Tag Archive | Mammals of Calgary

Furry Friday: Another Bobcat

Sep28

Ron Chiasson recently found this beautiful Bobcat in north Calgary.

Bobcat

Bobcat, Calgary, September 2018. Photo by Ron Chiasson.

Bobcat

 Bobcat, Calgary, September 2018. Photo by Ron Chiasson.

It seems that Bobcats used to be seen mostly in the SW, near the Weaselhead or Fish Creek Park or in adjacent neighbourhoods. In the last few years we are hearing reports from many more areas of the city, including places that are quite far from the river valleys and the boreal forest. I don’t know if they are more numerous, more widespread, or if more people having cameras at the ready means we hear about almost every sighting.

Bobcat

Bobcat, Calgary, September 2018. Photo by Ron Chiasson.

You can see more of Ron Chiasson’s photography here.

Furry Friday: Beavers and Porcupine

May11

Here are some very photogenic mammals seen in Calgary in April 2018 by Tony LePrieur. The Beavers were photographed in Fish Creek Provincial Park, and the Porcupine in Carburn Park.

Porcupine

Porcupine

Porcupine

Beaver

Beaver

Beaver

Beaver

You can see more of Tony’s photos on this page.

Furry Friday: Hares Changing Colour

Apr28

Here are three recent photos of Snowshoe Hares taken in the Weaselhead in Calgary, showing the transition from their white winter coat to their brown summer coat.

February 20, 2017: Snowshoe Hare, Weaselhead. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

April 9, 2017: Snowshoe Hare, Weaselhead. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

April 23, 2017: Snowshoe Hare, Weaselhead. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

To see more of Tony LePrieur’s photos, see his Flickr page.

If you have photos of Calgary mammals you’d like to share here, email them to us at birdscalgary@gmail.com.

Furry Friday: Porcupine at Carburn Park

Apr21

Tony LePrieur photographed this Porcupine in Carburn Park in SE Calgary this week.

Porcupine, Carburn Park, April 20, 2017. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

Porcupine, Carburn Park, April 20, 2017. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

Furry Friday: Nose Hill Porcupine

Feb3

The wooded ravines on Nose Hill are one of the most reliable places in the city to find North American Porcupines. Tony LePrieur photographed this one on January 28, 2017.

North American Porcupine, Nose Hill, January 28, 2017.

North American Porcupine, Nose Hill, January 28, 2017.

Furry Friday: Mule Deer Bucks at Dawn

Sep30

Judi Willis photographed these Mule Deer bucks in the early morning sun on September 25 in South Glenmore Park, Calgary.

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Resting in the grass.

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Getting up.

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A second buck.

Furry Friday: City Foxes

May29

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

I recently found a Red Fox den in the city of Calgary. There are five kits, and although I didn’t have my camera when I found them, I returned later and was able to get a couple of photos before the adult spotted me. The den is in a very exposed and quite busy spot, so I didn’t want to stay and disturb them.

IMG_1337Adult Red Fox with one kit at den.

IMG_1343Red Fox kit.

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Furry Friday: White-tailed Deer Buck

Apr26

Paul Turbitt first saw this magnificent ten-point White-tailed Deer buck in Fish Creek Provincial Park last December. He photographed it, and its young companion, in late December and early January.

121202 monarch

121230 Tenner

121230 Littlee buck

1212330 Tenner-2

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130105 BH3

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For more of Paul’s photos, see his blog, Turbo’s Track and Tour.

Coyote and Beaver

Apr27

Guest Post: Coyote and Beaver

The amazing sequence of photographs below was taken last week by Rob English, who kindly shared them with us.  This interaction between a Coyote and a Beaver took place at the large pond just North of the highway 22X bridge, on the west side of the Bow River in Fish Creek Park.  The photos were taken on two consecutive days, so this is a persistent Coyote (assuming it is the same one both days).

Although this is a birding blog, we are interested in all aspects of nature, and we particularly love mammals.  One just doesn’t get the chance to see and photograph mammals as often as birds.  And one is rarely lucky enough to see an encounter like this.

If you have interesting nature photos that you’d like to share, please send them to us and we may post them here.

Thanks again to Rob English.

He got away.

Maybe if I sneak up from this angle…

He looks pretty big…

How about a sudden attack from this side?

Pretty big from this side, too.

Back to Meadow Voles…

Coyotes are very opportunistic feeders, and have been known to eat Beavers.  But a lone Coyote would have quite a bit of trouble with a full-grown Beaver like this one.  As you can see, the Coyote is quite hesitant to attack.

Photos by Rob English

Posted by Bob Lefebvre