Animal
Where the Deer and the Antelope Lay
A pronghorn antelope buck was resting in a patch of prairie in South Dakota’s Custer State Park. He wasn’t alone. A hundred or so yards away his harem of does (6 or 7) were grazing in the prairie. Apparently, that’s the way it works in pronghorn culture.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image – where you can count the flies on the buck – by clicking on the photo.
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Safe Space
This very young raccoon kept me in its view as I walked around the tree he was sitting in. The was the last of the siblings that were hanging around our yard for a couple of weeks last summer. This was the only one I saw climbing and I was surprised by how well it was able to get up the tree for how small it was.
To add to the adorable nature of this photo, if you look closely, you will a little dirt on the tip of its nose. They would spend most of their time with their noses buried in the grass, hunting bugs and grubs and who knows what tiny raccoons eat.
You might be able to see the dirt better if you click on the photo. A larger version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Beginning Climber
This little rascal was an early climber. This is one of several baby raccoons that showed up in the yard of our rural home. We never saw an adult around. They were so young I was worried they were going to starve to death or wander out in the road and get hit.
If they weren’t sleeping under a bush in our yard, they were wandering through the yard; noses buried in the grass looking for bugs and grubs. Within a few weeks all of them seemed to have moved on. However, I did see one recently on security camera video at around 2 am, climbing down this very same tree and wandering into the farm field.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Baby Bandit Alert
The epitome of “bright eyed and bushy tailed,” this very young raccoon was discovering a new world. I found this one – with three other siblings – exploring our yard this spring. We never saw any sign of their mama.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Frog In A Bog
This northern leopard frog seemed content to spend his summer resting in the green goo of a wetlands area in northeast Wisconsin.
I found this fellow, along with a number of others, in the wet areas of the Kewaunee River Marsh walk. Near the Kewaunee, WI harbor, the walk features a wooden deck with benches along the way where you can relax and enjoy the natural beauty.
Unlike most of the images on my site, this was not taken with my DSLR. This image was captured with my Galaxy s6 smartphone. This frog was very cooperative; allowing me to get within inches to take this shot.
You can get a better view with the larger version of this image. Simply click on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Hiding In the Grass
This is a close up of one of several thirteen-lined ground squirrels that have made our yard their home.
The thirteen-lined ground squirrel, as the name suggests, is a burrowing animal who is active only during the daytime and hibernates during the winter. It is quite common in the grasslands and prairies of North America. The thirteen-lined ground squirrel is also known as the striped gopher, leopard ground squirrel, squinney, and as the leopard-spermophile in Audubon’s day.
This photo opportunity was a surprise to both of us. I was rounding a corner of my house, on my way to fill a bird feeder, when I saw this guy a few feet away. We both froze. After a few moments of non-movement I took a step closer. He didn’t move a muscle. The only camera I had was my cellphone. I turned it on and moved closer. The critter stayed frozen. I inched closer. Still no movement. I continued to slowly move closer until my camera was within a few inches and I snapped a couple of shots. Still no movement from the ground squirrel. I slowly backed away and when I got about 10 feet away, he took off for the nearest burrow.
As I said, this was taken with my cellphone camera, so it’s not of the highest quality but, still, an acceptable shot. The value in this image is not the quality but the closeness.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Some Bunny Stopped By
This wild rabbit stopped to say, “Hi,” when we were on a recent hike through Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve, in Brown County, WI.
This is the typical wild bunny that seems prolific in our area. This guy (or gal) crossed the trail before us and then stopped on the side for a moment…long enough to provide a photo opportunity. We were thankful for the short encounter.
You can get a better view by clicking on the photo. When you do a larger, more detailed version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Forest Friend
On a recent stroll through the woodlands of rural N.E. Wisconsin, I engaged in a prolonged staring contest with this Eastern Chipmunk. After viewing this photo, I declared myself the winner.
I spotted several of these little fellows who seemed to freeze the moment they saw me. I expect, they were hoping if they remained motionless, I wouldn’t notice them. I wonder how many of them I may have walked past and missed.
When I did see this guy, I stopped and took a photo. Then, as he remained motionless, I moved in a foot closer…and then another foot…and another – until he no longer could endure my intrusion into his personal space. Thankfully, he was more tolerant than I expected.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Lucky Rabbit’s Foot
A small, wild bunny took a moment for a little personal grooming. It was giving special attention to cleaning it’s back foot.
I spotted this little guy between rows in a flower garden. It let me take several shots, like it didn’t care that I was there, and then, all of the sudden, it scurried off to cover.
To view this cutie up close, click the photo and a larger version will open in a new browser tab.