Saturday, August 09, 2014

Big Beasties ... Bears & Moose!

A lot of people commented on the bear photo I posted while in Algonquin Park a couple of weeks ago.  We were actually driving along Hwy 60 which runs through the park, and I happened to see the bear on top of a rocky outcropping above the highway.  We turned the truck around and got out to take the photos.  I'm not claiming any sort of bravery here.  There wasn't much danger since our truck was close at hand.  I would not want to meet a bear on the trail, and thankfully that has never happened. 

We first just saw the mama bear snuffling through the rocks for grubs.  You can see her sharp claws against the rock.  And you can see she sees me, and is already wary.  It gives you a slight tingle up your spine when a black bear is watching you with those ears pricked up at every click of the camera.

 
But then out of the brush came the little romping cubbie bears!  So cute ;)  and there were two!  Can you see the cubs at the top of the hill?
 
 
I wish the photos had turned out a little more clearly.  I'm starting to wonder if there was some dust and smudges on my lens.  Anyway, here's a closer shot of one of the cubs.  They bounced more than ran with their floppy gambling legs.
 

It's not so often that we see bears in the park, so it was a real treat to see them this year.  We think we saw this same family a day or two earlier (again along the highway), but they were too far into the trees to get a good shot.  We've had a few bears in our campground, but usually nothing dangerous and the park warden is there lickety split to scare the bear back into the woods and to safety.  Seeing the bears in the campsite only means trouble for the bears.  Although the park tries to relocate them once they become "nuisance" bears, the bears often return to the same area again and the park is forced to destroy them.  It really is so important to store all your food and things a bear would enjoy out of their reach.  But so many people ignore the warnings and bears have a great sense of smell and find all sorts of food and garbage in campgrounds.

But this sighting was special, and I was happy to finally get a few good shots of the bear.



This is the big critter we usually see at the park ...


I love seeing moose!  We don't have them down where I live, and I'm in awe of their size, their long legs and huge velvety noses.  I would love to be able to pet one, and have sometimes been close enough to do it, but wouldn't dare.  I didn't actually see these two (above & below photos) and the photos were taken by my husband.  My husband and son had driven to the park store, and I decided to stay back at the trailer and relax alone for a half hour instead.  So I completely missed out on the viewing.  All week I waited to see another moose, but it came to our last day in the park, and still none had honoured me with a visit.


As we were leaving the campground with the trailer hitched up and boats strapped on top of the truck, what should we come upon but a "moose jam".  There were people all over the road and cars stopped in the road.  We couldn't move at all, so I quickly hopped out of the truck with camera in hand and happily snapped photos of this big young bull moose quietly lying down in the woods just off from the road.


The crowd of people became too much for him eventually, and he slowly and gracefully got those stilt legs underneath him and calmly walked out to a clearing for a late morning snack.

 
 
I was so happy to have been able to see this big beastie before we left ... it made the drive home a little less painful.  We won't be back in Algonquin Park until the fall now.  I could spend my entire summer up there, and maybe when I retire I'll just have to do that one time ;)
 

I hope you're all enjoying this last month of summer.  I've had house guests this past week and they're with me this next week too, but I've been trying to keep up with visiting most of you in stolen moments throughout the days.  Welcome to my new followers!  I'll swing by to see your blogs soon too.
 
Thanks for stopping by!
 
Wendy
 
The smallest critter we saw in the park :)
 
Linking up with lovely Eileen's Saturday Critters
 
Saturday's Critters

32 comments:

  1. Very neat photos of the moose and bears! So awesome that you could see them in person...an opportunity not afforded to most of us.

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  2. Great photos. I definitely would not be messing with no mama bear. Your camera must have a good zoom. :) Such a shame when animals have to be put down because humans cannot be responsible. Have a great day. Tammy

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  3. All this amazing wildlife, just few hours away from the city, so wonderul. You are great with your camera!
    have a sunny saturday..Gaia

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  4. awesome photos! I love bears they are so cool we have little ones here in my woods

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  5. The biggest wildlife I see near me might be a rabbit or a Moorland pony ... So those photos are amazing. I really appreciate your lovely comments. Love Linda

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  6. Wonderful photos! I've never seen a bear in the wild. We saw moose often where we lived when I was little though. Both are amazing critters.

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  7. Great photos!!! The little bears are so cute... Hugs :D

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  8. Your photos are great. I haven't heard of any this year, but in drier summers we often have bears around in residential areas near us. My whole neighborhood and surrounding area has bear-related names for streets, etc., in Spanish, so bears have been coming around for a long time, even before this Bear family got here. :)

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  9. Moose really are amazing looking animals aren't they. One of the sorts of creatures that you can never imagine anyone designing. I do think that it is very important to be aware of bears and as you say not to leave any temptation in their way. It just isn't fair to them otherwise. When we have stayed at Tahoe we have always made very sure to keep any food and rubbish well out of temptation and/or locked up for just that reason. I hope that you are enjoying your guests. xx

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  10. Wow; I'd LOVE to see these great critters with you if I could(*^_^*) What a sweet baby bare and the long face of the moose gave me a smile. I think it's important to think about how to coexist with these great living nature♫♫♫

    Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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  11. Wow, awesome wildlife sightings. The bear and cub would make my day.. And then to see moose, I would be a happy camper at this park.. Your photos are awesome. Thank you for linking up your post to my critter party, enjoy your weekend!

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  12. Wonderful pictures, sweet little cubs.

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  13. Really fun shots! I know you were very excited to get these and glad you werent at any risk.

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  14. The little cub looks like a stuffed bear I might make! I should look at him close for inspiration! I can't believe what could views you got of these wild animals! And what a sweet chipmunk. I'm loving your photos! Hugs!

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  15. The female bear is gorgeous and looks healthy. How exciting to see her and the cubs as well as the moose to photograph.

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  16. The muzzle on the bear is very well defined...she looks so healthy!
    We've only ever seen one moose on our road...sweet gangly creatures.
    Jane x

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  17. So great pictures ! so great animals we can't find here (France) so that's really awesome to see your places... thanks for sharing those moments ! HAve a nice day !

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  18. How amazing -- both bear and moose. I love it -- moose jam. :o) I would love to see such a thing.

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  19. It is always such a treat to see a large animal particularly at a safe distance! You and your husband certainly got some great shots.

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  20. Great photo's Wendy, thanks for sharing. :)

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  21. Awesome photos! Love the bull moose and little chipmunk!

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  22. Wendy!!!! Those pictures are insane!! I was wondering about the bear pictures and I thought to myself either she is completely brave and fearless or she is far enough away with a good lens so that she is safe!!! Amazing! And the moose photos look surreal!!! You really captured natures beauty at its best! Have fun with your guests and I still can't get over the end of summer...not ready at all!!! Happy week friend! Nicole xoxo

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  23. What great photos, Wendy! I love seeing the little bear cubs with their mama, and the beautiful moose. What a wonderful place to vacation! Good advice about keeping the food away from the camp site. We have bear here and we have to freeze all our garbage instead of putting it in the trash. I have come face to face.....thank goodness for my dogs. They are magnificent creatures and we can all get along if we respect them and have some common sense. Enjoy these last weeks of summer. xo Karen

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  24. Love the bear cubs. So adorable. And those gi-normous moose! Great post.

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  25. You captured some great photos. I love that the bear was looking right at you. The moose's nose does look velvety!

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  26. do you know how many times the hubby & i have looked for moose. we see bears all the time. no biggie there. this was one gorgeous coloring. the moose ... we have asked locals ... for advice. we take the route they suggest with no luck. so we were at a campground near Colorado ... wait a moment ... the name slips my mind ... a National Park ... oh pooh ... come on mind?? any who ... they had a mommy that had 2 babies ... we were thinking little tiny babies... no these were almost teens. they were huge. but we saw them. now we want a Male ... still waiting. loved this post. ( :

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  27. Beautiful pictures!! I loved seeing the bear cubs. So great you were able to get so close to get these photos.

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  28. Beautiful pictures. I would love to see a bear like that. Wonderful pictures of the moose as well. Its always such a joy to see a moose. Never got a picture that clear though. We have bear here and they are seem quite often, just not by me. I want pictures like that. I would be so thrilled
    Janice

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  29. Oh wow! Brilliant photos Wendy. I wouldn't want to meet a bear either!

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