Wildlife & Related

[William]

Nice, young of the year already. I watched a pair of mallards foraging on the river in front of the house last week. We often see them fly up the river corridor but seldom see them stop to feed. The water's a little fast here.

I wonder if you couldn't cut a switchback trail down to the creek? Or carefully prune branches and other vegetation to get more view of the water?

Anyone who lives near water is fortunate because of the wildlife it attracts. Down the canyon yesterday I got views of deer wading the stream, and of a bighorn ram going down to the water.

It looks like you live in heaven Hummer.

[Bailey Guns]

I wonder if you couldn't cut a switchback trail down to the creek? Or carefully prune branches and other vegetation to get more view of the water?

There is a trail down to the creek. But it's a lot of ground to cover and whatever's down there is long gone before I get there. I've thought about removing some of the trees/vegetation, too. But to do so near a portion of the creek that would make it visible from the house would require clearing the side of a near vertical 30' high embankment covered in loose rock. And I don't heal after falls nearly as fast as I did when I was young. Springtime is like living in the Amazon here. I've never seen stuff grow so fast.

I'm gonna have to figure out another plan.

[Irving]

DRONE

[Bailey Guns]

First time we've been able to spot an owl this year. We hear them all the time but haven't seen one til this evening. The closer I got the more unfriendly his gaze became. I didn't really feel like getting my ass kicked by a GHO so I got my pics and left him alone.

[Bailey Guns]

Earlier today I came upon a cow moose and her little one trottin' down the road. Mom is on the right.

[William]

Great pic of the owl!

[Hummer]

Cruising through the yard in 3 feet of snow last Friday. I believe this is a yearling cow moose, a different animal than the moose we've seen recently.

[Hummer]

Cruising through the yard in 3 feet of snow last Friday. I believe this is a yearling cow moose, a different animal than the moose we've seen recently.

I was about 5 yards from her as she trotted by. I'd like to put a saddle on her and ride through the woods.

[Irving]

Saw these guys today on Genesee Ridge Road and Currant Dr at about 12:58 pm.

[Hummer]

Those elk look pretty healthy, fat and happy. Last week before the big snow we took a drive to Estes and must have seen 200 elk from Meeker Park to Estes Park. They looked more ragged and somewhat thin. The next day we saw a group of elk a half mile up the road from the house--St. Vrain and Lefthand drainage elk. They were in much better shape, better coat and full bellied. To me it is indicative of the out of balance big game management situation in Rocky Mountain National Park.