Category Archives: Wildlife

Destination, Nature, Photography, Travel, Wildlife

BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK – DILLON PASS | YELLOW MOUNDS OVERLOOK #EXPLORESD

Image January 18, 2021 Dan Traun

DILLON PASS | YELLOW MOUNDS OVERLOOK

This overlook is placed within the most colorful portion of Badlands geology. Yellow, purple, gray, and striped reddish beds display the sequence of Yellow Mounds, the Interior Paleosol, Chadron, and Brule formations respectively, from bottom to top. ~National Park Service

The yellow mounds were formed when the sea drained, leaving the black ocean mud exposed to air. These formations are some of the oldest in the park. Both sides of the road offer jaw-dropping views. Catch a sunset here to watch all the colors light up. ~https://www.midwestliving.com/

This is one of my favorite overlooks in the park for all the reason mentioned above. Our visit to Dillon Pass in September 2020 during the pandemic was extra special. Shortly after we arrived we discovered there was a coyote on the hunt.

The layers of sediment are fascinating and natural colors quite beautiful.

Further along the loop just past the Conata Basic Overlook we were treated to an encounter with Bighorn sheep.

Beautiful views from Burns Basin Overlook. I always enjoy this park; even though this was just a drive through-quick visit on our way home from Custer.

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Nature, Photography, Project, Wildlife

AS THE WATER RECEDES | Part 2 – Bay City, WI #plasticpolution

Image April 22, 2019 Dan Traun 3 Comments

AS THE WATER RECEDES | Part 2

I wanted to provide an update on a previous post, AS THE WATER RECEDES – Bay City, WI #plasticpolution. Earth Day seemed like a great time to do so.

The water was receding and making progress, but snow melt in Northern Minnesota and recent rains has the water level on the rise once again. I’ve made several trips to Bay City since cleanup effort on Saturday April 6th, watching and waiting for the water level to go down. The Village of Bay City has made great efforts in cleaning up the debris that washed ashore at Saratoga Park.

Before

After

It was happy to see that only traces of garbage remain.

Before

After

If you were ever looking for a bit of driftwood, I would think now would be the perfect time to find whatever shape/size you desire. There are numerous piles that have been gathered up.

What boggles my mind though is there was a fresh Mountain Dew can laying on the side of the road. I still struggle with what goes through the mind of the individual that discards a soda can. It isn’t that difficult to recycle.

It was encouraging to see that the campground area was mostly devoid of trash. During the mechanical clean up, more worm and snuff containers turned up. There is a whole lot of natural debris; cleaning that up will take some work. If only one could snap their fingers to change the hearts and minds of those who seeming don’t give a hoot. It’s a process. Tell people how you feel about this sort of thing; make your opinion known whenever and where ever you can. Plastic pollution is terrible, it’s ugly and it horrible for the wildlife.

Nature, Photography, Wildlife

COLVILL BAY – Red Wing, MN #exploremn

Image January 27, 2019 Dan Traun 2 Comments

COLVILL BAY

After missing sunrise and quick drive down the lake and back I stopped in to Colvill Bay. Per usual this time of year, there was a flurry of activity. Ducks in the water and eagles flying overhead and perched in trees.

I was greeted right away by a mature eagle perched close by. The snow was falling pretty good at this point; it sat there eye-balling the ducks below.

There were quite a few very active eagles there this morning. As I was shooting, a poker theme emerged.

It was tough shooting with the steam rising off the water and snow falling from above.

It is always interesting to see what variety of ducks will be in the bay.

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Mergansers

Mergansers

Mallards

Mallard

Destination, Nature, Photography, Wildlife

FORT SNELLING STATE PARK – St. Paul, MN #whitetaildeer

Image November 12, 2018 Dan Traun 7 Comments

Fort Snelling State Park is a great place to go to photograph Whitetail deer. My wife Cyndie and I, along with our photog friend Linnae, made the chilly early November trip to in hopes of photographing deer.

In previous years, it seemed that we started out seeing smaller bucks and worked our way up. Not this year. When we arrived around 8 a.m., we found the big guy with a single doe in a ditch along side the road. We didn’t have much time with this guy. A truck pulled up shortly after we did and was a bit close for his comfort. The doe trotted off with him closely behind.

We never pass over the boat landing on Picnic Island. There is usually something interesting there to see.

It didn’t take long into our walk on Pike Island and my wife spotted another big fella laying down in the thick stuff. Another fine looking buck. He had a couple of does next to him.

There was just as much photographer activity as deer. Another photographer told us about a piebald spike buck he had seen earlier. It wasn’t too long after that and we have the fortune of seeing him as well.

Pike Island is pretty large, but not so large that you cannot cover the area at a leisurely pace. It seemed like we saw way more deer this trip compared to years past.

There is quite an abundance of other wildlife and nature to behold in the park. Here are a few other things that caught my eye.

Another great visit to a wonder Minnesota State Park. If you have never been, I highly recommend this experience.

Previous trips to Fort Snelling State Park

Destination, Nature, Photography, Travel, Wildlife

Theodore Roosevelt National Park – North Dakota, The Wild Horses #TRNP

Image October 15, 2018 Dan Traun 4 Comments

Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) – The Wild Horses

Viewing and photographing the wild horses was the primary goal of the trip in early October 2018. We had the good fortune of a prior consultation with Deb Lee Carson before our trip. Deb has spent a lot of time with the Wild Horses of TRNP. Having never been to TRNP, her insights were very helpful and greatly appreciated.

“It is difficult to explain one’s love for horses, it cannot be explained, it is simply felt.” ~ Deb Lee Carson

The Wild Horses of TRNP are majestic animals to say the least. Their unbridled beauty roaming free was amazing to witness in person and photograph. Three days total time in the park didn’t seem near long enough. I was grateful for the exposure and the time I had with the horses.

[Read about the background and history of horses at TRNP]

The 46000 acre South Unit of TRNP is an incredible backdrop for these beautiful creatures. All that space does make for a lot of places to roam out of sight. Tuesday afternoon when we arrived we did not see a single horse. The next morning we had a dusting of snow and it was cold and windy. We managed to find a few horses.

Our luck turned around on Thursday. After photographing sunrise from Badlands Overlook we continued on the loop counter-clockwise and found Grey Ghost grazing by himself.

Grey Ghost

We encountered Flax and his band a few different times on Thursday. He is a handsome stallion. Dolly and Kat are two of his mares.

Flax

Dolly

Kat

We saw quite a few more on Thursday just after sunrise. Lots of horses snoozing in the warm early morning sunlight.

Bad weather in Wyoming brought Deb Lee Carson to Medora late Thursday evening. She accompanied us in the morning to photograph. A sunrise opportunity didn’t really present itself, but the light was pretty amazing that Friday morning regardless. The clear skies and the bright sunlight back-lit the horses and illuminated their surroundings. What a great end to a terrific photo trip to TRNP. We saw a nice large group of horses that morning and spend a good amount of time photographing and observing them.

Deb Lee Carson

Pleas also check out This Mustang Life and their project: Taking Back The West.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-_7j5I2M60

Destination, Nature, Photography, Travel, Wildlife

Theodore Roosevelt National Park – North Dakota, The Wildlife #TRNP

Image October 14, 2018 Dan Traun 2 Comments

Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) – The Wildlife

Wildlife – South Unit

Locating wildlife in TRNP – South Unit was challenging the first few days. All the critters hunkered down in the cool and windy weather. As the weather improved, so did the wildlife viewing. We saw a Coyote hunting prairie dogs in the early a.m.; must to dark for a photograph. We also met a porcupine in the early morning hours crossing the road. Plenty of Cottontail Rabbits in the early a.m. too.

Bison

Bison roam around all over the place; there are plenty to see throughout the park. Large herds congregated by the campground by the river on the West side of the park.

Prairie Dogs

Prairie Dogs were plentiful as well. There are three really large towns right along side the road. They are fun to watch.

Pronghorns

Pronghorns in park were sparse. We happened upon two bucks that had just finished a battle. They were noticeably fatigued and bloody.

Mule Deer

Mule Deer are plentiful. They were everywhere and ran around like squirrels in the park. We saw mostly does, but did manage to locate two nice bucks and one spike buck.

Whitetail Deer

The Whitetail Deer were very elusive. Most of the sightings were along the river by the campground. We did spot a nice buck by the Jones Creek Trail Head. I was shooting out the passenger window and the temp different between the vehicle and the outside was significant which softens the image considerably.

ELK

We saw two different bull Elk just outside of Medora the first afternoon when we arrived, but did not stop to photograph. I was surprised to see them so close to the road, but thought photographing them would be a snap – WRONG. ELK in the park are very elusive. We didn’t see a single Elk – cow or bull – until the last morning we were there. Two full days of exploring the park and not even a glimpse. When we did manage to find them, they were a good 1/2 mile off on top of a butte. The light was low and the photos grainy. I was just happy to see them and hear them. There were three different bulls bugling at one point; it was pretty fantastic.

Destination, Nature, Photography, Travel, Wildlife

BARN BLUFF – Red Wing, MN #exploremn

Image July 29, 2018 Dan Traun 1 Comment

BARN BLUFF

Barn Bluff is a bluff along the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minnesota, United States. The bluff is associated with Dakota legend from hundreds of years ago. During the 19th century, the bluff functioned as a visual reference for explorers and travelers. The bluff overlooks the downtown area and towers about 400 feet above the Mississippi River with an extensive view of Lake Pepin to the south. It is one of hundreds of bluffs in the Driftless Area, which covers parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, in addition to the southeastern toe of Minnesota. -wikipedia

Barn Bluff aka Mount La Grange and He Mni Can, is 3100′ long, 800′ wide, 334′ above the river and 1001′ above sea level. There are two main lookouts (red dots) on either end of the bluff; both equally spectacular. The main trailhead can be accessed on the East side; off of East 5th Street (blue dot). See Map for trail details. More info on Barn Bluff here. If you even find yourself in Red Wing, plan on spending a couple of hours hiking the bluff; you won’t be disappointed.

The West (Red Wing ) Overlook

East (Lake Pepin) Overlook

Extra

Old Post Cards

Above High Bridge on Barn Bluff, Mount La Grange Red Wing

Destination, Photography, Travel, Wildlife

NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER – Ely, MN #exploremn

Image May 24, 2018 Dan Traun 3 Comments

NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER

The North American Bear Center is a nonprofit museum with indoor and outdoor viewing of live black bears in natural habit with a pond and waterfall. The 2.5-acre enclosure is home to four resident bears – Ted, Tasha and Lucky, and Holly. The educational mission of the NABC is to replace myths about bears with reality; with over 50 video exhibits of wild Minnesota bears, a wide variety of daily programs, and a hands-on children’s area, people of all ages learn bear behavior from the bears themselves. It is recommended to allow at least a two-hour visit for this unique, world-class experience that the whole family will enjoy! ~Explore Minnesota

If you are ever near Ely, MN you will want to stop by the North American Bear Center. I happened to be in the Ely area this last weekend visiting the International Wolf Center on the opposite end of town.

I was traveling with two other photographers; we were fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. We had finished viewing the expansive exhibit and went out on the observation deck. No bears were out in the main enclosure at the time. We did notice four bear center staff off in the distance with a photographer. As luck would have it, we were waved over for a more up close and personal view. This was certainly a better perspective to capture the bears. There was a local professional photographer there shooting to provide updated photos of the bears at the center. We were allowed to shoot through the fence from that location. It was magnificent to see Lucky and Holly sparing, rolling around in the grass and just simply being bears.

Our view prior to being waved over

Our view after being waved over

View from observation deck during a scheduled feeding

Bear-sized Cong filled with grapes

Eating apricots

At the feeding platform

Making short work of the snak

Lucky all done snacking

Check out the North American Bear Center website | fb page

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Destination, Photography, Travel, Wildlife

INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER – Ely, MN #exploremn

Image May 23, 2018 Dan Traun

INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER

The International Wolf Center (IWC) is a research and educational organization based in Ely, Minnesota. Its mission is to “advances the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wildlands and the human role in their future.” The Wolf Center operates an interpretive center in Ely open to the public. Visitors can view captive “ambassador wolves” in natural surroundings through large windows. There is much to learn about wolves through a variety of exhibits and programs. This organization lies within Superior National Forest. It also sponsors research symposia and offsite educational programs, publishes International Wolf magazine, and provides information about wolves via its website.

In response to wolf controversies, the Wolf Center does not take a stand on how wolves should be managed (such as by hunting or trapping), as long as healthy wolf populations are maintained. Its policy is to provide the most accurate, up-to-date information possible about wolves and let people make their own decisions. ~wikipedia

If you are ever near Ely, MN you will want to stop by the International Wolf Center. I happened to be in the Ely area this last weekend during a photography trip with two other gentlemen to the Minnesota North Shore. We stayed in a cabin about 45 minutes from Lake Superior; just outside of Isabella, MN on Hwy 1. The weather wasn’t cooperating for sunrise or sunset one day; this was a welcomed alternate destination given our close proximity to Ely.

THE PACK

It is pretty amazing to see a pack of wolves up close and personal albeit through glass. The staff give fantastic informational presentations about the wolves and even moose. If you are want to see how a pack of wolves feed, you can do that too. There is a What’s for Dinner program every Saturday at 7 p.m.

MORE IMAGES OF THE WOLVES

You don’t have to look far to find controversy surrounding wolves in Minnesota. I found a story about a hunter and his encounter with wolves too. Wolves are beautiful wild creatures and I hope there will always be a place for them in Minnesota.

Check out the International Wolf Center website | fb page

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Destination, Nature, Photography, Travel, Wildlife

CUSTER STATE PARK – Custer #South Dakota

Image March 20, 2018 Dan Traun 7 Comments

CUSTER STATE PARK

Custer State Park is a South Dakota State Park and wildlife reserve in the Black Hills. The park is South Dakota’s largest and first state park, named after Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer. The area originally started out as sixteen sections, but was later changed into one block of land because of the challenges of the terrain. The park began to grow rapidly in the 1920s and gained new land. During the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps built miles of roads, laid out parks and campgrounds, and built three dams that set up a future of water recreation at the park. In 1964 an additional 22,900 acres were added to the park. The park covers an area of over 71,000 acres of hilly terrain and is home to many wild animals.

The park is home to a famous herd of 1500 free roaming bison. Elk, coyotes, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, river otters, pronghorn, cougars, and feral burros also inhabit the park. The park is famous for its scenery, its scenic drives (Needles Highway and the wildlife loop), with views of the bison herd and prairie dog towns. This park is easily accessible by road from Rapid City.

The popularity of the park grew in 1927, when U.S. President Calvin Coolidge made it his “summer White House” and announced from the Black Hills that he would not seek a second full term in office in the election of 1928.
~wikipedia

Wild Life Loop Road

South Dakota is a ruggedly beautiful land to explore. High on our list of favorites is Custer State Park. The whole park is absolutely beautiful. The Wildlife Loop road is so convenient. It is very easy to drive and the wildlife sighting are frequently and plentiful most of the time.

Wildlife Loop Road travels through 18 miles of open grasslands and pine-speckled hills. This beautiful land is what the park’s wildlife calls home. Depending on the day, you might see bison, pronghorn, whitetail and mule deer, elk, coyotes, burros, prairie dogs, eagles, hawks, and a variety of other birds. A medley of colorful wildflowers and prairie grasses surround the road, making for a picturesque drive.

Our trip in late July 2017 was another memorable one filled with wildlife, scenery and of course, the burros.