Tag Archives: wildlife

RIP 399

Posted on by | 2 Comments

Grizzly 399

Grizzly 399 was , without a doubt, the most famous Grizzly in the Yellowstone/Grand Teton eco-system. She was so famous that when I went to Jackson Hole in 2017 even I had heard of her.  Sadly Grizzly 399 was killed in a car/bear accident about a week ago. She was 28. 28 is old for any grizzly but especially a wild bear. 

photo credit- unknown

Grizzly 399 was unique in that she was still birthing cubs every year.  This bear produced 18 offspring over the years. Another reason she became so famous is that she lived close to Jackson Hole so was more visible than most. It wasn’t unusual for her to be spotted along a roadside with her cubs. Fans even sent texts and posted on social media where she might be seen. That was how I was lucky enough to get a glimpse of the  bear and 2 cubs when I was in Wyoming and know that it was this famous bear,

My Sighting

I was heading back to the condo where I was staying after a day touring Yellowstone National Park. The geysers had been plentiful but wildlife had been scarce. I’d just crossed into Grand Teton National Park when I saw a lot of cars pulled off the road. I parked, grabbed the camera and trotted up to the crowd. I could see a lot of pointing and low talking so I approached one of the people in front of me. He told me Grizzly 399 was in the area with 2 cubs.  Right about then I heard someone say “There she is!” And cameras came out all along the roadside. I got as close as I could but having arrived late I wasn’t in the best location.  Here’s what I was able to capture.

3 bears out for a stroll

Grizzly 399 and 2 cubs -2017 photo Credit Deb Neumann

Into the woods

Grizzly 399 -2017 photo Credit Deb Neumann

Mangelsen Gallery

If you want to see really beautiful photos of Grizzly 399 you have to visit the Mangelsen Gallery in Jackson Hole. His work is some of the finest Wildlife Photography I have ever seen and he has some outstanding images for Grizzly 399 over the years. 

Ode to 399

28 is old for a bear and sooner or later we were going to have to say goodbye to this iconic grizzly. At least we know what happened to her. She could have denned up for a winter and never come out. No matter what it would be sad. Part of me is thankful that we know what happened to her and part of me is angry that it was due to humans that this amazing bear is gone. At the same time having driven those roads and seen how dark they can be I can understand how it happened. RIP Grizzly 399. You will be missed.

 

Photo credit -unknown

 

 

National Wildlife Day Photo Contest

Posted on by | 2 Comments

 Photo Contest

I haven’t been involved with a photo contest in quite awhile. I used to enjoy them but they can get expensive. Many have entry fees, sometimes fees per photo so it can get pricey. Anyway a friend sent me a link to Mystic Aquarium’s National Wildlife Day Photo Contest and suggested I enter. There was no entry fee and the prize, if you won, is the right to name a seal they are releasing. So its basically just for fun and that’s about the amount of effort I made. Just for fun.

 

My Entry

I didn’t even look at the competing entries, just made a quick grab for something from my archives. I kind of  like my choice but since it’s from the lizard family it might not have a lot of universal appeal. Maybe I should  have gone with a deer or a bird. Actually I was thinking about my whale breach photo but couldn’t remember where it was filed and didn’t want to take the time to look. So my Key Largo Iguana was it.

Key Largo Iguana- Photo Credit Deb Neumann

The 4 Finalists

It will be another week before the winners are announced but I didn’t even make the finals.  Here’s the top 4 as it stands now.

 

If I had thought about it I have pictures for all 4 categories that made the finals and here they are.

 

Finalist #1- Puffins

I like Puffins. I could have submitted a Puffin picture if I’d thought of it. 

Puffin 2016- Photo Credit Deb Neumann

Finalist #2-butterfly

Oh. I have so many butterflies but my favorite is on the sunflower.

Sunflower and butterfly 2018- Photo Credit Deb Neumann

Finalist #3 – Fox Kit

This one was a bit harder. I have a fox kit picture but I balanced the camera on the car window and never thought to shut off the engine so it wouldn’t be Photo Contest worthy. There was a little camera shake.

Red fox baby on Monday

Red Fox Kit 2017- photo credit Deb Neumann

Finalist #4 – Whale

I’ve been on whale watches from Cape Cod to Maui. I have tons of whale pictures. Even some of whale breaches. Here’s one.

Breaching Whale

Whale Breach 2017- Photo credit Deb Neumann

That’s a wrap

I have so many more wildlife photos that I just didn’t think about. I have seals and Elk and Moose. Even some Grizzly Bears. And this post about photo contests wouldn’t be complete unless I shared the one that made it into a National Geographic Contest. It didn’t win but at least it got past the initial screening. I’m pretty proud of that!

2015- Photo Credit Deb Neumann

I hope you enjoyed

What’s in North Dakota?

Posted on by | 2 Comments

What about a trip to North Dakota?

In 2011 my sister and I spent an amazing week in South Dakota. When I was planning that vacation everyone asked me What’s in South Dakota? Truthfully, I had no idea except Mt. Rushmore but it turned out to be one of the best vacations we’ve taken. It had all my favorite things like wild animals, draw dropping scenery and even a dinosaur dig. So when I ask myself what’s in North Dakota, I hope I have a similar surprise! 

The Number 1 Attraction

The number 1 attraction in North Dakota is Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The park lies in Western North Dakota where the Great Plains meet the Badlands. A scenic loop drive will take you through the south section’s colorful Painted Canyon. The badlands in South Dakota are breathtaking and I’ve been to the Painted Desert in Arizona so I will have to explore the Painted Canyon!

File:Painted Canyon overlook Theodore Roosevelt NP ND1.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Painted Canyon Overlook; Photo credit Wikmedia Commons

Wildlife

One of the best places to view wildlife is on the South Unit’s Scenic Drive. Bison, mule deer, prairie dogs, and horses are readily visible. Also be on the lookout for coyotes, pronghorn, bald and golden eagles, white-tailed deer, turkeys, and elk.

What's in North Dakota?

Prairie Dog with Flower – Photo Credit Deb Neumann 2011

Leaving the South Unit behind I’d like to head north for the North Unit’s scenic drive. A 14 mile Scenic Drive (28 miles round trip) is an out and back drive. The first half of the road traces the bottom of the badlands. Midway through, it crawls up out of the canyon to the North Unit’s most iconic view, River Bend Overlook.

20+ EPIC Things to Do Theodore Roosevelt National Park (+ Photos)

River Bend Overlook- Photo from Internet

 

From there, it’s an easy drive along the rim of the badlands to Oxbow Overlook at the road’s end. The road is almost entirely paved with only one stretch of gravel and is open to motor vehicles (including RVs) and cyclists.

Bison are common but careful observers may spot bighorn sheep on or near steep cliff edges. Since I missed the Big Horn Sheep in Colorado I’m still anxious to get a look at some. 

Aurora Borealis

Around here the Northern Lights ( Aurora Borealis) are a rare sight and often lost in the ambient light from the cities and towns but North Dakota is said to be prefect for viewing the lights that dance across the sky in vivid green, purple and blue. The aurora is most active in March and September. Still likely to have snow at that time of year!

Northern Lights Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures

Northern Lights Free Stock Photo – Public Domain Pictures

If I get to go…

I’m sure there are many more things to see and do in North Dakota. I must remember to have my passport in case I cross to Canada or get to the International Peace Garden that sits on the border of the US & Canada. 

 

 

 

Colorado Thumbnail

Posted on by

Colorado

What can I say about my Colorado vacation to sum it up? First off, Take time to adjust to the altitude. That I suffered from altitude sickness was a complete surprise to me. I grew up in mountains. Granted my childhood mountains were  a bit smaller than 10,000 ft but I still expected it to count. Plus I’ve been to Wyoming and at 8,000 ft I had no problems at all. Maybe age , overall health or just that extra 2,000-4,000 ft tacked on made a difference.

Mount Quandary 2022

Hiking, Skiing

Breckenridge is a beautiful little town but other than the quaintness there isn’t much to do except hike in the summer or ski in the winter. There are few roads and like any area with more winter than summer, road work has to be crammed into those few warm, storm free months. Getting anywhere required patience. The road construction had traffic tangled from just about every direction. 

Lake Dillon 2022

 

Wildlife

Friends who had been to Colorado told me about the abundant wildlife but I didn’t see much of it. Spotted the Moose family a couple of afternoons and there was a beaver lodge. After watching for the little rodents at various times without success I finally concluded the lodge was abandoned. The big horn sheep were no where to be found although I did see one deer and one pronghorn.  The most exciting moment was spotting that big white bird. (I still think it was a whooping crane) I love a mystery and think it would be great if whooping cranes were making their way back to Colorado. 

Colorado Moose 2022

I was warned about bear in the area, not sure if they were grizzly or black bears but I didn’t see any. The dumpsters were always chained shut to keep the animals out of the trash. 

Maybe the lack of wildlife was due to the heat. Temps were in the mid 80’s most days. I was told to expect low 70’s so that could have had the animals looking for shade.

What I missed

Colorado is now checked off my list of states that I’ve gone for vacation but I’m not done with the state yet. It’s huge and now that I know driving in the summer is not a viable option ( unless you like traffic jams)  I’ll need to consider short visits in different areas. 

Breckenridge Gondola 2022

I wasn’t able to get the web site for Rocky Mountain National Park to work. You have to have a reservation now to get in and you have to do it online so I still want to go there. Great Sand Dunes National Park was too far from Breckenridge so I will need a return trip for that. Heading to the south western corner of the state is the Durango and Silverton railroad. That’s a train ride I really want to take. Finally there is Mesa Verde National Park also in the southwestern part of the state.

Back near Denver a side trip to Colorado Springs will let me experience riding the Cog railway up Pike’s Peak. Then take time to visit Garden of the Gods. So much still to see!

So you see I’ve only just scratched the surface of what this state has to offer. 

 

South Park

Posted on by | 2 Comments

South Park Colorado

“Going down to South Park and meet some friends of mine”.  Never thought I’d find myself in the fictional town of South Park but as I drove through the tiny town of Fairplay in the county of South Park Colorado, there they were- Cartman, Kyle, Stan and Kenny!

I was actually heading toward Colorado Springs when I happened upon this little store with the South Park Theme. The store had a unique name too, The Salt Lickin’ Goat.

It was crammed with T-Shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts with a whole display of South Park themed shirts. That was a fun diversion.

RT 285

My plan was to follow 285 to the Garden of the Gods then catch the last ride on the Cog Railroad up Pikes Peak. The geography made a big change as I left Fairplay. I came down out of the mountains and land leveled out. Here were the herds of cattle and ranches with horses. I even saw a blond buffalo. Yup, it was wandering along the fence line. I suspect it belonged to the ranch. I’m driving a hybrid SUV and I can’t help being thankful for that because there is nothing here but open range. No gas stations or shops. The roads that branch off are all dirt roads. 

Wildlife

I don’t know if I can really count that buffalo as “Wildlife”, but I can count the pronghorn that I saw nose to fence. It was just the one antelope and he seemed to be really fixated on the field beyond the fence. I’ve heard that Pronghorns won’t jump fences. They try to crawl under or go through them. Maybe he was contemplating his options.

See the source image

I hadn’t seen many birds other than ravens but as I passed a creek a big white bird took off. It was really a beautiful bird; about the size of a Great Blue Heron, I know I’d never seen one with markings quite like that, so I was excited to look it up.

Whooping Crane

Well, it seems we have a mystery. When I searched for a bird that looked like this one, I found a Whooping Crane.

See the source image

It was an exact match but according to my online sources Whooping Cranes no longer live or migrate through Colorado. So, I saw a bird that shouldn’t be here or I mis-identified it.  Since I was driving and couldn’t get a photo, I guess I have no proof. But between you and me, I’m sure it was a whooping crane!

Oh, and in case you’re wondering. I never made it to the Garden of the God or Pikes Peak. I’ll have to save those stops for my next visit.