Blogs

 
October 1, 2012 golden-mantled ground squirrel - Photo by Alan Dibb

Many of us have the good fortune on Thanks Giving of eating till our bellies are full. And this golden-mantled ground squirrel seem to be doing the same. It was feeding  Penstemon ellipticus seeds at around 7,000 feet (2,100 meters) above sea level. Read more »

 
Mule Deer Fawn - Photo by Larry Halverson

 
One of the Mule Deer’s most distinct features is its big "mule-like" ears. Each ear rotates independently like a scanning radar.  Read more »

Red Squirrel striping a Spruce Cone and eating the seeds - Photo by Larry Halverson

Douglas Fir Cone and Cone "Sleketon" - Photo by Larry Halverson

This time of year Red Squirrels are busy cutting coniferous cones to store and eat. It doesn't take them long to strip the cone bracts and extract the numerous seeds from each cone with their teeth. Read more »

Click on the picture to see the Video by Parks Canada Agency

24 hours isn't a lot of time. You know the drill: get some sleep, grab a bite, work 8 hours, squeeze in lunch and dinner, walk the dog and go for a bike ride or watch TV if there's any time left.

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Marmot family group from 2011 - Photo by Alan Dibb

Last summer Kootenay’s Wildlife Specialist, Alan Dibb saw many marmots at the head of the Stanley Glacier Valley near the end of the trail, including two family groups.  This year, on several visits, he hasn't seen or heard any, and he didn’t even find any marmot sign at the location of the 2011 family groups.  Read more »

 
Baby pika at Lake O’Hara - photo by Charlotte Dibb

You can tell that this is a young pika by it’s smooth and babyish looking fur, compared to the rougher looking coats of the adults. It is also about half the size of a full grown pika which is pretty small when you think that adults are only 7 inches (18 cm) long and about 3 inches (8 cm) high.  Read more »

 
 
 Red Squirrels dry mushrooms on sun-soaked branched before storing them.
 Photo by Larry Halverson

 

This time of year red squirrels are busy collecting and storing food from early morning until dusk. One well-known trait is their love for Douglas fir cones, but they actually eat a wide variety of other foods, including bark, tree buds, berries and even mushrooms. Read more »

 White-tailed Ptarmigan a truly alpine bird - Photo by Linnea Halverson

This master of disguise is all but invisible as its mottled plumage blends in with the surrounding rocks. The bird itself seems well aware of the efficacy of its camouflage for it is reluctant to flush when approached, as seen in this video of a ptarmigan taken on  Mount Kindersley in Kootenay National Park.  In fact people have nearly stepped on ptarmigan without seeing them.  Read more »

 
         Columbia Spotted Frog Tadpole - Photo July 27, 2012 by Larry Halverson

For the last couple of weeks Columbia Spotted Frog tadpoles are changing (metamorphosis) into frogs. You can see the fully developed hind legs in this photo. The front legs develop inside the tadpole’s body and do not become visible until they pop out fully formed. This tadpole had also lost it’s gills and was seen swimming to the surface to suck in air. The tail is the last to disappear as it is reabsorbed into the body.  Read more »

 
This Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep seemed to be giving his better side for picture taking. 
Photo by Larry Halverson Read more »