Turn about is fair play. This one wanted in.

 

We only saw this one once, but hear them frequently.

 

Little Green Herons have been nesting in the trees in our yard the past few years. Four fledglings lines up nicely for me.

 

And Screech Owls keep coming to check out the nesting box, but never stick around long enough to build a nest.

 

 

[rideandfly]

Hunting Island SP SC:

[MAX Burner]

A pair of local Great Horned Owls stopping by for a peek in our back patio piñon tree...

[rideandfly]

Hunting Island SP SC:

 

[Geronimo John]

Imagine the look of some teen agers heading down to the Ole Swimming Hole and finding a 17 foot camouflaged  gator had eaten their swing!

GJ

[rideandfly]

We were driving out of Many Glacier National Park MT when we saw Mama Bear eating berries while JR was climbing a tree. The photo of Mama Bear did not turn out to well through the windshield. We did not stop because we were too close.

[ShallowGal]

So many wonderful photos! This is why I RV.

[Steph and Dud B]

For the entomologists out there.

[rideandfly]

Davy Crockett SP TN: