We love it when we can see a wolf, but we seldom do. A distant neighbor who has had more luck over the years shared a video of four at once last night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJoecPmeYN4 A mother bear and cub were there, too, but no problem. In this nature-loving community, wolves come and go, but I’ve never heard of a problem. This neighbor has a picture of a wolf and bear peacefully lying down eating only a couple feet apart. A good memory of wolves near Ely was years ago at a rendezvous site where a pack would leave their pups and return with food for them. Somehow, people heard about the spot and the wolves became accustomed to people. I eventually heard about the place and went there hoping for a picture. No wolves were visible, so I turned to photographing shorebirds and a pond there. I never heard a thing as a wolf returned and maybe 30 feet behind me surprised me by howling for its pack mates. Another time, I was sitting quietly in my vehicle when a few wolves came by, pausing just 6 feet away to eat raspberries, which I didn’t know they ate. I don’t know of anyone ever being attacked by wolves in this area that is the best known area for having wolves in the 48 contiguous states.
 Beaver Lodge |
 Birch chewed by beavers |
I’ve been watching the progress of at least two beavers mudding their lodge and creating a winter food cache next to it. When the morning sun hits the lodge, I often take a picture of it from my desk 0.11 mile away. The picture this morning faintly shows a half dozen ducks resting on the food cache. 
Deer eating whithered
maple leavesThen I discovered that a birch tree just 45 feet from the WRI cabin will likely become part of the food cache if they work fast enough to beat the ice that briefly skimmed much of the lake the last couple mornings. The birch is almost ready to fall toward the lake where they can easily harvest branches to provide bark and cambium through the winter.
DeerThis morning, a deer was eating maple leaves that had wilted instead of turning color and falling. I hadn’t noticed that before, but the deer did.
Along with the hundred or so ducks that visit the yard is a new beauty—the prettiest duck I know—a male wood duck. His bill, head, breast, and markings could not be more beautiful in my mind. I’m glad he and his mate joined the flock.
Bear sightings are few now as they become more nocturnal and are turning in for the winter.
Thank you for all you do,
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center