November Nature News
Posted on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
October brought mostly wintry weather to Wyoming. It seems the local consensus is we missed both spring and fall. May and June were rainy, and October was colder than normal. We did have a few bluebird days, but most of the month was unsettled. It got the skiers excited and should help encourage holiday visitors. Mornings were cold. Eight degrees was a bit chilly for October.
I always enjoy this time of the year as I watch nature change and prepare for winter. Chipmunks have been quite visible and active. The squirrels are caching cones, and my favorite midden has quite a few. I plan to go back in the next week and check out the winter supplies. This ritual did seem early to me, with all the cones stored in September. I imagine that the squirrel knew October was going to be cold and unsettled.
I love to hear the sandhill cranes gathering and soaring above the clouds as they begin their fall migration. Teton Valley, Idaho, is one of the main stopovers for the cranes, so you can hear hundreds calling in the sky. It really is one of those awe-inspiring moments. The Sibley Guide to Birds describes their voice as “a loud, resonant, wooden rattle hkkkkk or hkarrrr, variable, a rolling bugle, typically a long, slightly descending roll, but some variation.” The sound is ethereal and prehistoric at the same time. They are large, graceful birds and a summer resident in this area. They always leave in October and resemble pterodactyls as they soar on the thermals. They will winter in the south, near Mexico.
Another fall indicator is the return of the elk to the National Elk Refuge, located on the outskirts of town. We actually have fewer elk on this feedground than in past seasons. The assumption seems to be that they have found sufficient forage farther north because of the wet spring, or they are more disturbed by hunters on the southern part of the refuge. According to the Oct. 24 biological update, there are only 25 elk on the southern part of the refuge. I did share Grand Teton National Park with some visitors this past month. It is always a thrill to watch the bull elk bugle and call in a harem of females. We saw a few large herds, which is a sure sign of fall.
Fall is also hunting season in the West and, unfortunately, a grizzly bear was shot. It happened to be the cub of our famous female, No. 399. She reared her cubs in the Jackson Lake Lodge area so visible to many. The hunter didn’t have bear spray and so used bullets to protect himself. There seems to be mixed reviews as to what exactly happened. The female grizzly was feeding on a moose carcass left by other hunters. She stood on her hind legs, which they often do because they have poor eyesight. Her size must have frightened the hunter and he felt threatened. He shot and killed her. She was 40 feet away but only 5 feet from the moose carcass. Was she just being curious or actually going to attack? We will never know, but bear spray has been proven to work with aggressive grizzlies. It might have been a better initial response and reinforces the need for bear safety awareness and the proper use of bear spray. Regardless, losing a breeding female hurts the stability of our bear population. Death is never easy.
It’s 8:30 a.m. and the sun is just rising over the Tetons. Since I live in Teton Valley, Idaho, west of Jackson Hole, our days start a bit later. It is 12 degrees outside and there is a dusting of snow from the last storm system. The air is crisp and dry and nature is quiet. A few chickadees are at my feeder, but most species are awaiting the sun. As it comes over the mountains, the sun glistens and dances with the ice on the branches. The day speaks of winter and the ongoing change of the season.
What’s in the woods:
10/1 — snow in the valley and mountains
10/2 — Grand Teton park: bison, pronghorn, flock of mountain bluebirds; Shadow Mountain: Clark’s nutcracker
10/3 — Puzzleface ranch: bald eagle in osprey nest; Munger Mountain: bull moose, flock of juncos
10/4 — Munger Mountain: great gray owl, Clark’s nutcracker, raven, magpie
10/8 — Victor, ID: red tail hawk, bald eagle
10/9 — Fox Creek: rose hips, sandhill cranes flocking
10/12 — rain/snow mix
10/16 — Victor, ID: sandhill cranes flocking
10/16 — Grand Teton National Park: herds of bison, herds of elk with male bugling, pronghorn, mountain bluebird, red tail hawk, mule deer, bull moose, beaver
10/17 — beautiful blue sky day, juncos, chickadee, magpie, white-breasted nuthatch
10/27 — snow in the yard
10/29 — Ely Springs: red fox
Tour Suggestion:
With fall migration, October and November are always great months to look for animals. A great drive is along the Gros Ventre Road off Highway 89/191 north of Jackson. You can find moose along the river bottoms and elk and bison in the sage flats. Inner park roads close Nov. 1, so you do have to plan your travel routes more carefully.
Choosing tour options is always a bit challenging with the season change. I like to hike when the ground is frozen so you don’t slog through the mud. Ski Lake is a great fall hike in the southern Tetons. It is above the valley floor and usually frozen by mid-November. It is accessible at the Phillips Pass trailhead off Highway 22. Once the snow gets a bit deeper in the high country, you can begin to ski. The top of Teton Pass is always a fun start to the season. You can ski south toward Black Canyon. I also like to walk my dogs on country roads. I like Fox Creek in Teton Valley because you can hear the water. I also like Game Creek south of Jackson, which also has the soothing sounds of water. I recommend seeing what the weather is doing, bundling up and heading out to explore. The great part is you never know what you might see!
Cathy Shill is the owner of Hole Hiking Experience.
