Dusky Monkey Watches the Setting Sun

Found primarily on the Malay Penninsula this dusky langur is also known as the spectacled leaf monkey due to the white circles around the eyes. They are primates specialized in leaf eating, spending most of their time in the trees (arboreal). This particular monkey took some time to admire the sunset.

Roosevelt Bull Elk #2

A Roosevelt bull elk keeps its eye on me during the rut. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado USA

Desert Bighorn Sheep

Ovis canadensis nelsoni, is a subspecies of the Bighorn Sheep which is distinguished by its ability to go for long periods of time without water. They may go for weeks or months without stopping to visit a water source maintaining their hydration through food and rainwater. This is also a defense mechanism allowing the sheep to live where their predators can not. The Desert Bighorn is also adapted to the extreme heat and cold of the desert allowing its body temperature to safely fluctuate by several degrees. Valley of Fire State Park, Arizona USA

Ewe on the Edge

Watching Bighorn Sheep prance around on these loose cliff edges is a bit nerve racking for me as a human. Watching the lambs bounding right over the edge at speed made me wonder if they would reappear. They are incredibly agile and confident on these surfaces and the young always came bouncing back over the top into view. In 2017, Badlands National Park was home to at least 265 Bighorn Sheep. That number is 10% lower then the 2016 count, the 5 year average and the lowest count since 2006. The herds have been suffering from a bacterial pneumonia but seem to be recovering as mortality rates in exposed herds has declined. Game management doesn't seem to be concerned as hunting permits are expected to be issued for 2018 unless there are significant deaths before the season opens. Five permits were issued in 2017 and all 5 hunters bagged a ram (ewes and lambs are not allowed to be hunted). Badlands National Park, South Dakota USA

Portrait of a Pronghorn

Although the Pronghorn is not a true antelope, it is often referred to as such due to the close resemblance (American Antelope is one common name). It is the fastest land animal in the western hemisphere. With measured speeds of 55 mph it is second only to the cheetah but can sustain high speeds longer than a cheetah. This particular buck was by himself and was quite curious. I exited my vehicle to watch him and to my surprise, he approached me as I talked to him in a gentle voice. I don't have much experience with pronghorns but my previous impression had been that they spook very easily so to have him approaching me was quite exhilarating. He was still on alert though, as moving my legs or arms too quickly had him checking his escape routes. I enjoyed his company for 15-20 minutes, thanked him for posing, climbed back in to my vehicle and he watched as I drove off. Backroads of Southern Colorado, USA

The Morning After

Harbor seals sleeping off a bender - Salt Point State Park, California USA

Nap Time on the USS Momma

This mother sea otter acts as a raft for her young as they take some time off from foraging. This behavior helps keep the family together while resting. Prince William Sound, Alaska USA

Sea Lion Huddle

After gorging on salmon, these sea lions take some time to warm up in the cold waters of Valdez Alaska

Stone Sheep

Ewe and Kid Stone Sheep. Northern Rockies, British Columbia Canada

Dirty Faced Bison

I almost didn't see this bison behind this sage due to its clever use of mud camouflage. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota USA

Stone Sheep

Primarily found in the Yukon and British Columbia, the Stone's sheep was thought to be a subspecies of thinhorn sheep but genetic evidence suggests it is a hybrid of a thinhorn and bighorn. Northern Rockies, British Columbia Canada

Black Bear Buffet

A black bear selects from the pile of salmon that are here to spawn. Cordova Alaska, USA

White-Tailed Deer

A white-tailed deer climbs a bank of yellow flowers at Devil's Tower, WY

Bison Cow and Calf

This newborn calf will lose its lighter coloring about 2 months after birth.

Pronghorn

Although the Pronghorn is not a true antelope, it is often referred to as such due to the close resemblance. It is the fastest land animal in the western hemisphere. It is second to the cheetah with measured speeds of 55 mph but can sustain high speed longer than a cheetah.

Portrait of a Bighorn Ewe

Ovis canadensis, Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA

Douglas Squirrel Harvesting Lunch

A douglas squirrel removes a cone from a pine by chewing through the stem

Sometimes we must walk alone, for to walk someone else’s path is to sacrifice your destination.

Scar Face

This young black bear carries a single scar which is likely the result of a breeding compettion. Northern Minnesota USA

Snowshoe Hare

Boundary Waters, MN

Roosevelt Bull Elk

A Roosevelt bull elk keeps its eye on me

Curious Red Fox

Laughing Bat