Spring is here, and its time to slough off the old to make way for the new! This transition brings us out of the symbolic season of death into the season of (re)birth. Whether it be the budding of new growth in the plants as mentioned in last week’s write-up of our pasque flowers, or the first fall of cleansing rains (often intermingled with the lingering grip of winters white, as is falling while I write this piece), the season refreshes the land with all things new. That transition is apparent with our wild neighbors in a few very telling ways.
While most of our wildlife is around us all year long, winter is typically spent in reclusion, with many animals that are awake throughout the long season keeping to the shelter of the forest for general protection from the harsh elements of the mountains. As we emerge into spring, the warmer days and new plant growth tends to bring everyone out of their hiding and hibernations to feast on the fresh bounty of natures buffet. Animals that live at higher elevations in the cold season come down (often into town), to feed on the new that is not available in their normal territory. This emergence is also not necessarily known for its “fashionable” look, regardless of how majestic an animal might appear during the more appropriate viewing seasons of summer and fall.
I often equate this transition to spring as though a great “waking up” is taking place, and many of our wild neighbors certainly seem to display just those qualities that we humans tend to associate with our own awakenings. I specifically refer to the appearance of “bed head” that our neighbors in the deer family show as they take in their first warm days. While most mammals tend to make a seasonal transition in their coat, some wear that change better than others. Our moose, elk and mule deer seem to appear the most “worse for the wear” when it comes to that doffing of winters garb. Thankfully this particular winter did not show the ravages of winter ticks on too many of our moose as we’ve experienced in years past, as that look can definitely take the cake in regards to winning any potential contest on the scruffiest looks come spring.
These homely elk of the Magnolia herd were showing off their finest shag on a warm sunny morning near Gross Reservoir as a small group of the main herd took their graze near the road. With the rise in temperature, the winter coat gives way to a lighter fur, and can sometimes be seen shaken off in great clouds of hair as the new replaces the old. The thinning coat gives display to a more gaunt appearance, with the animals significantly thinner after a long winter of scant food. This young male is also likely to soon lose his spikes, only to be replaced by his first real antlers, a change that will also signify his “eviction” from the herd of cows and siblings, and his own “coming of age” and induction into a bachelor herd of bulls.
Needless to say, in the realms of wildlife photography spring can be a “challenging” season, and best to transition to birding for a while, welcoming the return of our beautifully plumaged winged friends while the mammals regain their “best side”.
Originally published in The Mountain-Ear
