Wildlife in the Tetons

Recently, we journeyed to Jackson, Wyoming for an art festival held annually in September.  The galleries showcase amazing artwork in oils, watercolors and photography as well as bronze statues.   Much of the scenery in this area is captured in these artisan creations.  When your view the actual Tetons, it is awesome how these mountains become personified by the movement of weather giving a different mood in landscape.  I kept my camera busy and it was difficult to pick out several photos out of the many taken for this post.  The second photo is a popular scene that you see in many paintings with the barn and backdrop of the mountains.  This picture was taken just as the sun was setting in a mix of cloudy sky.  Of course, God's art festival was constantly surrounding us in the grand display of the Teton Mountains, crowned by clouds, blue sky and sunsets.

There were visitors at the campsite - three bull moose!  They are accustomed to people but caution needs to be taken since they are still a wild animal subject to agitation if they are bothered.  Park rangers are usually vigilant to make sure that camera happy photographers don't get too close.  They are a huge animal and can move fast, up to 35 miles an hour and it would be quite a chase if there wasn't a tree to hide behind.  Most people are respectful and keep a safe distance.  You can admire and also be intimidated by their massive antlers, also called paddles that are used for territorial fighting and courtship.  The antlers can weigh up to 40 pounds and are shed annually in the winter, making room for new growth. 

I don't know what is the most unusual sight - the moose or the photographers.  When word spread of a wildlife sighting in the campsite, you'd see photographers hustling down the path with their gear to capture that one great shot.  Some looked to be weighed down by extensive camera equipment slung over shoulders and in backpacks with tripods and super long range zoom attachments.  Others would have compact cameras and simple smartphones to take that one picture for personal satisfaction.    Cameras and people would be in a cluster.  I wonder what the moose thinks as he looks at this spectacle of humanoids and things that go 'click'!!

These are just a few photos of the many taken.  Perhaps I can share more in a later post.  Meanwhile, I hope you will come back to the Turn-Up Patch in a few weeks for another visit.

I leave you with this simple truth in a quote from Aristotle...."In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."