Wild Things: Where to Spot Wildlife

Just back from 2 days near Stanley Lake in the SNR and I spotted and photographed dees ucks with the antlers in velvet, elk, pika, a black bear with 2 cubs and numerous birds of prey woodpeckers and Western Tanagers, Just get out there and keep you eyes open, It does seem that since the reintroduction of wolves into Idaho that the Elk are avoiding the open areas that you could find them in the past and keep in the trees making it a little more difficult to get a clear picture of them , it just makes the challenge more rewarding.

BULLS IN RUT "ARE" DANGEROUS -- THEY ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND YOU SHOULD NOT MESS AROUND WITH THEM. ANY RANGER WILL TELL YOU THAT, TOO.

If the writers at Backpacker got a quarter for each time they used the term "life list", they could have all retired by now. Please check them into life list rehab before intervention is necessary.

In Sept of 2009 I was hiking back into a canyon in the Black Hills of South Dakota and came across a mountain lion. The lion had just crossed the trail and was standing facing away from me about 25-30 ft off the trail. I was approaching from down wind and don't know if it ever saw me before it continued away from me. That was an experience I won't forget.