Memorial Day 2009

On Memorial Day we went 1 1/2 hours from here to Northwest Trek, an animal preserve place. It's at the base of Mt. Rainier so very beautiful. It was a step above going to the zoo in feeling like we were actually seeing the animals in the wild. Northwest Trek has 5 miles of walking trails where we observed animals from upper and lower observation decks. We felt like we were very very close to all the animals... we were. Our protection were the streams and deep ravines and electric fences separating us and the animals. We saw many more animals than just the pictures I have posted... I don't want to do a wild animal report here, but the bottom line is that we were amazed. It was great and majestic to see these creatures roaming and be reminded WHO created them and us all. It always fascinates me to be see the many many different and unique kinds of creatures that share this earth with us.

This first one was by the wolves. It was dead of course, enclosed in a case and had some significance like it was the first wolf found on Mt. Rainer or it guided the Indians somewhere or it lived at the old Trapper's cabin on location. I can't remember what was so neat about this wolf but it was something.

We're watching out for the Cougar here somewhere... never did see it.

This grizzly, with it's lady friend were minding their old business, playing and pacing back and forth until this woman came up beside us chomping her warm bag of popcorn. It was like this bear had that yummy popcorn scent in it's nostrils like we all get when we smell popcorn. It stopped playing and showed it's tongue and teeth, smacking it's lips. It startled us because I bet if it was really motivated it could hurtle the electric fence and stream and ravine to get that popcorn. We learned that bears smelling scent is 70 times stronger than a dog. It can smell a dead animal over 30 miles away. Yikes. It wanted that popcorn! By the way, the camera isn't on zoom or anything. You're looking at the bear actually how close it really was to us.

Here's a nice, cute black bear like those that live around us. They are strictly plant eating bears, not mean and ferocious like the mostly meat-eating grizzlies you hear scary stories of.

This was the cutest owl ever. Look at those furry feat.

Here's some strange looking animals we saw sitting around on a stump begging for food.

We took a 1 hour tram ride and saw lots of animals in the fields, hills, wetlands etc.

Look at that Bison's tongue. There were so many of these. One Bison along the ride got in the road and would not budge. We had to just sit and wait a few minutes for it to move.

Lots of baby Bison around too.

The antlers are furry because they are growing in. They all lose their antlers in the fall and the fur protects them until they are all the way grown in again in the Spring. We noticed that some of the antlers weren't growing even on both sides. The tour guide told us that the girl Elk/moose/deer don't like it when the antlers aren't matching on both sides. It's not manly. The poor fellas have to wait until next year to grow a handsome set of antlers to attract a lady.

Bald Eagles.

Great day. Fun day. Nice to be with the family but especially nice because it was a deliciously warm and sunny day. We treasure the sun around here. Too bad we can't save it in a bottle to bring it out when we need a little cheer. We are kind of used to partial sun/mostly cloudy here, but the Spring time we do get antsy for warmness. It was beautiful.