A Bear, a Deer and a Moose

Does the title of this blog sound as if I am getting ready to tell a joke about wildlife? I'm not. These are three animals I caught a glimpse of on a recent visit to Grand Lake, Colorado. In front of a cabin, there were humming bird stands that were bent almost to the ground. I was told that a bear had come by, bent the metal holders, got the humming bird feeder and broke into the feeders. "That bear just

pulled apart the cylinders to get to the sweet stuff and bent the stands."  On the window there was a round smudge and that happened to be the nose of the bear, probably as he sniffed the glass as he tried to figure out how to get into the cabin!

In the morning, I heard someone yell, "There's a bear outside!" I rushed to the window in time to see a bushy, reddish dog-like creature. He moved fast as he went around the cabin and I ran to a back bedroom window. All I could see was a round rear as he sauntered off into the woods. As you can
see, in the picture I took it is difficult to see the bear. I can't even see it in the picture and I know where the elusive bear was as he headed into the green trees and bushes. If I look closely, I can see it as he ran away. Look at the second line on the left of the window screen toward the bottom. That is the bear, believe it or not!

On another day I saw a graceful deer trotting along a path right next to the Colorado River. Some dogs began barking and spooked the deer before I could get my camera to take a  picture.

As I started home, I noticed many cars parked along the side of the road and people pointing cameras into the marshes. "What is it?" I asked. "It's a moose," I was told. I joined everyone along the side of the road and before long I could see an antlered head. Slowly, it ate the greenery and did not appear to even be aware of the people taking photos. It was raining but that did not deter me, or others, as we waited until he was almost out in the open. I have traveled to Canada, Yellowstone National Park and Alaska to see a moose but it seems the only place I am able to spot one is in the Grand Lake area.

I also saw some chipmunks yet they moved too fast for me to take a picture. This picture came from the internet.

There is something exciting when wild life is spotted and a picture can be taken.

"The continued existence of

wildlife and wilderness

is important to the quality

of life in humans."

Jim Fowler