After sniffing the area, this big male decided that the fresh dandelions were more tempting than getting into a battle with an equally large female with cubs.
Tag Archive: Banff National Park
Although this bear was pretty big he was not the biggest in the area. Later in the afternoon, bear 122 (based on a ear tag), a larger, more experienced bear showed up and quickly displaced this bear (known as “Split Lip” due an old gash over the left upper lip), from the area. If the female had been around and cycling it likely would have been a much more combative fight. Instead, Split Lip sprint down and hill and out of range from 122 before any damage could be done.
A red tail hawk tries to dry out from another prolonged downpour in Banff National Park this spring. With record snowfalls over the winter and several days of rain this spring, many of the low lying valleys are or were underwater and a few roads were temporarily closed due to mud and rock slides.
These two males took a break from feeding along the Bow river in Banff National Park. Harlequin numbers have been down over the past few years and this year an effort is underway to try and catch as many as possible for banding and placement of radio-transmitters to help researchers figure out why.
Owen Slater Photography 