For several days the fox hunted on this thin layer of snow and buried her prey in the ground nearby. Now, she has more food than she can carry in one trip. With a moth full of voles, she heads off, presumably to a den where young kits are hiding.
Spring
It’s spring, finally. The snow is rapidly loosening it’s grip on the land. Pocket gophers and voles are still hunkered down beneath the small white patches that remain, and this experienced red fox is taking advantage of the cover that provides for hunting. Stay tuned to see whether she was successful...
Canada Lynx Kitten
A Canada Lynx kitten emerges from dense forest where mom is hunting snowshoe hares. The first several decades of pine forest regrowth following a fire creates a nearly impenetrable fortress of small trees growing only inches apart. They are shade intolerant, and as they mature, the competition for light thins out out the stands. But, those early years provide great cover and habitat for snowshoe hares, and so also attracts their main predator, the Canada Lynx.
Eureka Dunes
The view from the top of the Eureka dunes in Death Valley is worth…hmm well I’m still not sure it was worth it? The grueling 1 foot forward 2 steps back scramble on all fours and the demise of my lens in a sudden sand storm was a pretty steep price. But, I’d do it again.
Fiery-billed Aracari
On a normal year I would have been returning from Costa Rica about now. This toucan is a Fiery-billed Aracari and is endemic to the region, meaning it only lives in Costa Rica and western Panama. Finding a clear vantage for a nice image of these birds is special, but my memory of this image mostly centers on the moment after taking it, as I looked down to see I was completely covered by ants from the waste down. It pays to look down everyone once in while when you’re looking for birds in canopy. Thanks to friends for violently beating my legs and back with random objects. I happily took some bruises in place or more bites.
Earth Day 2020
It’s earth day and I feel a mix of emotions as I reflect on experiences I’ve had while exploring earth’s remaining wild places. I’m deeply grateful for these moments, such as the time with this spirit bear in the Great Bear Rainforest.
And I think it is precisely because these moments are so close to my heart, that possibility of a not-so-distant world devoid of these places saddens me. As a human race our unyielding drive towards growth and progress has improved quality of life in innumerable ways, and continues to do. On many accounts this propensity is a good and beautiful thing
Yet, blindly racing down this path comes at a cost, one that our tunnel vision has kept us reluctant to see. We are using a finite resource as if it were infinite. The effect of this behavior on the planet is tangible, and clearly not sustainable. If we continue down the path we are on, there is little uncertainty about the detrimental net effect it will have on wildlife and wild places.
However, this spirit of innovation and commitment to progress also gives me hope. When coupled with a sense of responsibility and appreciation for the natural world, it has the potential to create a new and sustainable path into the future. I see more and more brilliant people and creative companies taking this challenge on with enthusiasm and optimism.
Grizzly Cub
Grizzlies give birth to cubs around February. Their first few months of life are spent huddled next to their mother for warmth in the safety of the den. Come late April or May they leave the den for good, and immediately begin learning invaluable lessons from mom. It’s an education that can last two or three years before they part ways to live on their own.
Hayden Valley in February
Working with a white canvas in Yellowstone’s Hayden Valley this week.
Lone Bison
A lone bison grazes along the Firehole in Yellowstone National Park.
Presence of the Canada Lynx
Besides the shocking disproportionate size of their feet, the calm and mesmerizing presence of the Canada Lynx is what stands out to me. Unlike most other cat species, the lynx I’ve encountered appear to be relatively comfortable with me, often sitting down and watching me before stealthily vanishing into the forest cover.