Pet or wildlife Photos?

[SkierBob]

Not much happening at the guzzler these days. 

[Joe Schmoe]

Good to see these again!

[SkierBob]

[Wrightwood]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/xGQExgOxZMQ?version=3&amp;amp;hl=en_US&quot;&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;param name=&quot;allowFullScreen&quot; value=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;param name=&quot;allowscriptaccess&quot; value=&quot;always&quot;&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;embed src=&quot;//www.youtube.com/v/xGQExgOxZMQ?version=3&amp;amp;hl=en_US&quot; type=&quot;application/x-shockwave-flash&quot; width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;360&quot; allowscriptaccess=&quot;always&quot; allowfullscreen=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/xGQExgOxZMQ?version=3&amp;amp;hl=en_US&quot;&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;param name=&quot;allowFullScreen&quot; value=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;param name=&quot;allowscriptaccess&quot; value=&quot;always&quot;&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;embed src=&quot;//www.youtube.com/v/xGQExgOxZMQ?version=3&amp;amp;hl=en_US&quot; type=&quot;application/x-shockwave-flash&quot; width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;360&quot; allowscriptaccess=&quot;always&quot; allowfullscreen=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;</a>


http://m.koreus.com/video/wapiti-vs-photographe.html

[lagomorphmom]

Yo, Bob, you have some 'splaining to do! What's with the sheep dogs on your cam?

[Joe Schmoe]

"Up Close & Personal"

The onlookers should have done something.  If you've never seen an Elk and if it's not obvious in the video...it's like the deer we have around here...times 2 or 3.  We nearly ran into one near Lake Mary in Az. at night in a very small car.  First we'd ever seen one and it seemed as big as the car.  It's pretty sad that the results of an image search on Google for "Arizona Elk" are 90% hunted/dead Elk....

Update: I've been in contact with the photographer in the above video and we would both like to issue a statement regarding the news of the National Park Service's decision to put the elk down.

My statement:
I am deeply saddened by the fate of the elk. It has certainly pulled a black cloud over this whirlwind "viral video" experience.

I spoke to the reporter who broke the story and she assured me the decision was based on a pattern of aggressive behavior that began prior to the incident documented in this video. The behavior was the result of visitors feeding the elk and conditioning them to seek food from humans. This video only serves as an example of the elk's dangerous behavior, not an impetus to it.

Again, it brings me great sadness to learn of this beautiful animal's demise and the unfortunate circumstances surrounding it.
I'm looking into a destination for proceeds from this video to help the NPS educate visitors on the dangers and consequences of feeding wildlife.

I also want to be clear that James, the photographer, was not complicit in a behavior that led to the elk's demise, but rather was made an example of the result of such behaviors. The elk approached him from behind, likely looking for food as he was conditioned to do.

Statement from James (the photographer):
I love and respect animals and that's why I photograph them and don't hunt them. I am deeply hurt by the loss of such a beautiful creature that in its own way bonded with me. I looked forward to watching him grow to a mature bull as the years passed.

I'm truly heartbroken to know he is gone.

Original video description:

While photographing elk at sunrise in the Cataloochee Valley of Great Smoky Mountains National Park I turned around to see what appeared to be just a curious young bull sniffing a photographer's camera. I snapped a few frames of the apparent harmless encounter.

But the elk became more interested in making trouble than simply the scent of a camera. He started physically harassing the photographer, escallating to full on head-butts.

I quickly switched the camera to video and let it roll (much of the time wondering when I should seriously consider intervening).

Most people who see this ask why the photographer seems to just take the abuse. I asked him in an email what was going through his head. This is his response:

"My first thoughts were "wow, he's getting pretty darn close here." But I've been up close before without incident. I hoped being still and passive would see him pass on. When he lowered his antlers to me, I wanted to keep my vitals protected and my head down. I felt that standing up would provoke him more and leave me more vulnerable to goring. I think that while protecting myself with my head down, having my head down was a signal that I was rutting with him. I was concerned at first, but when he started rearing back and lunging at me later on, I got scared and pissed off. That's when I wagged my finger at him to cut that crap out. I was relieved to see the Ranger coming.

So I guess at some point if the Ranger hadn't of pulled up, I would have had to disengage the best I could. I've joked with my friends that at least he took me for a buck and not a cow!"

[SkierBob]

Still very little activity at my guzzler.

[SkierBob]

Yo, Bob, you have some 'splaining to do! What's with the sheep dogs on your cam?

I've never seen the sheep dogs before. But when I shared the photos with my neighbors one of them knows the owners.  The sheep dogs live about 2 miles to the South of me.  So they were a good three miles from home when they were caught on camera.  The neighbor tells me they get out all the time but I haven't seen them since.  They sure are big!

[Wrightwood]

There hasn't been much activity at our guzzler other than regular coyote visits.

I liked the startled look on this series when one broke through the ice 

[Wrightwood]

There was also this perfect example of Situational Awareness 

[Nolena]

I like my pedicures in warm water....

[SkierBob]

[makgirl]

Taken 1/2 an hour ago....through a WINDOW no less...snapping the Orioles and the hummingbird flew into the frame...all I did was straighten the photo in edit.

[ForestGal]

Gorgeous pic, Makgirl!  Wow, I need to get my feeders out!  Thanks for sharing.

[SkierBob]

Still very little activity at my guzzler

I'm not sure what the black area is.  Any ideas? I may have seen it before about the time the camera would go from night to day mode. 

[SkierBob]

[SkierBob]

I think I need to check the settings on my other camera.  This one is getting pics. 

[Nolena]

Nice!

[Wrightwood]

Bear snags suet feeders from neighbors house and heads to guzzler this morning.

[SkierBob]