wildlife | kritterspix

Twin Bucks

Posted on December 29, 2018January 17, 2019 by kritterspaw

We have been getting some much needed snow fall this week… just in time for Christmas. It’s hasn’t amounted to much accumulation, but we’ll take what we can get.

The snow has brought in this pair of twin bucks, who are just, pardon the pun, endeering.

They have brought a smaller little buck with them, and they seem to be hanging out together in their own little pack.

The little one has smaller antlers, but is definitely a new buck… and just as cute.

He seemed to be enjoying his first snow and the wonder of this cool white stuff dropping from the sky.

We so enjoyed their visit.

Best of Animals, 2018

Posted on December 27, 2018January 7, 2019 by kritterspaw

A year wouldn’t be complete without my wildlife photos that I strive so hard to capture. This year has been especially unique with some terrific ‘up-close-and-personal’ shots of a wide variety of wildlife, including bison, antelope, and big horn sheep. Picking the top shots is the hard part… what an awesome problem to have. : )

1. Antelope Greens Peak Loop near Show Low

2. Blue Heron Carneros Lake

3. Big Horn Sheep Greer, AZ

4. Mule Deer Grand Canyon South Rim

5. Mule Deer Grand Canyon North Rim

bison fight_IR.jpg 6. Bison Raymond Wilderness Area

7. Great White Egrets Happy Jack, AZ

8. Baby White Tail Deer Fawn Happy Jack, AZ

9. Bull Elk Happy Jack, AZ

pygmy on_IR.jpg 10. Pygmy Owl Happy Jack, AZ

Elk Profile

Posted on December 6, 2018December 6, 2018 by kritterspaw

I remember when I used to visit my husband’s folks in Morman Lake, AZ. They would be all excited to share ‘their’ elk with us. With a binoculars in hand, if you squinted real hard, you could see the little dots of elk crossing in front of the fire house, about 1/4 mile away.

John’s mom still remembers fondly how close they got to see the elk. I laugh.

If she had any idea of how close we see the elk today!

It’s A Boy

Posted on October 13, 2018November 16, 2018 by kritterspaw

If you remember a post I did a little while back about Pat’s Fawn (https://kritterspix.com/2018/09/17/pats-fawn/), we’ve been fortunate enough to see it a few times and kinda watch it grow up, which has been a real joy. It’s starting to loose it’s spots.

But it’s still playful and skittish… and wonderfully fun to watch. Mom still dotes on her… except, apparently it’s a him.

I caught a glimpse of a little bump on his head where his antlers will be soon.

We can still call him Spots though, right?!

Mountain Wildlife

Posted on October 12, 2018November 16, 2018 by kritterspaw

One of my favorite things about living up north in the mountains is the wildlife we get to see. I never saw wildlife in the big city. Here on the mountain we see a wide variety of species.

Like this elusive fox. I have seen fox on occasion, but have struggled to get a good shot. This one was no exception, taken in the dark with a high ISO, spotlighted with a flashlight. I had a hard time focusing in the dark, even with the flashlight… and today’s camera’s aren’t intended for manual focus.

We also saw this curious raccoon. He was searching for grub.

We watched him (her?) for quite awhile (albeit difficult in the dark)…. another animal we rarely see, particularly as they are nocturnal.

Incidentally, the fox came at the same time… but didn’t stick around. The fox seemed quite put off by the raccoon, and quickly circled the raccoon then made haste and left. Pity, I would have liked to have gotten a better shot.

Big Bull

Posted on September 18, 2018September 18, 2018 by kritterspaw

I keep hearing the elk bugle… a magical, majestic sound… but I had yet to see the big bull that bellowed. That is, until this morning. It was just after 5am… a little dark still, when he came in.

I think I may have been a little late to the party, as he didn’t stay long. He seemed merely to have come in to collect the last of his harem, and then he was off again.

To watch the grace and ease at which he slinked off into the forest was a beautiful thing. He was so quiet and confident in his graceful movements as he jumped over a ledge like it was a pebble and quietly disappeared. Awesome.

Pat’s Fawn

Posted on September 17, 2018September 17, 2018 by kritterspaw

My neighbor and friend, Pat, saw this little fawn when it was first born… maybe hours old. It was the tiniest thing… so we have been watching out for it, hoping it would survive the wild.

With a lot of support and love from its doting mom, it seems to be a happy, healthy little one.