The 3 Little Does

This photograph was taken behind my school which has a large deer population. I often go there when looking for whitetails but this was our first time in the snow for the year. My husband who is always the driver when we go looking for wildlife didn't get to see these since they were over a steep hillside so I always try to get a decent photograph so he can later see what he missed. It is definitely a team effort when taking 2 young children out to find wildlife, but their reactions are priceless when they see something!

Doe in Snow

Today Josephine wanted to see some deer in snow so deer in snow we found for her! It was such a refreshing hour before sunset, riding around town looking for whitetail deer. I love how in-tune with nature and wildlife my children are at such young ages and hope their enthusiasm will continue throughout their lifetime.

Another look at Fred's friend

Now that I am nearing the end of my latest Shenandoah and Benezette photographs, I figured I'd post just a couple more of the bull that was hanging around Fred the two days we were there as he was wonderful to observe and quite photogenic as well! One fun aspect of wildlife photography is catching the animal doing what it does naturally, such as grooming. People are used to seeing their pets in the position of the first photo, but most will never see an elk that way. The second photograph is a perfect example of what life for the residents of Elk Range is like... you just never know when and where you might find elk! We even saw a couple cows resting one a porch in Medix Run (although I think the owners of the house welcome it) but it was amusing to see them lying next to the porch swing watching the cars go by.

To Warm You Up

Although these two photographs were taken in the middle of December with temperatures falling below 20°, the two doe appear quite warm under the blue sky and bright sun. Those of us in the Mid-Atlantic region of the country have been getting pounded with snow the past few days and temps so cold many haven't left their homes. I have yet to get my first usable photographs of 2010 but am expecting our trail cam to arrive today, so if nothing else, hopefully I can share some of our backyard friends with you soon. We know there is a fox out there, Anthony has seen him at least twice but he has been too elusive for me thus far!

To Brighten My Day

Here are the Shenandoah youngsters I promised and I'm hoping they brighten my day a bit! Last night my husband's car broke down on the highway and after a few hours of waiting and freezing (he was safer outside of the car) he finally made it home. Initial thoughts are that it is the transmission but my hopes are still high that the mechanic will say otherwise. This could not have come at a worse time since we just got through the holidays and am about to begin my last semester of nursing school... I just wish this could have held off until May. Luckily he got home safe and the tow truck driver was able to get it all the back here for us (Ant works an hour and 20 minutes away.) It'sunfortunate things like this that really make one appreciate time spent in nature, not only is it free, but it is the best therapy when times get tough. Thanks for letting me vent, I'm just bummed out and hoping for the best.

Back to the babies! These young whitetails were both trailing a doe which was cautious in making sure they didn't fall too far behind her. These young animals are the future of the Shenandoah herd, I hope the winter is not too harsh on them and they they thrive in their future within the park.

Baby fever???

No baby fever for me!!! My little ones keep me busy enough, but anybody would want to cuddle up with these two! OK, so they might not exactly be "babies" anymore but these little ones were definitely new additions to the herd in 2009 and they were just adorable in person! It was a lot of fun watching them run around a bit once the sun was shining bright on Elk Country. Maybe some Shenandoah young'ens tomorrow?

A Close One

This doe was more than happy to let me get up close and personal with her for a moment! Amazingly I only got 3 shots of her and I loved them all. Each time I go back into my Shenandoah and Benezette folders to post pictures from my last two trips, it just makes me want to go back for more! I feel so very lucky to have all of this amazing wildlife within just a few hours driving time... I can't wait to check out the eagles!

Breathtaking Bull

We came across this bull in the Medix Run area with a herd of 20-30 cows and calves along with one spike. Lighting was far from ideal for photographing him but we observed him for quite some time and enjoyed every minute! He zig-zagged through the open area then finally made his way out of our sight.

Shenandoah Buck

This is the same buck that was pictured eating and grazing with a doe a couple posts ago. It's amazing in photography how the photographer can pick out the smallest detail which then deems a photo imperfect. At first sight, I was disappointed that the blade of grass in the second shot was so close to his eye. I was taking this photo from my car but if I had been out on the ground I could have repositioned just slightly enough to eliminate it from the frame entirely but now that all is said and done, I have grown to like it there. It gives a little extra depth of field and some "character" so I'm happy with it.

A New Year

I know today was supposed to be whitetail deer from SNP, but I just felt it fitting to start off the new year back in Elk Country. Today's photos are of the 3 collared elk we saw last weekend. (I am sure you will recognize one of them!) One nice aspect about collaring is that it makes following an animal throughout their life very easy by issuing them an identifying number. Pictured above are Bull #36, Cow # 78, and Bull #20. I will tag photos of collared animals so that as I accumulate them over time we can click on their corresponding number to watch their progress.

I hope that some positive changes are made in 2010 regarding the elk herd for the benefit of the elk themselves as well as for all those that enjoy them.