Tell me your nature observations! (raccoon, wildlife, wild, look)

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

Yesterday 2 "two old Fogey friends" of mine, my Brittany and I drove 460 miles (15 hours) through several mountain ranges...over several "passes" and through several towns and had the good fortune to see the following:.....................

.....left the Bitterroot Valley at 8am...drove up the Skalkaho Road over Skalkaho Pass (Sapphire Mountains) and down into the Phillipsburg and Flink Creek Valley and through the Long John Mountains into Phillipsburg, MT....ate breakfast and then proceeded on ....................................and on...............and on........................

Totals of what we observed during the one day trip:

.....about 50 Antelope;;about 66 deer;...about 40 Cow Elk and one BIG Bull in full velvet & 3 spikes(up close & personal)--like 12 inches in front of bumper when a calf lost her footing as she and mama bolted across in front of us.......One beautiful Grey Fox; a couple of coyotes; 2 Bald Eagles; at least 35 nesting Osprey on their nests with babies; 5 Tundra Swans and hundreds of Canada Geese & other waterfowl...........And One Western Diamond Back rattlesnake that we ran over on the Highway.

..

Originally Posted by Dallas Kitty

That's an amazing trip and a whole lot of animals to see in one day! Pics?

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.......Thanks to you "Dallas Kitty" for your comment.......................Re pics-----I'm sorry and embarrassed to admit I have never learned how to attach photos to my posts

The abundance of a tremendous variety of wild-life and birds in this portion of Montana is truly astounding. I have been blessed to live here for 33 years and being an-outdoor-nut in my 81st year.................I have
seen and experienced "things" in the outdoors that "Mother Nature" has provided, that most "city dwellers" would "simply-not-believe"....................Believe me, I REALLY do realize how fortunate I am,......AND in "NO_WAY" am I critical or demeaning toward those who have not "lived" the "out-door-type-life" that I choose. I have never lived in a city, except for (5) years immediately after getting out of college................and I chose a working career (40 yrs) that required that I travel (into the "boonies") of approx 15 western states, Alaska & western Canada. Thus, I was able to be in an "outdoor-type-enviroment" virtually all of my working career and have continued to live my retirement years.........as the phrase goes: "Out in the Boonies".........I will not bore you with examples of some of my encounters with wildlife not only here in western Montana, but my "memories of certain situations" in Alaska, the Yukon, B.C.; Sask. etc.....the memories of those "wildlife/outdoor" situations are "worth their weight in Gold".

Sorry that I "got-so-long-winded"............as "we-get-older", we tend to do that

[LookinForMayberry]

Yea! Just achieved 92% on my tax quiz. Now a brief break before starting to review for the exam. Taking a "breather" with some hot green tea and thee.

Originally Posted by bjh

I wish there was a way to stop the carnage that does happen.

Actually, there is according to trials I read about more than ten years ago. Some areas have built land bridges over areas where there was high death counts of wildlife, and fenced the wild areas from the highways. The animals used the bridges and road kill rates were dramatically reduced. People just have to care enough to make their local authorities care.

Originally Posted by Dallas Kitty

Mama doe came just far enough onto the scary road for encouragement. Mother love!

Well, some mothers anyway.

I checked out the photo you posted. I wonder how they accomplished the animation.

Have a nice day, folks.

[Dallas Kitty]

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

..
..
......Thanks to you "Dallas Kitty" for your comment.......................Re pics-----I'm sorry and embarrassed to admit I have never learned how to attach photos to my posts

The abundance of a tremendous variety of wild-life and birds in this portion of Montana is truly astounding. I have been blessed to live here for 33 years and being an-outdoor-nut in my 81st year.................I have
seen and experienced "things" in the outdoors that "Mother Nature" has provided, that most "city dwellers" would "simply-not-believe"....................Believe me, I REALLY do realize how fortunate I am,......AND in "NO_WAY" am I critical or demeaning toward those who have not "lived" the "out-door-type-life" that I choose. I have never lived in a city, except for (5) years immediately after getting out of college................and I chose a working career (40 yrs) that required that I travel (into the "boonies") of approx 15 western states, Alaska & western Canada. Thus, I was able to be in an "outdoor-type-enviroment" virtually all of my working career and have continued to live my retirement years.........as the phrase goes: "Out in the Boonies".........I will not bore you with examples of some of my encounters with wildlife not only here in western Montana, but my "memories of certain situations" in Alaska, the Yukon, B.C.; Sask. etc.....the memories of those "wildlife/outdoor" situations are "worth their weight in Gold".

Sorry that I "got-so-long-winded"............as "we-get-older", we tend to do that

It takes a lot of stamina for most anyone of any age to spend 15 hours traveling in one day. You're 81 and you wrote your fellow travelers were similar age and it is just incredible for all of you to make the trip. You chose a career that made it easy for you to see places you enjoy. Not many of us manage to do that.

You can always share your nature memories past or present and encounters with wildlife on this thread or any great stories on the "Something to say, Anything" thread!

If you already have pics uploaded to your PC, it's easy breezy to add them to a post and lots of people here can help with that. Just let us know!

[bjh]

Originally Posted by LookinForMayberry

Actually, there is according to trials I read about more than ten years ago. Some areas have built land bridges over areas where there was high death counts of wildlife, and fenced the wild areas from the highways. The animals used the bridges and road kill rates were dramatically reduced. People just have to care enough to make their local authorities care.

I'm glad to hear there is a solution that at least helps.

I'd never heard of such a thing and imagine most others haven't either. If more people were aware, more people could let their local authorities know.

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by LookinForMayberry

Some areas have built land bridges over areas where there was high death counts of wildlife, and fenced the wild areas from the highways. The animals used the bridges and road kill rates were dramatically reduced. People just have to care enough to make their local authorities care.

..

Regarding the above:..........................I can only speak for the area of western Montana within approx 100 miles of Missoula, but I can think of at least 20 (maybe more) both "over-passes and "under-passes" that have been incorporated into the design of "reconstruction" of various highways strictly for wildlife of various species to travel from one side of a highway to the other. In many cases the state agencies have installed "motion-detector' cameras in these under passes and over-passes and periodicly publish pictures of various species of wildlife that routinely use these structures. ,,,,...Very interesting pictures.

[LookinForMayberry]

Originally Posted by bjh

I'm glad to hear there is a solution that at least helps.

I'd never heard of such a thing and imagine most others haven't either. If more people were aware, more people could let their local authorities know.

Sadly, most media would prefer to inform their readers about more negative aspects of life, or sports, rather than ways that others are working to improve the world for the world. I found many, many years ago that one has to go to trade journals and other venues for "news." Another great reason for this thread -- right? 8)

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

..

Regarding the above:..........................I can only speak for the area of western Montana within approx 100 miles of Missoula, but I can think of at least 20 (maybe more) both "over-passes and "under-passes" that have been incorporated into the design of "reconstruction" of various highways strictly for wildlife of various species to travel from one side of a highway to the other. In many cases the state agencies have installed "motion-detector' cameras in these under passes and over-passes and periodicly publish pictures of various species of wildlife that routinely use these structures. ,,,,...Very interesting pictures.

I loved Western MT, aside from Butte, and I even liked it (except for the Pit). I think the people in MT understand living with the land better, and respect the animals -- except maybe for the wolves and coyotes. Then, again, it's hard to be romantic about either when you see what they do to livestock that one depends on. (I think farmers feel the same about rabbits and deer!)

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

..Regarding the above:..........................I can only speak for the area of western Montana within approx 100 miles of Missoula, but I can think of at least 20 (maybe more) both "over-passes and "under-passes" that have been incorporated into the design of "reconstruction" of various highways strictly for wildlife of various species to travel from one side of a highway to the other. In many cases the state agencies have installed "motion-detector' cameras in these under passes and over-passes and periodicly publish pictures of various species of wildlife that routinely use these structures. ,,,,...Very interesting pictures.

Montana underpass photos: CSKT - Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation

Click on the arrow under the top picture to scroll through: bears, deer, puma, foxes, etc.

[LookinForMayberry]

Originally Posted by bjh

Montana underpass photos: CSKT - Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation

Click on the arrow under the top picture to scroll through: bears, deer, puma, foxes, etc.

Thanks! You just made my day especially delightful.

Thanks, Griz, for telling us about it so BJH could find it.

'K, NOW I am going to study....

[Dallas Kitty]

Lots of animals using their very own tunnel! Nice! Thanks for the mention, Montana Griz and thanks for finding the link, bjh!

Originally Posted by bjh

Montana underpass photos: CSKT - Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation

Click on the arrow under the top picture to scroll through: bears, deer, puma, foxes, etc.

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

..

Regarding the above:..........................I can only speak for the area of western Montana within approx 100 miles of Missoula, but I can think of at least 20 (maybe more) both "over-passes and "under-passes" that have been incorporated into the design of "reconstruction" of various highways strictly for wildlife of various species to travel from one side of a highway to the other. In many cases the state agencies have installed "motion-detector' cameras in these under passes and over-passes and periodicly publish pictures of various species of wildlife that routinely use these structures. ,,,,...Very interesting pictures.

[TN Tin Man]

Two juvenile fiddler crabs sparing..both are a little larger than a aspirin.