Category Archives: mammals

  Five years ago, I took the picture shown below. When I posted it on that occasion, I offered the caption: This coyote came by very early Christmas morning—apparently it isn’t just children who take an interest in the arrival … Continue reading →

  How does an animal walk on four legs? There isn’t a single way to do it. Rather animals employ a variety of different gaits. Many sources discuss the gaits of horses (e.g., Wikipedia): walk, trot, canter, gallop. Fewer sources … Continue reading →

  The otter family visited again yesterday, this time in rain and the fading light of the day. Fortunately, I saw them coming so was able to sneak nearby. This is undoubtedly the same family that last March produced my grand ogopogo … Continue reading →

  Why do so many interesting things take place off in the distance prior to sunrise—a time when observing and photographing are difficult? This morning’s early light brought five cavorting otters to a local dock. This is probably the same … Continue reading →

  Velvet is the soft downy skin that covers a deer’s antlers when they are growing. A month ago, I posted a picture of this same buck in velvet. In late summer, the velvet dries and peals, and while it does … Continue reading →

  There are two species of bear found around here (and throughout most of the Province): grizzly bear and black bear. On Sunday, I managed to photograph each species. Grizzly bear Black bear

  Doug Thorburn sent me these pictures of a mule deer buck preparing its bed. Neither of us had previously seen a deer do such a thing. It repeatedly scraped its fore hoof across the dirt until the ground was … Continue reading →