[noelcmn]

I'll not get into all that business of man's inhumanity towards animals (never mind inhumanity to man) suffice it to say, mounting evidence of the stupidity and irrationality of man makes me sick.

---------- Post added 06-16-18 at 05:59 AM ----------

Yes. Habitat destruction is surely the worst threat, but it is only a symptom of (here I mount my high horse) too many people . In the western USA especially, bears are poached for their gall bladders to be used in traditional oriental medicines (especially in China).

Which brings me brings me to this lady and her three cubs (one hard to see in this image) who came down through my wildflower garden to raid the bird feeders. The sow looked very healthy. White spots on her ears are ticks.

Maybe I should have run out and purchased a gun and shot the four of them. Their gall bladders would have funded the purchase of a new lens or camera body.

-10 points for making me envious

[WPRESTO]

I-10 points for making me envious

Goody, goody, goody. Maybe I'll have to put the feeders back out. I was very disappointed I had to bring them in as I have enormously enjoyed watching the birds* from the sun room, BUT the bears are destructive and a sow with cubs is dangerous. Black bears otherwise can be scared away easily by just making a bit of noise. In the eastern USA you're advised to carry/wear/jangle a "bear bell" when walking in deep woods, and put such a bell on your dog. That is sufficient to scare away black bears as they are really rather shy, unlike grizzly bears.

* birds visiting this year: blue jay, chickadee, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, cardinals, mourning dove, catbird, brown-headed cowbird, purple finch, goldfinch, ruby-throated hummingbird, crow, slate-colored junco (AKA snowbird), rose breasted grosbeak (males are really handsome in their nuptials), Carolina wren, white-throated sparrow, chipping sparrow, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker. AND ALSO: chipmunk, red squirrel and the ubiquitous grey squirrel including a black-as-the-bear genetic variant. OH, and a neighbor's black-as-the-bear cat who came to visit Annabelle. The way they talk!

[aslyfox]

" Twins " at a Great Blue Heron Rookery in the Yellowstone River in Y N P

[noelcmn]

From today's visit to a local park

[Kevin B123]

From Longleat

[pepperberry farm]

as wild as it gets here

[noelcmn]

Yellow Billed Egret

[PancakeFlipper]

A few loons from last year. Maine

[CharLac]

Goody, goody, goody. Maybe I'll have to put the feeders back out. I was very disappointed I had to bring them in as I have enormously enjoyed watching the birds* from the sun room, BUT the bears are destructive and a sow with cubs is dangerous. Black bears otherwise can be scared away easily by just making a bit of noise. In the eastern USA you're advised to carry/wear/jangle a "bear bell" when walking in deep woods, and put such a bell on your dog. That is sufficient to scare away black bears as they are really rather shy, unlike grizzly bears.

How can you tell the difference between Black bear and Grizzly poop? Grizzly poop has bear bells in it.

[WPRESTO]

How can you tell the difference between Black bear and Grizzly poop? Grizzly poop has bear bells in it.

[skierd]

How can you tell the difference between Black bear and Grizzly poop? Grizzly poop has bear bells in it.

And smells like bear spray.

[aslyfox]

not in my back yard

[noelcmn]

Another dehorned Rhino from Rietvlei Nature Reserve. This one's horn was growing again.

[jgnfld]

A rather sad wildlife pic from last summer. Probable fishing gear damage though no gear hanging on at present.



Pic is full res which can be seen if accessed in a tab.

[gifthorse]

One of the good things about living in the desert is that things congregate near the water.


White faced ibis







Pelicans




swallows




Fledgling great horned owl


Adult great horned owl



White tail deer