This picture was taken in front of one of Grandma Dora’s quilts.

Love you all!!

Here are “our boys” all snuggled up giving each other a little extra warmth and comfort.  It’s hard to tell in the picture when we boy ends and the other begins.  They are looking forward to Spring, too, although Montana has had a very mild winter like to many other places.  And, this reminds me – give your pets an extra snuggle today!

At first we thought this was a wolf because it is so big but after looking more closely we think it is a big, healthy coyote.  In the one picture he is looking back over his shoulder at the eagle and raven who also wanted a bite of lunch.  In the other picture, he has decided to have his lunch to go so he doesn’t have to share.

Wolves are coyotes are very similar, but some of the distinguishing differences are (the link at the end is where Grandma Dora found this information:

1. Wolves are larger than coyotes.
2. Coyotes have bushy tails than wolves, and often hold it low to the ground.
3. Wolves hunt in packs, while coyotes hunt primarily in pairs.
4. Coyotes are more adaptable to human beings than wolves.
5. A wolf’s calls is termed as howls, while that of coyotes are termed as howl, yelps, and yips depending on the rise and fall of the note.

Read more: Difference Between Coyote and Wolf | Difference Between | Coyote vs Wolf http://www.differencebetween.net/science/nature/difference-between-coyote-and-wolf/#ixzz1l3cDSbtl

And, look at this coyote picture at how narrow their snout is.  Wolves tend to have a wider face maybe because they need more jaw power since they prey on larger game.

Eagles feed mainly on fish, but water fowl, small mammals and carrion supplement their diet, especially when fish are in short supply. Do you know what carrion is?  You might want to look it up, but be prepared – it sounds gross!  Eagles can fly up to 30 mph and can dive at speeds up to 100 mph.  Their excellent eyesight allows them to spot fish at distances up to 1 mile. Eagles swoop down to seize a fish in their talons and carry it off, but can only lift about five pounds.

Bald eagles mate for life. Courting behavior begins in early April and often involves spectacular aerial displays of eagles diving and locking talons. Eagles lay from 1 to 3 eggs (commonly two) and the eggs usually hatch between late May and early June after a 34 or 35 day incubation period. At four months of age, eaglets appear to be larger than their parents because of their longer flight feathers. These feathers serve as nature’s training wheels, helping the juveniles stabilize during their early flying days. By the end of the summer, the offspring can generally fly and take off to be on their own. Eagles migrate in winter and often roost and hunt in groups along waterways that don’t freeze where there is abundant food.

Now that you know a little bit about eagles, please watch this slideshow.  What do you think the eagle and the raven are looking at before the eagle takes flight?  Answer will be posted tomorrow!!

This may take a minute to download so please be patient.  Eagle and Raven-Medium

Grandma Dora thinks the plumage makes them look like a giant pine cone.  What great camouflage since they are here in the high forests.  They eat pine needles but their diet is so varied there territory can not be determined solely by available food sources.

Blue grouse have been seen this winter near Silver Gate and at the northeast entrance to the Park.

Happy hunting with that camera!!

We’ll have more pictures in days to come so please check back.