Tag Archives: Canada

Commentary, musings, Photography

It’s a Bear!

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I saw this lovely fellow standing next to the road leading from Wood Buffalo National Park. His coat was shiny and he was very healthy looking after his long winter sleep.

We stopped and then he stopped, and we looked at each other. He made no attempt to come closer, but just regarded us while I took pictures.

I am concerned at his lack of fear. Most of the bears in my locality quickly run away at the sight of humans, but I’m aware that on this particular road, tourists and locals alike will feed the bears, and they grow to expect that.

This is incredibly thoughtless and careless behaviour, because as the warning signs that are posted everywhere say, “A fed bear is a dead bear.” Bears need to be left alone to forage and to keep a healthy distance from humans.

Commentary, Photography

A Rain Forest

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Vancouver Island is home to very old, very sodden rain forests.

Many of the Douglas firs in this forest are 800 years old. They were little trees in 1219, when St Francis of Assisi was founding the Franciscans and Genghis Khan was a teenager.

It rains a lot here. A lot! As a result, the trees are covered in velvety moss fronds.

In areas where the sun gets through more easily, the moss is less prevalent.

These trees have seen a lot and are still standing and growing. It is our job to make sure that they can continue their life journey.

Greetings from the giant firs of Vancouver Island.

Commentary, musings, Photography

Rocky Mountain View

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On our last drive from the Okanagan to the Northwest Territories, M and I

stopped at the Overlander Hotel, just outside Jasper National Park.

It was a wonderful respite after eight hours of driving through the mountains. There was great food with a wonderful room in the original lodge that was built more than 100 years ago.

The view from the dining room is stunning, with the mountains gazing serenely from their redoubt.

Greetings from the beautiful Overlander Hotel.

Commentary, musings, Photography

Northern Garter Snakes

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Caution: Just so you know, this post contains photos of snakes. 😳

The red-sided garter snakes of Wood Buffalo National Park are the northern-most snakes in the world.

In April, they begin to emerge from their hibernaculum to mate and migrate across the neighbouring Salt River for the summer.

These little snakes blend incredibly well into their environment.

This area of Wood Buffalo Park is riddled with small caves that go deep underground. The snakes huddle together and sleep through the winter, maintaining a temperature well above zero.

When it’s warm enough outside, they emerge. Over the next few days of April and into May, the males will coil into “snake balls” to mate with any available female.

Can you see the red markings on his underside?

These snakes will then migrate, spend the summer eating, and travel back to the park to give birth before returning to their hibernaculum.

These harmless little guys will stand their ground and hiss at you as did the one pictured above when I got too close. I backed off and gave him his space.

Snakes have gotten a lot of bad press, but in my opinion, it’s the humans you need to watch out for, not them. You can always trust a snake to do what snakes do.

For more information, please see the link below.

https://norj.ca/2014/05/red-sided-garter-snakes-make-annual-mating-appearance/

Greetings from the migrating garter snakes of Wood Buffalo National Park. 🙂

musings, Photography

Cameron Lake

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Is this photo upside down? Or right side up?

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This beautiful clear lake is in the traditional territory of the Kwalikum First Nation on Vancouver Island.

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It is very deep and cold and is popular for windsurfing and fishing. It’s said to be home to a water monster that can only be seen in the evenings. Bwahahaha. 😉

When we stopped there, the lake was mirror still and it was completely windless. It was quite amazing to see it sort of frozen like that.

The first photo is right side up; the second photo is upside down – it’s a reflection.