Our kitchen table faces a rock outcrop and it seems like once a year we get to see a bobcat family resting under the cool rocks. Today, we saw a mom with a kitten, maybe two? But the next day, we saw the whole family. A mom and three kittens taking cat naps!
Thank heavens we don't have many skunks that live in our area. We've only seen a couple of individuals on our trail cameras over the years. On this morning, though, we had a western spotted skunk visit. How cute!
Now that the elk rut is in full swing, chaos is the rule. Satellite bull elk swirl around and try to distract the dominant bull. The cow elk and calves are on edge, and it all makes for great elk watching. Here are a few pictures, but the video shows it all! Even though the elk rut is usually a frenzied time of year, on this morning, the elk in Moraine Park were all in their groups and all seemed copacetic. One bull, though, decided he wanted a few more cows in his herd. He walked all the way across Moraine Park and sized up his opponent. It was just like a duel -- they walked side by side and then turned and faced each other. After sparring for about a minute, the smaller one decided that maybe his herd was big enough. The winning bull kicked out his front leg to let the "loser" know not to come back. He then strutted back to his herd. How fascinating to watch!
We've always known the weather was a bit whacky in Colorado, but this week was one for the record books. It was hot, windy and 97 degrees on Sunday, a little cooler and 90 degrees on Monday and snow with a high of 34 on Tuesday! Wow. What a whiplash! The native vegetation in Boulder and Estes did great, the non-native ones struggled. The aspen leaves did just fine.
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