2020 Teton Moose

The campground has been full every night with folks even in the overflow area. The moose have been slow to come in but a couple of mornings ago one bull was near my trailer so I got some nice images of him. The bulls will rub their antlers on shrubs to remove the velvet, and sometimes as a show of strength or threat, I think. The recent snowstorm means a lot of loose branches on the ground which look rather like bushes to them. This fellow picked up one branch, shook it loose them found a much larger one but didn’t get tangled up with it.

A couple of mornings later there was a cow and calf nearby. I’ve found it difficult to get nice images of a cow and calf but this morning it was worth the effort.

All images©jeanclarkphotography.com

Click here for more images

2020 Teton Elk

 

Here in the Tetons there is a spot I often go to in the evenings. It overlooks a couple of little ponds with a stream running in front of the tree line. Moose can sometimes be seen there along with deer, coyotes, and elk. Usually the elk are so far away you really need binoculars or a spotting scope. However one recent evening there was a bull with his harem much closer so I was able to get some nice images of him and the cows. He was quite active moving among them and bugling.

Once in a while he would jus stop and survey the area. On other occasions he would chase a cow.

Watching the animals in the wild is special, being able to see them interact makes me appreciate them and this wonderful country so much.

 

 

All images ©jeanclarkphotography.com

Click here for more images

2020 Tetons Snow

Labor Day in the Tetons ended with a snowstorm complete with strong winds and heavy wet snow. Unfortunately the cottonwoods still had their leaves, which the snow clung to.  It was very pretty but caused a lot of limbs to break and fall and even a few trees. Fortunately my site was tree-free with no overhanging branches to cause damage

The next night I did get out and got a few images of the Tetons with the snow and Milky Way.

While the nights have been cold the sun is very warm and most of the snow is now gone except in shaded areas.

Campground managers had crews in on Tuesday with chain saws and loaders to clear the loops and there was a small street sweeper in on Wednesday to push the small debris to the sides of the roads. There are piles of debris everywhere but it certainly hasn’t put the campers off.

All images © Jeanclarkphotography.com

2020 Tetons early

The full moon provided some good light at a couple of my favorite spots.

Moonlight on the Tetons

A few of the moose have been around but the campers are more numerous. I’ve never been in this area for Labor Day weekend and it is so totally different than after the holiday.

A moose cow has been around a bit but it’s easy to tell she’s not happy with all the activity. She’s very protective of her calf.

A few Bulls have been spotted but it means getting up and out very early. It can be pretty chilly, too. Some still have a lot of the velvet on their antlers. They rub the antlers on the bushes to remove it and sharpen the points. Sometimes the foliage gets caught in the antlers.

An hour or so later and they may well have laid down for a long period.  

Catching them in the sunlight really shows up their good condition.

2020 August Teton nights

Mouton Barn

Night photography in the Tetons is so much fun! There are certain places that make great foreground for the Milky Way. The Moulton Barn on Mormon Row has been captured many times at sunrise and sunset but I prefer it at night.

The Milky Way over water is particularly special for me.

Lastly, a new location, a pullout at the side of Jackson Lake provided a view across the lake with the mountains on the right. The water wasn’t really still so there weren’t any interesting reflections but it was another opportunity to see the spectacular night sky in all its glory. Truly humbling.

I was even lucky enough to capture a meteor in a couple of the images. More fun!

All images ©jeanclarkphotography

Click here for more images

2020 CO and WY, 1

On this trip west I returned to a NFS campground in Colorado that I first visited in August 2017.The election is about 9300′ so it was very pleasant after  the extreme  heat  to  get  there. There  are  some  interesting  birds there,including the  Western  Tanager  and  Stellar  Jay.  Both  photos  were  taken  through  the trailer  window  so  not  the  best.  I even saw a bit of wildlife in the form of numerous chipmunks and a marmot.

 

The goal was to get to the Tetons and it’s wonderful to be back here. The first night was very clear so the pull of the night sky won out. What a spectacular view of the Milky Way.

Two  morning later when I got the dogs out I looked across the main drive and there was a bull moose grazing on the willows! He  kept  looking  off  a  ways  so  I thought  there  might  be  another moose  around.  Sure  enough,  there  was  a  cow.

 

 

 

All images © jeanclarkphotography.com

2019 Tetons Final

Fall colors in the Tetons are not the same as in NH but they offer their own special touches.   Add in a bit of snow on the mountains and it’s really special.  

Not only are there moose around but if you get up very early and can locate some elk you my be treated to watching a bull elk taking care of his harem (this means watching over the cows and driving away rivals) and bugling.

As the moose rut progressed the bulls were getting more active. One morning we got to watch this bull drive away a younger one then chase the early cow first i n one direction then in another. They were moving at good speed and sent some photographers running. They can turn on a dime and are as agile as a lot of horses.

Down by the river the willows grow very tall and thick. This provides food for the moose and also hides them very well. I tend to not go into the willows, you never know what may be in there with you!

 

©Jeanclarkphotography.com, email for terms of use

Click here for more images

2019 Tetons, more moose

Still in the Tetons and enjoying the moose Had a clear night recently so I went out to see if I could capture the Milky Way. As always out here it is spectacular and humbling.

Catching the moose has been a test of patience. They’re wild animals so where & when they will be visible is unpredictable. Being able to watch them is always a joy.

 

There is a river nearby and they tend to head towards it, the feeding is good there with the willows. But the willows are tall and thick so simply wandering in them to look for a moose is unwise. Fortunately when they decided to cross the river there was a wide clear spot upstream where we could watch.

Click here for more images

© Jean Clark, 2019(or earlier), email for Terms of Use

2019 Teton Moose, week one

Handsome bull
© Jean Clark, 2019(or earlier), email for Terms of Use

Another September in the Tetons watching moose. I’ve been here a week and had some great opportunities so far. When I arrived it was very warm but that ended with a few rainy days and now it is clear and cold. Frost on the van windows the last two mornings. The rain down her bright new snow to the mountain tops.

 

The three bulls
© Jean Clark, 2019(or earlier), email for Terms of Use

The moose count has varied, one day 4 bulls and 4 cows, but mostly we’ve seen 3 bulls and a couple of cows. This morning it’s down to 1 bull and 2 cows. Not sure if he’s driven the other bulls off or what.

When the 3 bulls were here they were all sparring together with one exception, see the photos for more info.

The cows seem more active, watching people and chasing each other at times. We have to be very aware of where the animals are because they are big and fast and can get pretty darn frustrated this time of year. Watching a bull

Early morning
© Jean Clark, 2019(or earlier), email for Terms of Use

thrash away at a bush then jumping around and trotting away can give you an glimpse of that. They are surprisingly agile given their size. Watching a cow chase another one away or a bull chase a cow brings home the fact these are not sedate harmless critters they are big and fast and not much will stop them.

All three bulls
© Jean Clark, 2019(or earlier), email for Terms of Use

Click here for more images

2018 Tetons Moose

One evening I went  down the road to the riverbank to see is anything was going on. There were lots of folks watching something so I stopped and took the camera with me to catch any action. What action!  The bull Custer had found the cow with twins and was intent on pursuing her. She didn’t want any part of him and so the chase was on. They started out in a thick cover of willows and came out running. They moved downstream in and out of the water. The calves followed mom as best they could. At one point the bull was chasing after the calves a bit but that wasn’t his main objective. It was fascinating to watch, totally futile on his part though since with calves that young she would not be breeding this season. Eventually she moved off into the woods on the far side of the river. He followed but much more slowly.

Mornings here can be pretty nippy, down in the mid teens in fact. A few days after that evening’s drama I was up at 0600 and out at 0700 to see if I could find yet another bull I’d heard about. Sure enough he was where I was told, along with three cows. This bull is massive with an impressive rack. Of course I wasn’t alone, there were quite a few photographers and spectators there. As we watched him and the cows we realized another bull was coming…… oh boy.  The second bull moved in from the west, staying in the low area where one of the cows was while the first bull stayed on the upper area (same level as us). He waited for the second bull to approach him, knowing he had the advantage of higher ground. There was no dramatic charging or clashing but bull #1 was definitely the winner is the contest. Bull #2 moseyed away in search of easier pickings. At least one of these bulls has a name, too, but I down’t know it yet.

Getting really good images is always satisfying, but I truly enjoy watching the animals interact. There’s always something to be learned from observing them.

Click here for more images
© Jean Clark, 2019, email for Terms of Use