Moose Twins, Elk Parade & Visitors!

It has been a busy week and very exhausting because of all the big animals in the campground. Part of a camp host's job is to try to watch people to make sure they don't put themselves in harm's way from the animals. On workdays with so many elk and moose around it is a constant challenge to be "everywhere" and tell folks to please step back from the elk!

It was also an awesome week with John and Delona visiting as well as Jane (my co-camp host from Big Bend). John and Delona stayed for a night on their way home to Massachusets via Chicago and Michigan (Sleeping Bear Dunes to see our now retired from Big Bend river guides, John and Elaine). Jane and her aging doggie, Spanky, surprised me with a wonderful overnight visit, too, on their way to Glacier National Park where Jane is now camphosting for her 4th season. The only times Zuni has escaped from the RV was when Jane and Spanky came over to my place to make shift relief in the evening. It was so GREAT seeing all my friends and getting to show them some of the highlights of Rocky Mountain.

This morning I baked some banana muffins for one of our camping families from Holland (as well as other friends who received some) and did a lot of research at the interp library on moose, elk, and other RoMo animals. Gotta at least try to know a little about the critters so the visitors can't stump me every time! I'm sort of sorry I won't be around during the fall rutting season - one of the interesting facts I learned is that both bull moose and elk create urine and mud "wallows". Then, naturally, they "wallow" in the muck to make themselves attractive smelling to the females.

On bull moose the hangy-downy thingie under their chin is called the bell and rope. It does a fine job of collecting the urine-mud goo. On bull elk the hair around their neck and head is the urine-mud goo repository. I also learned that moose also call for mates, but not nearly as loud and far-reaching as the elk bugling. The bull moose calls softly at the water's edge since the sound travels further that way. Another "aha!" is that the female moose wades out into the lake or pond and urinates. The sound of the urine splashing into the water tells the bulls that she desires them. Now YOU know!

Twins less than a week old. Moose and elk are calving all over the park and two visitors were chased by a mama moose who had just given birth up on the Colorado Trail yesterday afternoon.

Me, Delona and John :-)

While the owner is away who knows who visits the campsite!

Birds seem to love perching at the top of one of the few nearby trees. By my description a birder this morning told me this is probably a Wilson's Snipe. Very odd that he or she would be up in the tree.

Okay - just tell me when you've seen enough elk! I love the cowbirds that pick up insects that the elk stir up while they graze. Sometimes the elk bite at the cowbirds when they've had enough of their presence.

Jane and Zuni's friend, Spanky. Jane has had Spanky for 13 years and she was an adult dog when she got her all those years ago. Very sweet friends all!