Tag Archives: bear

WMEO Nature Desk — Breaking News Bulletin- Bear Swims Lake

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Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk like TV anchors. On the left is an orange long‑haired cat sitting upright and looking calmly at the camera. On the right is a black short‑haired cat also sitting upright. A microphone sits between them on the desk, along with two sheets of paper. Behind them, a large newsroom screen shows a bear swimming in a lake with trees along the shoreline. Above the screen is a bold red‑and‑blue headline bar that reads “BEAR SWIMS LAKE.” The scene looks like a humorous animal‑themed news broadcast.

WMEO Nature Desk — Breaking News Bulletin

Filed jointly by Banner “The Senior Correspondent” and Balboa “The Intern Who Sleeps on the Job”

Banner: ahem Attention viewers — the WMEO Nature Desk is once again on high alert. These Adirondack animals are keeping this newsroom busier than a cat trying to outrun a vacuum cleaner.

Balboa: I tried outrunning a vacuum once. A black cat stands on a beige carpet, leaning forward to sniff the hose connection on a red and gray vacuum cleaner. The cat’s nose is close to the vacuum, and its body is slightly crouched in a curious posture. Behind the cat are household items including a purple storage bin, a wicker basket, and a green bag.Didn’t work. Anyway — Lake George has done it again. Another headline. Another critter. Just another day of Banner hogging the good chair.

Banner: Focus, kid. This time it’s a bear. Yup — good ole Smokey decided to take a refreshing dip in Lake George. And let me tell you, this wasn’t your average splash‑around‑the‑dock moment.

Balboa: No sir. This bear looked like he was training for the Adirondack Aquatic Marathon. Full strokes. Determined pace. Zero interest in the shallows. Honestly, he’s putting in more cardio than either of us.

Banner: The sighting came from Lake George Waterkeeper Chris Navitsky, who spotted our furry athlete heading straight toward Agnes Island, where campers were squeezing in some last‑minute summer memories.

Balboa: WMEO analysts have reviewed the footage and can confirm:

  • Bear was swimming with purpose
  • Campers were minding their business
  • And so far…

Banner: dramatic pause

Balboa: …there have been no reports of missing pic‑a‑nic baskets.

Banner: Yogi would be proud.

Balboa: Jellystone energy. Adirondack location. Close enough.

A cartoon moose stands upright on a brightly colored paddleboard in the middle of a calm lake. The moose holds a paddle with both hands and smiles confidently while balancing on the board. The lake is blue with gentle ripples, surrounded by green forested hills and a partly cloudy sky.

Banner: This has been your WMEO Nature Desk update. Stay tuned — because at this rate, Lake George might give us a moose on a paddleboard next.

Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk as if hosting a broadcast. The orange cat on the left sits upright and looks calmly at the camera. The black cat on the right raises a paw toward a small blue toy mouse with orange ears and an orange tail placed in front of it. The desk displays the WMEO 9 logo in gold and red, with “Thank you for watching” written below in white. The background resembles a softly blurred newsroom with lights and screens.

 

The Reality Behind the Shot- Wildlife Photography Tales

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A large brown bear moves through dense autumn foliage, its head visible among branches covered in bright orange leaves.

The Truth About Wildlife Photography (As Told by a T‑Shirt)

Red fox baby on MondayEvery once in a while, something comes along that perfectly sums up an entire hobby. For wildlife photography, it isn’t a dramatic eagle shot or a fox leaping through golden light — it’s a T‑shirt. A T‑shirt that insists photography is simply “being in the right place at the right time”… followed by a dozen more “right” things, from the lens to the batteries to the background to the angle. It’s funny because it’s true, and every wildlife photographer knows it.

Why This T‑Shirt Gets It Right

People love to say, “Wow, you must have been lucky to get that shot.” Luck plays a part, sure, but it’s the smallest slice of the pie. Wildlife photography is mostly patience, persistence, and a willingness to stand in uncomfortable places for long stretches of time while your subject does absolutely nothing. It’s waiting for the light to cooperate, adjusting settings on the fly, and hoping your batteries don’t die at the exact moment a squirrel finally decides to pose. (Click Here for my squirrel Story)

The wildlife itself adds a whole extra layer of unpredictability. Animals don’t care about your perfect composition or your carefully chosen lens. They wander off, turn around, hide behind rocks, or stare at you like you’re interrupting their day. Sometimes they give you the “I might charge you” look, and suddenly the shot doesn’t seem quite so important anymore.

And yet, we keep doing it. Because every once in a while, everything lines up — the light, the moment, the subject, the settings, the batteries, and your own stubborn determination. You get the shot that makes all the waiting, sweating, freezing, and gear‑lugging worth it. (Having the right gear is very helpful too)

That’s why this T‑shirt is so perfect. It doesn’t glamorize wildlife photography. It doesn’t pretend it’s easy. It simply tells the truth with a wink: it takes a whole lot more than being in the right place at the right time. It takes all the “right” things coming together at once — and a photographer who’s willing to chase them.

Disclosure:

Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you decide to buy something through them, I may receive a small commission — it helps support the site and my photography adventures, at no extra cost to you. Team Arounddustyroads thanks you

 

Cades Cove Wildlife

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With high hopes, camera on the seat beside me I pulled off the pavement and onto the loop road.

Cades Cove Map

There’s no chance of getting lost. The 11 mile loop road is all one way.

Right away I spotted animals. Just not wild animals. Horseback riding is very popular in the park. A thinner and uninjured me would have taken advantage of the chance to ride but I wasn’t going to make myself uncomfortable or squash a poor horse to do so.

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Just beyond the open field with the horses the trees came down to the road on the right and a few straggled into the field on the left . That’s where the first deer were spotted. Cars  ahead of me were pulled over and people were pointing. The deer paid no attention. They seemed to know they were safe.

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The traffic didn’t start to move again until the deer made their way across the road in front of the first car and up the hill back into the woods.

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Not even into the loop a mile and already there was action!

The road twisted and turned weaving in and out of forest and field. No one was in a hurry and everyone was watching for the next deer or bear. Those in front passed the word back to the cars following when something was spotted.

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The turkeys were everywhere and almost as numerous as the deer. Who knew that wild turkeys were so colorful!

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I spotted a hawk of some kind but he was moving too fast and was too far away for a good shot. The line of cars continued to snake slowly forward. Then I spotted a black spot off in the shadows. I wasn’t sure if it was a bear or just a rock. I pulled over and the other cars left me in their dust. With the road clear I pulled out my BIG camera lens. Oh how I wish I had my binoculars. But with the 500mm lens I could definitely make out a back bear. Some more cars came along and those people confirmed my sighting. That bear was just so far away… I hope I’ll see another.

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Around another corner I spotted my first buck. Antlers are only just starting to grow and are still in velvet but they were definitely there. He never took his eyes off me as I clicked away.

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As the car climbed a steep hill I could see a number of cars pulled into a parking area. People were looking out over the field and pointing. I pulled in just in time to see a photographer intent on getting the perfect picture set out across the field. I searched for what had his attention and there it was. Another bear.

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The bear didn’t maul the photographer and I left before he returned because judging by the mood of the crowd, he was more at risk from them than the bear. His actions (which were a Big No No) drove the bear away so the rest of us who followed the rules, didn’t get a chance to watch it for long.

The rest of the drive was uneventful. At one point the cars ahead stopped and 3 bears, a mother and 2 cubs, were allegedly spotted in the woods but they were gone by the time I got there.  At another point I sat in the car wondering what they were looking at only to turn my head and see a deer just steps away in the woods at the edge of the road.

Cades Cove certainly lived up to the hype about the wildlife. I’m loving this!