Critters on the Road: Wild and Tame

Some of my most enjoyable moments while traveling are the critters on the road: wild and tame. Since I’m not out there just to photograph critters, I only come upon them in unplanned and brief encounters. Sometimes I get lucky and the timing and lighting are perfect, but not often. I’ll share with you some of my favorite shots from the last six months of travel from  Alaska, the East Coast, and West Coast.

Halibut Cove Alaska otter

Musk ox at Alaska Wildlife Center

My visit to the Alaska Wildlife Center south of Anchorage was a worthwhile stop to see bear, moose, musk ox, wolves, and others up close. Nothing like looking into the eye of a musk ox up close. This prehistoric cow-like critter is fascinating to me. I had a brief encounter with a wild musk ox in the far north of Alaska back in 1977 and wrote about it for Alaska Magazine.

Wolf at Alaska Wildlife Center

Down the road to Homer I drove until it was time to take to the water. My destination was Halibut Cove and the Ridgewood Wilderness Lodge. Two nights of wilderness bliss awaited me there and while out fishing for king salmon found this lone sea otter who begged to have his photo taken.

Sea otter at Halibut Cove

I also got to meet a resident seal in Halibut Cove. He didn’t have much to say but I loved his funny face.

Halibut Cove seal

On the drive up to Kenai I was thrilled to see a cow moose on the roadside happily munching away. She hung out unpreturbed while I snapped a few photos. When I moved to the Kenai Peninsula in 1984 moose were seen most every day. Over the last ten years when I go up for my one week visit I’m lucky to glimpse just one. Car versus moose encounters and other hazzards have taken a large toll on the moose population so when I see one I consider myself lucky.

cow moose

Back on the East Coast I toured a couple of farms for Mother Earth News stories. I also attended the Monticello Harvest Festival in Charlottesville, Virginia. Here are a couple of those photos.

Old English Southdown sheep at Monticello Harvest Festival

Future bacon

Up in the mountains of West Virginia, I spied this turtle at Capon Springs resort. I think it’s a box turtle? It kicked it into high gear as I approached but I still managed to get a decent shot.

Box turtle in West Virginia

And when I return home I look forward to my own critters. Our dog Sophie sure loves her kitten Jaques. They play together most every day and will grow up to be best friends.

Sophie and Jacques

So enjoy your critters wherever and whenever you are able. Would a lonely place the planet would be without them.

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