A visit during the week at this time of year means few visitors, so lots of space and time to see the animals
We arrived at opening time and only 2-3 elk were collecting tolls at the gate. More tardy elk were making their way to the gate, but they had stop to collect tolls from visitors already past the gate.
By noon hour it seemed the toll collectors at the gate had had their fill and were taking a break. Only 2-3 elk were collecting tolls.
We didn't see the red fox in the enclosure by the Park Store/Restaurant but one of the silver foxes in that area was using a wooden shelter as a viewing platform . We also had good views of two silver foxes in with the Rocky Mountain goats. There are now seven foxes in with the mountain goats.
The antlers have already started to drop from some of the elk/deer, but they were still lots on view. Including a new velvet covered set on two elk which had prematurely lost their antlers. These new antlers will fall off in March and a new set will grow next year.
Three elk on a rock outcropping were watching the road below. Two had their full antler sets, while the third looked unbalanced having lost one side.
Bernard, who was featured in the June Parc Omega PhotoStory, had lost more of his antlers... (Second picture is from June)
Some of the caribou still had antlers
But one male had lost one set. A "side" view shows how large their antlers can get.
Some of the elk were having some minor jousting tournaments before losing their antlers. In the picture below it is a red deer with an elk.
First joust is the red deer vs the elk, the second is two elk.
Two elk were testing the ice to get a drink. The ice held!
A very young red deer was anticipating getting a carrot, while a male stood ready to move in if carrots were on offer.
Some carrots get left on the ground for elk to clean up as fallow, and white-tailed, deer have great difficulty dealing with large carrots.
One male fallow deer seemed to still be controlling his harem.
As usual there were lots of fallow deer around.
Rocky Mountain goats, with their heavy winter coats, were lying in the snow, although a few opted to stay closer to the feed bin...
The moose, this visit, were well back in the bush.
This year's crop of juvenile wolves had gathered around a fallen tree and were busy play fighting. The juveniles are black at birth and as seen below are starting to show a few tufts of whitish fur. The adults range from black to various shades of grey.
The arctic wolves this visit were out in the open close to the road. Their enclosure is now drive through and the last few visits they haven't co-operated - either were hidden or well back from the road.
During the last two visits the Przewalski horses seemed to be more at ease in their surroundings and have been out walking around their field.
One of the black bears was meandering around his area.
The wild boars in the summer dig a shallow depression in the ground and relax in it after a morning feed. At this time of year they seem to enjoy snoozing on fresh hay.
There were 3-4 flocks of wild turkeys wandering the Parc. Likely over 100 turkeys along the side of the road or visible in the bush.
