Bull Snake Crossing

Heading home recently, I had to stop about a mile from home to allow this Bull Snake to cross the road.  Bull snakes are harmless to humans and pets.  They eat mice, etc.  We see these snakes occasionally in spring.

Gnophaela Vermiculata on Timberline Lake Trail

I had difficulty identifying this butterfly we have seen often in the Beartooth Mountains, so I submitted my picture for professional evaluation to www.butterfliesandmoths.org.  I received an answer that this is, in fact, a moth.  Here is the info below:

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Gnophaela-vermiculata

Garden Visitor

While tidying up the yard, recently, I discovered this unusual snake beneath a bucket.  I had to do a bit of research to determine what type of snake it is.  I found it on the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks website and identified it as a Coluber constrictor.  I believe it is a soon to be Mama snake - based on the three lumps near the tail.  Apparently, this snake eats mice and bugs, so I tried not to disturb it.  No idea if it will stick around or move on......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coluber_constrictor

Twin Fawns

 As a drove around a curve in the road near my home, I saw these two fawns walk wobbly to the edge of the road and drop into their instinctive position.  They were perfectly still as I took this photo.

Mountain Sheep on Sylvan Pass

 We took all these pictures out the window of our car as we drove the highway on Sylvan Pass between Yellowstone Park and Cody, Wyoming.

Our Bear Came Back

He was covered with burrs, and still looking for grub.




The newspaper published an article indicating that one of our neighbors shot this bear at 1 a.m. The wounded bear climbed a tree on their property and then a warden from the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks department arrived at 3 am. The warden shot the bear out of the tree and killed it.

I feel very sad about this. The neighbor who shot the bear felt it was a nuisance because it had gotten into their garbage. I don't really understand why they wouldn't just put the garbage inside so the bear would not be tempted!

I was afraid something like this would happen, but I was hoping the bear visiting our place was an isolated incident. We did not see the bear again after the apples were all gone from our tree.

I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe this animal twice from the safety of our home. The newspaper article stated this male bear weighed between 180 and 200 lbs.

More Backyard Black Bear Pictures

Here is a picture of the bear as we first saw it out the window - raiding the birdfeeders.

The bear then wandered over to the steel bins we store petfood and birdseed in. The bear rolled them across the patio, then proceeded to tip it over and pried the lid off with it's teeth. Pretty impressive.

We tried hazing it away, but it was not very afraid of us. It just looked at us. Hungry, I guess.

By the time the bear wandered out front to the apple tree, it was starting to get pretty dark. I shot these pictures from the veranda with a telephoto lens. Not the best photos, but I love the way it stood to reach the branches.

It also climbed into the tree several times.


We really enjoyed watching the antics of this bear so close to our house!

I had dreams about bears all night long after this bear visit!!

Backyard Black Bear

This beautiful black near visited our backyard recently. I was sitting at the kitchen table about 7 PM, when I saw it nearby - out the window. It was standing on it's hind legs, batting at the birdfeeder, which fell to the ground. When the bear was unable to get any seed out of the feeder, it wandered towards the house (only about 15 feet), where it rubbed up against the window as it nudged the bin we use to store birdseed and pet food.




After slobbering on the window, the bear proceeded to tip over the pet food bin and at that point, we decided to try hazing it away.
The bear was not very fearful and even though we shouted and threw things at it, it lingered. Finally it walked away around the house. Later, we discovered it was at the old apple tree out front.
We watched this bear climb the tree several times eating apples. We thought it left after that, but we later discovered it had gotten into our trash bin out in the cul-de-sac (we have never had any creature disturb our trash before! ) Everything is now safely stowed away in the shop under lock and key. This bear may return sometime soon, but we won't have anything for it to eat!

Wild Turkey's at the Window

Small flocks of wild turkeys pass through our backyard many times a day. They are scrounging for food under the hanging birdfeeders. Sometimes we toss grain on the ground for them.

Some of them have become quite assertive. When they are not finding the nourishment they want on the ground, they come to the window and beg. They beat the window with their beaks and toss their bodies against the glass.

I admit, I have reinforced this behavior by going out and tossing seed on the ground for them when they beg this way.

The picture above shows several toms gathered at the window. They were knocking and looking in at us - waiting for someone to come out and toss some grain on the ground.

Wild Turkeys

Apparently it has been a very good year for turkeys in this area.

There are several flocks that are roaming the neighborhood in search of food and water.
One flock is very large - about 30 turkeys - a lot of them just adolescents (below)

There were so many I could not zoom out enough to get them all in my picture!