Category Archives: mammals

Ogopogo insights

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Alistair

  It is interesting that two observations made this year, a swimming snake and a swimming muskrat, have prompted unexpected insights into our favourite lake monster, the ogopogo. I will show that if an ogopogo existed it would not look as … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary, mammals | 7 Comments

Muskrat hull speed

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Alistair

  As I watched a muskrat swimming a bit offshore, I wished I had a better grasp of naval architecture (watercraft design) for it looked as if the muskrat were travelling at approximately its hull speed. Its concave body seemed to be … Continue reading →

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Icebreakers

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Alistair

  Kootenay Lake has three (semi?) aquatic mammals. By medium weight they are: the beaver (~ 23 kg), otter (~ 8 kg), and muskrat (~1.2 kg).  It is difficult enough to obtain decent pictures of any of the three, but … Continue reading →

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Coyote’s delight

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Alistair

  “Grasslands are vast; voles are abundant; sunlight is warm — life is good.”

Posted in mammals | 3 Comments

October goulash

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Alistair

  This is an end-of-the-month collection of nine images, none of which rated a posting on its own.  In its winter plumage, a Horned Grebe does not look as grand as when it’s in its breeding plumage. I enjoyed the … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, mammals | 5 Comments

Snowberry eaters

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Alistair

  What eats snowberries? Most types of berries are colourful, sweet and juicy, a persuasive combination that prompts birds to eat them and consequently to spread the seeds. In stark contrast, snowberries (waxberries) are white, tasteless and dry. As snowberries are both … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary, mammals, wildflowers | 2 Comments

Protective sow

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Alistair

  This was the first time I had seen a grizzly sow react protectively when encountering a grizzly boar. The Grizzly Bear is a top predator: Even a cougar will back away from its kill when a grizzly approaches. No other local … Continue reading →

Posted in mammals | 7 Comments

Grizzly family

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Alistair

  A sighting of Grizzly Bears in the South Selkirks revealed a more healthy looking family than the lone bear seen elsewhere. These grizzlies appeared to be feeding on tubers, rather than the grass the gaunt grizzly relied upon.  Displaying the confidence … Continue reading →

Posted in mammals | 7 Comments

Grizzly foraging

Posted on September 27, 2015 by Alistair

  Grizzly Bears are omnivorous: pine nuts, tubers, grasses, rodents, moths, scavenged carcasses, but particularly when fattening up for hibernation, salmon. In the fall when rivers and streams are filled with spawning kokanee salmon, a grizzly grows fat. This year, … Continue reading →

Posted in mammals | 8 Comments

Bull elk

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Alistair

  Yesterday’s sighting was a first for me: a bull elk with a full set of antlers.

Posted in mammals | 12 Comments