Tag / elk

by kritterspaw

Let the Snow Fall

When it snows, we get going. Before it has a chance to melt we are out and about first thing looking for good light, great snow shots, and animals in the snow.

It’s pretty common for animals to hunker down during a snowfall. Once it’s over, they are out foraging for food. And we are keen to find them.

When I told a photographer friend that I actually just drove around looking for animals, he looked at me as if I was mad. I confess it takes a lot of time, and we spend a lot of time doing it. Sometimes you get lucky and it pays dividends.

After awhile though, you do find spots that tend to be more fruitful for different animals. I know where to look for antelope, eagles, osprey, and elk. It is WILD-life so nothing is predictable, but repeated outings make me more consistently ‘lucky’.

We left early, just as the sun started breaking the horizon (about 6:30am) and wandered around for hours.

Honestly, it’s rewarding just to be out in the beauty of nature. I never used to like snow, but have come to appreciate and enjoy the gorgeous fresh snow clinging to the trees and blanketing the forest. When I see the animals emerging from them, I appreciate that this is their gorgeous home that we live in together.

It’s a beautiful thing.

See more photographs of my snow outing here .. https://kritterspix.com/2025/04/19/snow-sheep/

by kritterspaw

Baby Season

While so many people are suffering through the high heat across the country, our animals are tending to their babies, looking for water and food. We love this season and watching any animals we can see to observe their behavior.

The baby elk are out, hosting their new spots and wobbly legs. The calves are generally born around early June. We might not see them until July when mom takes them out in the world to show them how to find food and water on their own.

They forage on grass, shrubs, and twigs, and chirp for their mothers. Moms dote on the little one’s, but when it’s feeding time, the mom’s give them little attention to teach the newborns to eat off the land.

by kritterspaw

New Snow

The weather forecast said we’d get 12 – 18″ every day for 3 days. I’m not sure who got our snow, but we didn’t.

We got maybe 7″ over the 3 days.

We drove up Lake Mary Road having heard that Flagstaff got 18″+ just on the first day. It seems we found our snow. The snow as we neared Flagstaff grew heavier each mile with large drifts and snow piled high.

We were happy to find it… and the herd of elk wandering through.

by kritterspaw

A-1 Lake

July / August is the perfect time of year to enjoy our lakes and rivers. The weather in Northern AZ is as good as it gets, and the water location yield great fishing and wonderful views.

We have hit over a dozen lakes this year, continuing the trend we decided to check out A-1 Lake outside of Pinetop-Lakeside.

The lakes not only offer great views, but amazing wildlife. This time of year is also full of baby animals of all types.

Early morning hours sometimes gift us with wonderful skies, great light, and early birds.

We love to see the innocence of youth in its beautiful environment.

by kritterspaw

Snow Windfall

We were projected to get 1/2″ of snow, so weren’t we surprised when we got over 8″ of snow?

It came down in large soft flakes, covering the trees and the landscape. It was absolutely beautiful.

We were fortunate enough to get animals during… and after the snowfall.

Which we tried to take great advantage of.

It was amazing how quickly the snow came in… and how fast it was gone. Spring is coming and our snow season may be on the way out.

I’d be happy for a few more snow storms before Spring enters the foray. There is something surprisingly peaceful and beautiful about the fresh fallen snow. If we are to endure the cold… give me snow!

by kritterspaw

Weather Promises

We had been promised snow on multiple occasions. They said we’d get 1 – 3 inches during the day, and 4 – 6″ that evening. Not to be that day, or the next, or the one after that.

I never thought I’d say it, but I’ve come to like the snow. It blows in all sorts of things, like this beautiful cooper’s hawk.

Or this little falcon….

As we feel the storm coming, the clouds and winds roll in, but the promise doesn’t come… our friends in South Carolina are soaking up the sun in shorts & tee-shirts on the beach. (This just after coming back from freezing on the West Coast, enduring incessant rains and cold temperatures on the California beach.)

We finally got our snow, about 6″. It was here and then gone. But with it, we got our animals.

We took the opportunity to go out and find them, and were rewarded with some nice shots of elk in the snow.

And big horn sheep

In the course of a week since we got back from CA, we saw deer, elk, ram, and even a coyote.

Gotta love where we live!

See more snow / animal pix here …

https://kritterspix.com/2022/01/01/first-snow-3/

by kritterspaw

Elusive Bulls

We haven’t seen any animals in some time. I think they are all hiding from the mountain lions, as mountain lion sightings have been on the rise. The storms do bring in animals, though. I love our rains… they are so good for our forests and animals.

We were lucky enough to see 2 bull elk, still in velvet. It was a rare treat and one we relished. They foraged in the grass and lingered around until they wandered off as the thunderstorms rolled in.

They looked like they had been through a rough year as they slowly wandered off. I was happy that they had a brief respite from their harsh environment.

by kritterspaw

Buck Springs

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Buck Springs is one of a number of old cabins littered around Mogollon Rim’s back dirt roads.  Tree Shadows

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There are two standing cabins on this site.  The smaller of the two was built in 1923, while the larger was built in 1946.

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The cabins found in this area were built by early Forest Service, ranchers and settlers while they worked the land.  The area is also home to animals looking for food, water, and shelter.

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Reflection Pond

The natural springs throughout the area provide vital water and pools for the wildlife that inhabit the area.

Morning Reflection

If you visit, remember leave it cleaner than you found it.  These are precious places that hold their own history and beauty.  Leave a lasting positive impression for future visitors…. not one of trash that one brings in and leaves as a poor testament to today’s mankind.

by kritterspaw

A trip to the Rim

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Life gets busy, but we should never be so busy that we don’t take time out to frequent our favorite spots and do the things that rock our individual boats … and for us that includes the Mogollon Rim.

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We actually got snow, sleet, hail, and rain during our short trip, which made for awesome scenery and elk wondering what we were doing there.

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It made me wonder what took us so long… oh, there was that project, and that chore, and that meeting, plus that snow storm, the roads were closed… well, okay.

Always find time to smell the roses, or in our case fresh forest air.

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