The closest relatives to bears are seals, sea lions and walrus. Pinnipeds (the name given to the scientific order for seals, sea lions and walrus) are the sea-going cousins of bears.
Twice the size and just as ornery as a polar bear, these two creatues have almost identical skulls and are marine predators.
Stellar sea lions are abundant in the coastal waters of the pacific ocean but are still considered near threatened.
Males arrive on what scientists called a rookery. Territorial, this sends other dominant males elsewhere as the reproductive rookery is claimed and within weeks the females and immature young arrive.
I wouldn’t say we were close to this island but close enough to hear how loud these animals are. Especially the dominant male who plays a key role in reproduction.
We found fthese three a little further up from the island covered in sea lions. The one didn’t even move. This buoy is in the middle of the ocean, no island or coast nearby. These three are lucky there were no orca sightings in the area!
This past Monday we headed to work like I have been for the last 8 years and Stacey, 18. We started out and spotted a large herd of deer as we were just heading out of Killarney. A few miles later we spotted a buck chasing 3 does through a field.
Carrying on we spotted two moose to the west and then a little further and we saw a bull moose just off a mile road. He typically stands right in the middle of the section where we can see him but can’t. So we made quick detour to have a closer look.
Please ignore my awful iPhone photography, lol.
He wasn’t very photogetic but he did pass right in front of the vehicle so I was able to get a photo of him from closer up.
I don’t travel to work with my camera although I often comment that I should. I was just saying how nice it would be to get a photo of a moose on one of these small hills with the sun rising in the background and here, on this morning, we spotted more wildlife than we ever had. Anyways, we travelled down the mile road with the intention of just crossing back up to the highway. Instead we came upon a large drift and ended up turning around. When we got back to where we found the bull, we found his entire family. 5 of them off in the trees trying to get away from the crazy women chasing them.
On the way home we spotted all the moose again but not the deer.
So the next morning I came prepared. And guess what, not one animal that morning, not even a deer. That afternoon we took a detour home and spotted one deer.
So the following morning I tried again and, we spotted the family. Same location. Momma and her two yearlings, one boy, one girl. The girl is braver than her brother. There was no sun rise or hill for them to pose on but there was fog and frost and a good vantage point off their mile road.
The young bull took off and got himself situated into the willows until his Mom caught up to him.
All you can see are his legs and his little rack.
I do plan on heading back on a weekend where I can situate myself and wait them out. Hopefully I can get them on a clear day and I can catch the little bull moving around and away from his Mom. I’d also like to see the other two in this group because I think one is likely a large bull or maybe another cow with her yearling.
CRUMBLING MEMORIES 