Intermediate Mammals - Part IV

My two brothers have been here the past week. One is from South Carolina and sees Dolphins and Alligators regularly, and once in a while a Manatee appears in their bay. My other brother lives in Bolivia and that is a whole new ballgame. I am mindful of the opportunities people have to see animals in the area they live that most people have never seen (other than a zoo or sea life park). People who live and boat along the Oregon Coast get a marvelous opportunity to see Tufted Puffins for example. When I was looking for Mountain Goats on Mount Evans,  I realized that people who live in the area -- and hike or bike up Mount Evans often have an opportunity that few other people have. With that caveat, I'll continue with my rather meager collection of "aquatic mammals". I took some photos of Sea Lions that were in a cave along the Oregon Coast once. But, even with 400 ASA film the photos weren't good enough to show you.  I would love to go back now that I have my Canon 5D Mark II that is capable of shooting ASA 3200 equivalent. First up today, Harbour Seals. Harbour Seals (also know as the Common Seal) are found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. An adult can attain a length of six feet and weigh 290 pounds. Harbour Seals "hang out" in familiar resting spots, generally rocky areas where land predators can't reach them, near a steady supply of fish to eat.   Females live 30 to 35 years, males 20–25 years. Males fight over mates underwater. Females mate with the strongest males, then bear single pups, which they care for alone. Pups are able to swim and dive within hours of birth, and they grow quickly on their mothers' milk. While the Otters have very dense "fur" to keep them warm, Seals have fatty tissue - "blubber"  - to keep them warm. They are able to dive for up to ten minutes, reaching depths of 1500 feet, but average dives may be three minutes long at depths of about 65 feet. Seal hunting, once a common practice, is now mostly illegal. There are exceptions in some countries where they interfere with commercial fishing areas.

Habour Seal Pups

photo taken Oyhut Wildlife Area, Washington

On to the America Beaver which is the largest rodent in North America.  Adults can weigh up to 75 pounds. The beaver is semi-aquatic and has many traits suited to this lifestyle. It has a large flat paddle-shaped tail and large, webbed hind feet. The unwebbed front paws are smaller and have claws. The eyes are covered by a nictitating membrane which allows the beaver to see underwater. The nostrils and ears are sealed while submerged. A thick layer of fat under the skin insulates the beaver from its cold water environment. The beaver's fur consists of long, coarse outer hairs and short, fine inner hairs. The fur has a range of colors but usually is dark brown. Scent glands near the genitals secrete an oily substance known as castoreum, which the beaver uses to waterproof its fur. Beavers are mainly active at night. They are excellent swimmers but are more vulnerable on land and tend to remain in the water as much as possible. They are able to remain submerged for up to 15 minutes. Beavers are most famous, and infamous, for their dam-building. They maintain their pond-habitat by reacting quickly to the sound of running water, and damming it up with tree branches and mud.  The largest beaver dam is 2,790 ft in length — over twice the width of the Hoover Dam - located on the southern edge of Wood Buffalo National Park in Northern Alberta.

American Beaver

photo taken in Colorado State Forest

I'm Ba - ack!

Here I am sitting at my desk 2900+ miles in seven days later. My journey was to Northern Colorado in search of Mountain Goats, Bighorn Sheep, Moose, and maybe a bear or two. If there is any drama in my blog, I'll answer the question up front. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and a couple of surprises. I'll start with a teaser, then tell you about my adventure.

Mountain Goat Kiddies at 13,000 feet on Mount Evans

I am far less inclined to camp anymore. I remember once pulling into Yellowstone late at night and trying to pitch a tent in the dark and pouring rain. By the time it was set up, the inside of the tent was as wet as the outside -- and I was even wetter. Another time I was flyfishing in Central Oregon. I had been out all day in the rain only to return to a tent, that unbeknown to me, had a leak directly over my sleeping bag. But I also find that I need to be in a certain spot just prior to dawn and until dark. That's when the best photo ops are. I also need to be flexible in moving from one location to another depending on what -- or if -- I find anything to photograph. So, that means setting up and taking down camp must be done in the dark, maybe every day. Lastly, (and I suspect I am over justifying a nice warm room here) if I am out trudging through the sometimes muddy or wet wilderness I need (well want) a hot meal and a hot bath. Walden Colorado seems to be a favorite spot; not for it's accommodations though. It's kind of a one-horse town, too small for even a Motel 3. But it provides great access to the Colorado State Forest and a maze of back roads that get you deep into the wilderness. I'll show you some Bull Moose, Cow, and Calf photos tomorrow or the next day, but for today leave you with a nice surprise:

American Beaver out for a very quick swim early one morning.