We had a great walk to Cascade Falls, but something happened before I even left the parking lot area. Look, over there! Thank goodness for being on this side of that deep cement dyke and not the forest side.
SNAP*Shot: Most Memorable Event in Ouray!
Category: Mammals
SNAP*Shot: Pronghorn Revisited
Pronghorn are a unique and amazing species. They live only in southern Saskatchewan prairies to northern Mexico deserts. They are also one of my favorite animals. We talked before about some of their unique features, but I’ve only seen them from a distance here in Colorado and miss them. So it is time to revisit some wonderful experiences shared with pronghorn during my time in Yellowstone.
On a rainy day in June, I stopped for something else, but did a double-take seeing “mommy and me” on the hill right above the road. Young are typically born in late May and June and this little one is probably three to four weeks old. Mostly I’m envious of their gorgeous eyelashes. Come on along to explore more . . .
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SNAP*Shot: Mule Deer
Living in the mountain west the deer we see most often are Mule Deer ((Odocoileus hemionus). Indigenous across the western US, they can be identified by their oversized ears resembling those of a mule, their black-tipped tail, and distinctive dark forehead. Lovingly called Muleys, outside of the mating season (rut), they tend to be calm and not particularly bothered by our presence. However, kept my distance from this big boy. I’ve seen Mule Deer all over Montana and Wyoming the last seven years, but this Muley is massive, the biggest I’ve ever seen. The largest males (bucks) can weight 460 pounds, and I think this boy is there!
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Grandma Bighorn, a Sweet Goodbye
It has been a gray winter in Yellowstone. Overcast, snow, and WIND. During a few days stay in mid-February, however, there was a sweet moment early in the week. We pulled into a protected pullout near the Yellowstone River. This poor old grandma Bighorn sheep headed toward us and we retreated to make room, but there is not much room to retreat in this pullout. OK, OK, she was about 10 feet away–don’t tell. We are supposed to stay 25 yards from such wildlife, even when they come to us. Broken horn on far side, looks like arthritis in her front shoulders, eyes somewhat sunken, moving very slow–all alone and females travel in groups. For a few minutes she just hung with us, checking us out every once in a while but not anxious, fearful, or in a rush to leave. Perhaps for a moment we offered safety and a sense of peace. With our presence, wolves are very unlikely. We may be just about the last people to see her alive.
A tribute to your life, sweet girl.
