Everyone likes to see wildlife, but be smart about it please. Don’t approach animals; they are wild! If you have to stop along a road pull completely off the road and park on appropriate pavement only. If you park on grass, which can be very dry, it’s possible the heat from under your vehicle could start a fire. Something we’re all very concerned about here in Arizona.
The Beefalo that hang out around the entrance station to Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim are not native, but still wild. Even though they are a higher percentage of cattle than bison they are not tame or domesticated and can stampede without warning. So take your photos from inside the safety of your vehicle. DO NOT walk towards them!
OK, rant over. It’s just that sometimes I wonder if people just leave their brains home when they go on vacation.
After getting past the beefalo jam along State Route 67, the main road into the the North Rim, and breakfast at Jacob Lake I drove into the Kaibab National Forest on some unexplored gravel roads. Destination Lookout Canyon where I thought I’d take a hike. More about that later as I want to share some of the wildlife I saw during the day first.
Certainly not as big as a beefalo, but the attack was vicious. These little deer flies pack a punch with their sting. Yea, that’s my knee.
Only a little larger but not dangerous this Swallowtail butterfly hung around a spring I stopped to see.
Another bright yellow caught my eye when a Western Tanager flew onto this fence post.
Evidence of not so wild life left behind.
Then later a few acquaintances of the same. OK, so these are not really wild.
Yet as they graze through the forest, are responsible for making a total mess of the natural water holes.
Which should look like Deer Lake, fenced to keep cattle out. Water tanks are provided for livestock, but I guess water is water.
Raven flew over.
Wild turkeys stayed on the ground.
Oh yea, and there was a coyote too quick to get a photo of. What wildlife have you seen lately?
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Just in my yard I’ve seen swallowtail butterflies, deer and wild turkeys. No deer flies thankfully but black widow spiders set up shop in the greenhouse. Not for long, though.
Interesting post. I enjoy your blog!
Nice of you to sacrifice your knee so we could see what a deer fly looks like!
Not a lot around here apart from my little birds that hatched yesterday. It is quite cool and even the butterflies are not out.
I agree though many people do not use their brains when it comes to wildlife, I have seen so many stupid events in S.A through people thinking wild means tame!!! Diane
I live near a big city that I am in almost every day so I see a lot of wild life (ha ha) but I prefer your type.
Excellent point about not pulling off in the grass! I too am amazed at people and their cameras around WILD life. Seems they have been watching too much TV.
The open grazing on public lands issue definitely has two sides. The damage they do and the give away price from the public seem worth more seriously considering IMO.
Only wildlife today was a little blue heron, a great blue heron and a red rat snake. Yesterday two wild boar.
Sherry
http://www.directionofourdreams.blogspot.com
some good advice you are sharing, thank you.
also wonderful images of gorgeous summer days and the critters along the way.
Great shots, Gaelyn. And yes, I swear some people forget to pack their brains when going on vacation. Duh! Drives me bonkers. The pic of the lake reminds me of several lakes around the Cameron Lake area where its range county. So many of the lakes have been made a mess of by the cattle.
Only scary wildlife I have seen lately has been in the morning mirror:((
I enjoy your posts, but I really really liked this one. I’d love to see Beefalo:) and Western Tanagers…..so you had some really fun pics here today. I began summer school for a couple weeks and I don’t know what I was thinking….well I do know….I need money to pay the mortgage!!! With the heat and work, I’m not sure how much wildlife action I am going to get right now so I am living Arizona through your eyes. And I appreciate your pics to make me daydream:) And why do people not think? A field of super dry grass is explosive fuel…..and the poor beefalo could be cooked for good! That would be sad. I know they’re not domestic BUT what a treat to see in the wild.
Marvelous shots!
Terrific captures! Love seeing all critters — and your knee does make a great background for the deer fly!! I have to agree with AL, the only wild life I’ve seen lately is in the mirror, too! Hope you have a great week, Gaelyn!
Sylvia
How different your wildlife parks are from our game reserves. Going to Addo Elephant National Park I get to see elephants, lion, buffalo, perhaps black rhino, zebra, warthog and loads of different antelope. Not even counting the birds.
I’ve seen people do some very stupid things around wild animals in our National Parks and Forests.
Deer flies tear me up, my hands swell up and it is just miserable. We don’t have them here in Oklahoma as far as I know. If we did they would find me.
Can’t wait for the your upcoming posts.
Great set of picture. Many of the small wetlands in our mountains have been beaten up by the hooves of cows and horses – and out government (in its wisdom) have just let the live stock back into our National Parks in the area. Sometimes you do have to wonder!
Splendid post of you buffs / cow / bison things!
SM
Do racoons & skunks count as wildlife? That’s about the only thing around northeastern illinois. I really enjoy your blog.
Now that’s dedication, giving knee blood for the sake of a blog post. – Margy
I liked seeing all the “wildlife” in the Kaibab. I bet the truck was nice and dusty after your ride!
I agree that people are often foolish when it comes to approaching wildlife. A warning can’t hurt!
I love seeing photos of the western tanager and wild turkey. We have the same problem here with cattle making a mess of water holes. Springs and ponds are often fenced on Utah’s BLM and forest service land to prevent damage. Good warning about vehicle heat possibly sparking a fire. The whole west is so dry, any spark can set it off.