The Red Squirrels of Wyoming

Scientific Name

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

Identification

11–15 inches long, 6.7–7 ounces.

Brownish-red on its upper half; dark stripe above white ventral side; light eye-ring; bushy tail.

Quick, energetic.

Loud, long chirp to advertise presence; much more pronounced in the fall.

Habitat

Spruce, fir, and pine forests; young squirrels found in marginal aspen habitat.

Eat conifer seeds, terminal buds of conifer trees, fungi, some insects; sometimes steal young birds from nests.

Preyed on by coyotes, grizzly bears, hawks.

Behavior

Breed February through May, typically March and April; one litter of 3–5 young.

One of the park’s most territorial animals; territorialism ensures winter food supply.

In fall, cuts cones from trees and caches them in middens, which are used for years and can be 15 by 30 feet; grizzlies search out these middens in whitebark pine and limber pine habitat to obtain the nuts.

 A Bison break

 This little guy wasn't interested in having a friendly conversation. =]:)

Yellowstone Migrations

Yellowstone's 22.6-million-acre region contains the longest known pathways for mule deer and pronghorn. The distance, movements, and routes rival wildebeests on the Serengeti Plain and caribou in the Arctic.

At the University of Wyoming, Matt Kauffman headed an effort called the Wyoming Migration Initiative, which created a comprehensive atlas of maps to inform public and private land managers. He worked with several colleagues, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and Arthur Middleton, an ecologist and research scientist at Yale University.

Middleton likes to compare Yellowstone’s migrations to the circulatory system in a human body, carrying nourishment everywhere. What he hopes is that the system doesn’t suffer its own version of a coronary episode.

I hope you enjoy the sights in this short video!

Apparently, birds are this springs hottest fashion accessory! =]:)

It's one of the largest cats in North America, and a top predator. It's the Yellowstone cougar (puma concolor), also known as the mountain lion. Cougars are beautiful, sleek creatures.

Seeing a cougar in Yellowstone is rare. If you do see one, consider yourself lucky, and go buy a lotto ticket! They are stealthy, and are good at keeping out of sight. One could be staring at you from a ledge, a tree, or the brush and you will never know it or see it.

There are few documented cases of cougars attacking people in Yellowstone, even so, it's always wise to hike in groups. If you encounter one, pick up any small children that may be with you, make noise, act dominate by staring into its eyes, and show your teeth while making noise. Yes, really. Never run. If you do, it will likely chase you. Never bend down, whether to pick up something from the ground or to crouch. In most cases, a bit of noise will scare it off.

The average male can weigh 145 to 170 pounds and live from 8 to 10 years. The average female weighs 85 to 120 pounds and can live 14 to 14 years. Their length, including the tail can be around 6.5 to 7.5 feet. Their litters usually include 2 or 3 kittens with a 50% survival rate the first year.

Male cougars will often kill other male cougars in their territory. Wolves are known to kill adult cougars as well as their kittens.

Cougars like and thrive in rocky areas. They also like forested areas because it provides cover for hunting their prey and to get away from bears and wolves. They usually prey on elk, mule deer, marmots and other small mammals. many times, bears and wolves will chase the cougar away after it makes its kill and will claim the kill for themselves. Not very neighborly!

Unfortunately, in the early 1900's cougars, and wolves (canis lupus), were killed throughout the lower 48 states, even in the national parks. Even though cougars were eradicated from Yellowstone, the species survived in the west, probably because of its preference for rocky terrain where it is difficult to track. Thankfully, the survivors reestablished themselves in Yellowstone and thrive here today. =]:)

Mr. Mouse was minding his own business, walking through the snow on his way home, but he never made it. He just disappeared. So, put your Sherlock cap on. Can you deduce what happened to Mr. Mouse from the evidence in this photo?

You're right! Let's put out an APB on Mr. Hawk! He might be responsible for other disappearances in the area too. =]:)

Maybe this is Rutt and Tuke from Disney's Brother Bear? They really need to get along better!

Here is a Belted Kingfisher. He sort of looks like he might be having a bad hair day. No?

This guy depends on open water so it can dive after fish and other aquatic animals. It lives a solitary life except during breeding season when a pair digs a tunnel for the nest into the bank of a creek or pond. You will hear and remember its distinctive, loud, “rattle” cry year round. The female has the extra, reddish brown colored “belt” and sides. =]:)

This grizzly bear put on quite a show. He seems happy and content to be awake and ready for the spring season. Enjoy the video below. It should bring a smile to your face.

Photo from NPS/Kimberly Shields

The bears are coming out of hibernation in Yellowstone, which means folks need to be bear-aware while hiking or walking in the back-country. Always carry bear spray and learn other tips to stay safe in bear country here: Be Bear Aware

Enjoy this video of a grizzly, who appears a little groggy from his long winter's nap. =]:)

Photo: Idaho Fish and Game Magic Valley

A female moose fell through an unlatched window into the basement of a home in Hailey, Idaho. It spent about 3 hours in the basement. Don't worry though, she was rescued and is fine. According to homeowner Julie Emerick, the officer darted the moose, which quickly succumbed and passed out in a corner. Eight officers rolled the approximately 600-pound animal onto a tarp.

The homeowner said the basement room suffered little damage and she called the moose "the most polite, gracious beast."

Check out the video below or find more information about this story at Yahoo News

The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) named for its large horns is native to North America . Their horns can weigh up to 30 lbs, while the sheep weigh up to 300 lbs, but occasionally exceed 500 lbs. The bighorn sheep rut starts in November.

What does that mean? Glad you asked!

Bighorn sheep rutting is when the males (rams) challenge one another by crashing their horns together. Ouch! How do they withstand the intense headbutts? Ram skulls have two layers of bone above the brain that function as a shock absorber for head-on fighting.

Bighorn sheep prefer alpine meadows, grassy mountain slopes, and foothill country near rugged, rocky cliffs and bluffs. Since bighorn sheep can't move though deep snow, they prefer drier slopes, where the annual snowfall is less than about 60 inches a year. A bighorn's winter range usually lies at lower elevations than its summer range.

Spotting bighorn sheep in Yellowstone is rare. There are only about 200 of them in the park. So, seeing them is quite a thrill. If you want your best chance at running into some, you might try the slopes of Mount Washburn along Dunraven Pass in the summer months, Year-round in Gardner Canyon between Mammoth and the North Entrance, and on the cliffs along the Yellowstone River opposite Calcite Springs; above Soda Butte; and in the backcountry of the eastern Absarokas.

If you'd like to watch a very short video of bighorn sheep rutting, (banging horns together) please click play on the video below. Enjoy! =]:)

A couple scouting for fishing spots along the Lamar River surprised a bear as it was feeding on a carcass. The grizzly was not happy and in no mood to share. He charged at them and came within 9 feet.

But, the couple was prepared and able to diffuse the situation. Can you guess what they did? If you've read any of my bear posts, I bet you already know. Click the story to read about their scary encounter.

The bear is perfectly fine. Nothing will happen to him as he was only defending his food. The couple did the right thing to protect themselves and the bear. =]:)

Read the story here

Photo by Jessica Weiller

Picture from trib.com

Mountain lion sightings are becoming more common here, and I'm sure in other areas too. How can you minimize the chance of being attacked by one? Here are some tips:

1. Always hike with one or more friends. Mountain lions are less likely to attack a group.
2. Mountain lions often stash their kills for later. If you happen upon a dead animal, leave the area immediately. If it was left there, the mountain lion will defend it.
3. Most people think taking your dog with you will prevent an attack. Not true. In fact, dogs can attract mountain lions.
4. If you come across mountain lion kittens, leave the area. I know they're cute, but their mama won't hesitate to protect them.
5. If you have children with you on a hike, keep them in the middle or front of the group. And don't ever let them wander off the hiking path alone.
6. Never run. Never turn your back on a mountain lion.
7. Keep constant eye contact.
8. Make loud noises, wave your hands, strike two sticks together and any thing else to make a racket.

If you are attacked, there are some things you can do:

1. Do not play dead. Many people think this is what they should do. Don't do it.
2. Protect your neck with your arms and hands, or if you have a pack on, use that.
3. Fight back with a stick, your hands, legs or anything else you have at your disposal. Throwing large rocks can work.
4. Bear spray! Yup, bear spray can work too so always have some with you.

There you go. Some tips to stay safe. Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare, but it's best to always be prepared. =]:)

Read the story, "Mountain lions on the move, game official says" on trib.com

In 1989, scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution heard a sound coming from their audio equipment they hadn't heard before. They had heard whale sounds many times, but this whale sounded different. They weren't able to tell what species of whale it was, but they kept listening as it drifted away into the dark abyss of the ocean and fell silent.

In 1992, they found this unique whale sound again and they have tracked the whale since then. The US Navy’s sophisticated billion dollar hydrophone system, designed to track Soviet nuclear submarines during the Cold War, has recorded the whales migratory patterns every year as she moves from central California to the Aleutian Islands in the north Pacific. Though they can track her, no one has ever seen her in the wild. They aren't even sure what species of whale she is.

She has always traveled alone, and according to a report in the Deep Sea Journal, her migration is "unrelated to the presence or movement of other whale species." She has no family, she isn't part of a pod, she's never had a mate, in fact, she is always by herself. And yet, as she makes her way through the vast oceans, she calls out, searching and waiting for an answer, or a companion that never comes.

She's now called the 52-hertz whale, or what most folks call her, the loneliest whale in the world. Because of how long she's been monitored, and how far she travels, scientists think she's in good health. But whales are social creatures, and her isolation has taken a toll.

Whales vocalize at 10 to 39 Hertz, but the loneliest whale in the world speaks at 52 Hertz, just higher than the lowest note of a tuba. That's what makes her different. It's what makes her unique. It's also her curse and what keeps her alone. The other whales can't hear her. They don't know she exists. Her cries go ignored, and her pleas go unanswered. But she never stops trying. Her calls never fade. She never gives up hope.

Over the years, scientists have noticed her vocalizations have deepened, more like 49 Hertz now. They think it might be because of her getting older, or maybe she is trying to change the sound, because maybe she knows something isn't right.

Mary Ann Daher is a marine biologist who co-authored the original research on the discovery of 52. As the paper went public, more people identified with the whale’s hopeless situation, so much so they even wrote to Daher expressing their empathy.

And so, the loneliest whale in the world continues her search, and she waits for the day when her dream will be real and the empty feeling in her heart, will be full. On that day,  her quest for companionship will be over. She will hear, off someplace in the murky distance, the answer to her calls echoing through the sea. On that day, when her pleas are met with compassion and understanding, she'll be home, and lonely no more. =]:)

Uh oh! Don't move a muscle. The Skunk family is on the loose.

The Yellowstone Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is North America's largest bird of prey. Golden eagles are amazing hunters. It can dive from its flight path at 150 miles per hour. They hunt all sorts of small animals such as rabbits, marmots, squirrels, birds, lizards and small rodents. They will also eat carrion they find. Their beaks are sharp, so tearing meat is no problem.

The Golden Eagle is a large bird. They can have an amazing 6 to 7 foot wing span and the body length can be up to 3 feet long. The adult eagles are usually dark brown but the young eagles have white wing patches with the inner part of the tail also white. They also have a dark brown band spanning the tip of the tail. They get their name from the golden nape on the back of their neck. Golden's can live up to about 32 years in the wild. An interesting fact: the Crow Indian Tribe used the tail feathers of golden eagles to make their war bonnets. The many plains tribes including the local Arapaho and Shoshone tribes, still use the feathers to this day in ceremonies and regalia.

Golden eagles are monogamous and can stay with the same mate for years, and even life. They can nest in trees, cliff ledges or anywhere that is private and safe for their young ones. You might even see a nest on top of a telephone or light pole. They will usually use the same nesting spot year after year and will simply build up the existing nest with new twigs.

I've seen golden eagles in Lamar Valley, Hayden Valley from Grizzly Overlook, near Fishing Bridge and in the northern range around Blacktail Ponds. I've also seen them near Gardiner. If you are in these areas, look up. They can usually be spotted flying high, circling and looking for rabbits and other prey. As a general rule, you won't find them near lakes and rivers like you will Bald Eagles. Golden's don't fish as often.

The article below is about a study of golden eagles. If you are curious about these Raptors, you might find the article interesting. Enjoy! =]:)

Yellowstone's Golden Treasure: Big eagles focus of recent study