walkwithbears's Favorites

One of adult Gray Foxes photographed in July 2020 in www.inaturalist.org/observations/124987903. In 2023, the pair of Gray Foxes apparently have raised their most recent litter in a different backyard further up the hill to the East, but continue to use the same path next to my coworker's house to access one of their hunting areas down in a brushy canyon below suburbia. Photos provided to me by a former coworker.

Same Black Bear sow and cub that I photographed on 2022/09/24 in www.inaturalist.org/observations/137359360. This photo is from two weeks earlier and a few miles further to the southeast, and was taken by a rancher's trail camera placed at a rural water hole; both Bears are cooling off IN the water hole basin. Private Property - No Public Access.

After all the Bullfrog commotion, I have gone back to observing the turtles again. This is the larger adult Western Pond Turtle climbing back onto a floating stick in Carson Creek upstream of the Golden Foothill Parkway Bridge (Business Park Entrance #3). Second of three Western Pond Turtles observed in the Creek that day; this is turtle WPT #2.

Back to observing the turtles again. This is the smaller young Western Pond Turtle that has climbed onto a floating stick in Carson Creek upstream of the Golden Foothill Parkway Bridge (Business Park Entrance #3). First of three Western Pond Turtles observed in the Creek that day; this is turtle WPT #1.

Back to observing the turtles again. This is another adult Western Pond Turtle that was swimming in Carson Creek upstream of the Golden Foothill Parkway Bridge (Business Park Entrance #3). Third of three Western Pond Turtles observed in the Creek that day; this is turtle WPT #3.

Lucked out and spotted this mama bear and her uniquely-colored cub heading downhill for a drink in one of the few remaining pools of water in the local creek. The sow is mostly black with an auburn tinge, while her cub has a light-brownish "honey blonde" outer coat with a cinnamon-brown color underneath. First Black Bears that I have been able to photograph in this area in about 20+ years; they are always too far away or too fast for me to get good photos. Private Property - No Public Access.

Whales sighted from whale-watching boat. Farallon Islands visible on horizon in first two photos. This was an Audubon Society-sponsered trip to the Farallon Islands located in the Pacific Ocean about 30 miles to the West of San Francisco, CA.

I don't know what animal would meticulously make a pine needle bedding on the ground like this. There are lots of bear tracks in the area and places where the pine needles had been cleared to daybed. No recent human activity. Sasquach? lol

I put this into 4 separate observations.
The story is, I was metal detecting in the mountains while waiting for the 4th of July drone light display and stumbled upon this poorwill. I dropped my metal detector and followed it through the woods to get a picture (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124902166). I finally got a picture and when I went back to get my metal detector, right next to it I noticed 2 tiny eggs (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124902168). Since I was there anyway I took a quick photo and then left it be. It was with 2 or 3 other individuals. I then found a feather I am guessing belongs to this species (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124902167) and a couple minutes before the drone display I recorded an audio clip (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124902172). This was perhaps the best 4th of July I have ever had because I am thankful they are trying something less destruction of explosive noise pollution and air pollution. The explosions from South Lake Tahoe's fireworks display made the forest quiet and as usual went on so long I got bored.

In the audio clip, it's the short blip noise near the end. It would make this noise each time it flew up from the ground as I approached.

I think this is another lightning strike. Typically no signs of anything burnt, just exploded from what I assume water content turning to steam. It has a forked top which I hypothesize made it a better conductor than the nearby trees.

Curious to the explanation of all the dead branches around the base but nothing dead or damaged at the bottom 2/3rd of the tree. It appears to have been struck by lightning. I was on the move so I didn't have much time to really look closer. I just grabbed a couple quick shots and continued on.

I believe in obscuring observations of beaver because there are those who trap, kill, and/or don't think beavers belong in the region. I've seen this happen. I do not agree with that opinion. I'd be interested in any solid evidence supporting that stance rather than the possibility they were just trapped to near extinction in many locations during the gold and silver rush. Feel free to email me your evidence. I've observed beaver deep in the Royal Gorge area since the early 80's where there was almost no human/"white" settler activity other than Native Americans in that area in those years. And there is a Washoe word for beaver despite what some may try to tell you. Strange and sickening enough, I've actually heard people say they don't believe bears belong around Tahoe either and that they should be killed.

On the way up to Tricouni Meadows saw the bear across a creek.
This bear was feeding on a Mountain Goat. It is not known if the bear caught the goat or acquired it from another predator. The bear was first spotted in the trees above the kill In the nearby wooded area. There was open alpine land with a steep slope down to a creek. The bear then went back into the wood and emerged inline with goat and started to pull it into the wooded area.