In the old days of walking with bears, what stirred my interest most were reactions that gave insights into their hearts, minds, and personalities. That’s what let me realize some bears were willing to let me walk with them in the first place.
It’s also interesting to see the same looking out the window from my desk as they react to other animals (including me) and/or to members of their same species.
Red Fox passes
As the fox passes by, most deer take note, but some quickly go back to foraging while others watch anxiously with the tail up. Some deer feed calmly with each other while others rise up and strike with their hooves.
 Deer looks at fox |
 Deer competition |
 Deer and Raven |
Ravens are interesting in that they are among the most skittish birds with regard to people in the woods but have learned to accept people in Ely. Some ravens and crows show amazing acceptance of passing 60-mile-an-hour traffic just 5 feet away as they stand on the shoulder of the road just off the pavement. In the yard here, ravens accept deer more than deer accept them. The deer and raven in the picture were looking for peanuts at one point with their heads just a foot apart, but it is usually the deer that moves away. Ravens often feed close to wolves and bears at carcasses.
 Hairy woodpecker male |
 Red squirrels |
Their minds all differ. The hairy woodpecker is unusual in its courage to be within a foot of a red squirrel (out of picture) but is full of anxiety with its widely spread tail. The two standing red squirrels are ready to defend or attack to fill their stomachs with sunflower seeds.
I wish I knew what was going on in their heads. I have always wished the same about black bears, which is why I studied individuals year after year to learn histories that might explain a bit more of what I saw. I am hoping to again to be able to use radio collars to learn more.
Evening Grosbeak
Temperatures below freezing are forecast for the next week or more. Woods Lake is iced over. The ducks are gone. A big flock flew low over the snow-covered ice today but kept going. Winter white might be here to stay, making the color of an evening grosbeak or a red fox stand out even more brilliantly.
Thank you for all you do,
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center