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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.kootenay-lake.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/muledeer160602s.jpg\")
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Various mammals seem to prefer living well above the valley floor. A possible reason might be avoidance of valley-clustering humans. Yet, the population density of people is not very high around here. In many cases the altitude bias of creatures seems to be driven by preferred habitat and the competition of other animals. Who knows?<\/p>\n
These are male Mule Deer on the mountain side. It may be that competition with the valley-favouring White-tailed Deer drove the Mule Deer into the subalpine. Be that as it may, they are not often seen near the valley floor. These males have started on this year’s antlers.
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Why the Yellow-pine Chipmunk is usually only found at higher elevations is unclear. When I was a child, I remember seeing chipmunks\u00a0down around the Lake. What caused the change?
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.kootenay-lake.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/chipmunk160602s.jpg\")
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The Pika is an endemic subalpine creature. I had really wanted to capture a picture of this cute lagomorph, but while I did hear them around me, I didn’t see one. This lovely shot was made by Derek Kite who was observing from a spot perhaps thirty metres from me.
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.kootenay-lake.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/pika160602sDK.jpg\")
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Derek Kite’s picture of the Pika is used with permission.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Various mammals seem to prefer living well above the valley floor. A possible reason might be avoidance of valley-clustering humans. Yet, the population density of people is not very high around here. In many cases the altitude bias of … Continue reading