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Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Canadian Beaver

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A hungry beaver
A Hungry Canadian Beaver at Parc National d’Aiguebelle in Quebec

 

The great Canadian beaver! This is an animal that Canadians take pride in for it’s resourcefulness and industrious nature.

No other animal on Earth – aside from man – has the power to transform land as much as the beaver can! These semi-aquatic rodents are the second largest in the world, after the Capybara of South America.

Known for their ability to dam lakes and rivers and build impressive beaver lodges, they were once hunted for their furs. Today, they are mostly protected, but beaver hunting does still occur. The Canadian beaver is actually one of dozens of subspecies of beavers found across the world, although most people only bother to differentiate between Eurasian and North American beavers.

Beavers do not hibernate in the winter time, they remain somewhat active and will come out to feed. They do so by leaving a hole in the bottom of their lodge so they can swim in and out. They also leave a hole in the top of their lodge to let air escape. Sometimes in winter you can see steam coming from the top of an active beaver lodge!

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Nazca Booby

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Nazca Booby
A Nazca Booby at Punta Suarez on Espanola Island in the Galapagos

 

The sleek-looking Nazca Booby of the Galapagos Islands.

Not many years ago, the Nazca Booby was considered a subspecies of the Masked Booby, but now it is recognized as it’s own unique species.

They are mostly white in colour, with black wing tips and black around the face. Despite breeding and hatching on islands with few predators (the Galapagos), the Nazca Boobies will only raise one chick.

Usually two eggs are laid, and whichever hatches first (if they both hatch) will eventually push the other baby Nazca Booby out of the nest. Once out of the protected ‘ring’, the parents will refuse to feed the abandoned baby and it will inevitably die! Cruel siblings huh?

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Groundhog

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A Groundhog, or Woodchuck
A Groundhog, or Woodchuck, photographed in Wakami Lake Provincial Park, Ontario

 

Groundhogs are a type of marmot characterized as furry, lowland creatures that can be found across a large part of US and Canada. They’re also called Woodchucks sometimes!

Close to home, in Ontario, Groundhogs are the main ‘hole-digging’ animal, creating underground burrows and homes for themselves – but also subsequently providing shelter for other animals like foxes, rabbits, skunks and raccoons.

They’re famously known from the movie ‘Groundhog Day’ and the myth that if a Groundhog sees its shadow on Groundhog Day (Febraury 2nd) then there will be six more weeks of winter. If the Groundhog does not see it’s shadow that day, then it will be an early spring.

Groundhogs can swim very well and climb with ease, but tend to spend almost all of their time on land, or in their burrows.

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Galapagos Penguin

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Penguin in the Galapagos Islands
A Galapagos Penguin swimming near Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island

 

Returning to the Galapagos Islands four years after my first visit, there was one specific animal on my ‘must photograph’ list – the endangered Galapagos Penguin!

The last time I was in the Galapagos Islands I saw only two penguins while I was snorkeling at Bartolome Island. They sat on a rocky ledge for a brief 10 seconds before vanishing in the water and escaping from me and my camera.

The second smallest penguins in the world, and the only penguins that are not restricted to the southern hemisphere, these equator-hopping penguins are cute little guys.

They’re not flashy, but they’re definitely ‘penguin’. Blending in perfectly with the black, grey and white lava rocks around the islands, they are surprisingly well camouflaged.

But in the crystal clear water, they are perfect little photo subjects.

This guy was one of three that were swimming along not far from Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island.

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Elk in Great Smoky Mountains NP

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Elk in Great Smoky Mountains NP
An Elk, photographed in Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 

Until the 1700’s, Elk were a common sight in North Carolina and the Appalachian Mountains.

For the past 300 years, they haven’t existed as they were recklessly hunted. But, in 2001 the Great Smoky Mountains National Park began a re-introduction program that has been quite successful and you are able to potentially see Elk living in the wild once again in North Carolina.

One place they tend to stay is in the Cataloochee Valley area of the park, near the historic Palmer Church and Palmer Place House.

These are the biggest animals in the national park, surpassing the black bears in size, so be careful and keep a distance!