Rattlesnakes and Eagles for National Wildlife Day
Kind greeting to you, my dear reader, and happy Labor Day to you. Today is National Wildlife Day which seems like a very appropriate holiday for monsters, backpackers, and outdoors people of all shapes and sizes to celebrate. Wildlife isn’t the only thing that attracts me to wilderness, but it’s near the top of the list.
Did you know the rattlesnakes in the Grand Canyon (Crotalus oreganus abyssus) have been separated from their brethren on the canyon rims long enough that they now are a subspecies and have a pinkish/dusky red coloration? Although I kept a respectable distance far out of striking range, I’ve seen one in person on the Tonto Trail near the spur trail to Panorama Point. My heart was racing, certainly because I have a strong respect for poisonous snakes, but more so because I got to see a rare subspecies of snake I’d read about. I remembered these things on National Wildlife Day.
Have you ever driven along the Mississippi River and found hundreds of Bald Eagles sitting in trees, an almost unbelievable concentration of the raptors? Watched those eagles circle, almost on cue, and dive down to fish in the mighty river? I have. It happens not far from Davenport, near where the city’s sewer treatment plant releases treated wastewater into the Mississippi. Eagles already congregate along the river, and when things get really cold, you can see really grouping up The warm water from the plant keeps a narrow little strip ice free. Even when the weather is -20° outside, there is open water where eagles can fish. I remembered these things for National Wildlife Day.
Humming Birds, Elk, Moose for National Wildlife Day
Have you ever seen moose? (I don’t mean Bullwinkle!) A cow moose and her calf to be exact, in the middle of a beaver pond feeding on pond weed? I got to see this one night after setting up camp off a trail on Isle Royal, the largest island in Lake Superior. Or jumped off to the side of a trail to avoid a charging cow moose? That was Isle Royale too…
How about elk bugling, have you heard that? That was Rocky Mountain National Park, where I watched a bull elk bring his harem down to a park to feed. That was the best use of my 300mm lens ever! I needed a tripod for that one… Have you ever seen a groundhog get drunk on fermented fruit? It was more than a little bit hilarious, that little critter didn’t hold his booze well at all. I’ve listened to wolves howl, and loons wailing? Both sounds are somehow quite primal to me, when I heard them the hair on the back of my neck stood up.
Have you seen a hummingbird up close and personal? A tiny bundle of energy, who’s wings literally buzz (and perhaps hum?) flitting about to drink nectar. Many of the times I encountered a hummingbird I was wearing a bright red shirt. The little bird doesn’t stop for long at all, just long enough to determine I don’t have any nectar to give.
Porcupine, Dogs, (and Monsters too!)
One time I encountered a little porcupine, trundling up the trail in Pictured Rocks National Park. At first, in the darkness of the Northwoods forest, I mistook him for a young bear cub, and began looking around nervously for mama bear. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t want to mess around with a porcupine, please please don’t ever let your dog get close to one unless you’d like to torture your dog with a snout full of quills, and torture yourself with the veterinary bill. But, a porcupine, well, it’s an entire world better than encountering a bear cub and not knowing where mama bear was…
I really haven’t lived much of an exceptional life, I’m just a Dirtbag – a Monster that loves the woods, the deserts, the plains, and the mountains. The simple concept of wilderness will always be my first love, experiencing it will always be the greatest high I will ever feel. My soul will seek out a wilderness, among the wildlife, for my final resting place.
Go See Some!
Go see some wildlife for National Wildlife Day. It might will change your life…
It has mine! #NationalWildlifeDay
