Wildlife
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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Black Hills Buck
This was a nice find on our visit to Custer State Park in South Dakota. We were driving on one of the outer-edge roads of the park and spotted this young, white-tailed buck just off the road. We parked and I pursued him with my camera. It took awhile to catch him still for a moment. One of my favorite shots from the trip.
You can get a better view of this guy 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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Portrait of Plains Power
I’m sure if this American Bison knew I would be taking his portrait he would have paid more attention to his personal appearance. (Gee, fella, look in a mirror once in a while!) Even though a bit deshelled, this big bull exudes confidence and power.
This guy was photographed while resting on a hillside, along with several others of a small herd, at Custer State Park in the Black Hills area of South Dakota. He seemed pretty carefree.
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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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Cute Deery Ears
I found this gentle soul resting in the grass on a hillside at Badlands National Park in South Dakota. This is a mule deer doe.
This wasn’t my first glimpse of her. We saw her while on a hike through some rugged terrain – the Notch trail. That trail ends on a bluff, overlooking a valley. The doe and her fawn were grazing the grasses below us. (Zoomed in photo on left.)
Shortly after, we were hiking another trail and I caught a glimpse of her while climbing some wooden stairs. She was still and quiet, as you see here here, and I almost missed her. She remained quiet and watched while I took photos from a couple of angles on the trail stairs. A few steps farther up and I saw her fawn resting in the shade. (Photo on the right.) The fawn was difficult to see and take a photo of because it was in some brush.
We have ple
nty of white tail deer in the area of Wisconsin where we live. As far as I know, we don’t have any mule deer. This was a fun find. I am most intrigued by the abundance of hair in their ears.
You can get a larger, more detailed look at the doe by clicking on the photo. When you do, a larger image will open in a new browser window.
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 ([email protected]) 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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Beware of Bruno – Prairie Guard Dog
Don’t miss the little guy on the mound. This prairie dog seemed to take an aggressive stance; preparing to defend his huge, fluffy friend in the background.
Of course, if you advanced on him, he would quickly dart into his hole. This is clearly not my greatest image but I share it because makes me smile. It was captured on our recent visit to Badlands National Park in South Dakota. This was actually taken at one of the entrances of the park where several Bison happened to be hanging out near the road – and, at least, one vicious prairie dog. It was late in the day.
You will see a lot more photos from the Badlands in the future.
If you’d like to get a better look at this one…and Bruno…click on the photo and 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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Bandits In the Bush
This pair of very young Raccoons were attentive while trying to blend into the scenery. They were photographed under a bunch of day lilies on the front lawn of our rural Kewaunee, Wisconsin home.
We came home from work one evening to find three of these little rascals roaming around our yard. We never spotted an adult. A couple of evenings later we saw four of them in at late dusk. (At least we think we did.) Still, never saw an adult.
The little ones could be seen at various times and places, with their noses planted in the grass – foraging for bugs and grubs, I imagine. After a few days we only saw two. After a few more days, we only saw one. The one stayed around for about a week.
I’m hoping they moseyed through the farm field that surrounds our house to the woods beyond. I don’t believe we have enough variety in our short grass to satisfy the appetites of a growing tribe.
I’m thankful for the short visit because they were so over-the-top cute, way fun to watch and, of course, I was able to get a number of fun photos. Watch for a couple more to show up in the near future.
If you’d like a better look at these bright eyes, click on the photo and a full-screen version will open in a new browser window.
Tiny Toad on the Trail
This is a tiny toad that we almost missed while hiking the forest trails of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Not only did it blend in with with its surroundings, it was only about the size of my thumb. If he hadn’t moved while we were walking by, we wouldn’t have seen him. Quite colorful and bumpy when you take a closer look.
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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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
The Victor
This red-tailed hawk was enjoying a lunch of gray squirrel. As you can see, it had already consumed most of it by the time I spotted them.
Thankfully, this hawk wasn’t bothered by me being close enough to capture it’s image. I took a lot of photos from various angles and it mostly ignored me. This was taken while on a hike around the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
You may be able to 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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Turtle Happy
This big fella seemed content to be lounging in a ravine, caked in mud, balanced on a log, basking in the sunshine of an early spring morning. This photo was taken in the woods of northeast Wisconsin.
As we began a hike along the Ahnapee State Trail another couple ending their hike told us to watch for a large turtle in the ditch. We walked quite a while and didn’t see anything. We thought we’d missed it or it had moved on. Well, as you can see, we eventually spotted it.
To get up-close and personal, I had to tromp through some muck. It didn’t seem to mind my presence and sat for quite a few shots. Eventually it slid off the log and moved to the shade and mud under the log.
I don’t know what kind of turtle (or tortoise) this is but I can tell you he was large and looked ancient. Judging by the slight smile on his face, I think he was happy to see me.
To see more of the detail in those mesmerizing eyes, the wrinkles and claws, click on the photo. When you do, a full-screen version will appear 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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.