Unseasonably warm weather in mid November was great for a visit to Parc Omega. Mid week and time of year meant fewer cars and visitors to share the Parc with. Of course that meant the residents were more insistent on looking for carrots as there were fewer of them being handed out.
The rut was over for the red deer and elk, so there was no bellowing. The mature elk and red deer antlers were very much in evidence.
There were a few mature elk re-growing their antlers. The antlers either fell off prematurely, or as a result of injections (by the vet) to reduce there feistiness during the rut
A group of red deer were having a "parade" as they moved to another area in hope of better carrot supply
There are a number of small animal feeding platforms throughout the Parc. Raccoons, squirrels, blue jays, wild turkeys all take advantage of the free food. It's not unknown for the elk and/or red deer to help themselves either.
Three red deer, a yearling, another maybe two years old and an older one, were working the steep slope behind the beaver pond. Not sure what they were finding to eat, but they seemed quite successful.
Two red deer decided to have a very light joust, training for the future days when they need to sort out who is the boss...
The fallow deer aren't quite tall enough to comfortably reach the car windows for carrot handouts, but at least they don't rise up on their hind feet and lean against the car the way the ibex do.....
The antlers of male fallow deer look quite heavy. Almost a cross between and deer and moose antlers.
I always find it fascinating how the cud moves up and down the throat on the fallow deer.
The buffalo/bison seemed to decided that it was time for them to move to another field. They congregated at the gate, but couldn't get through because of the cattle gate (steel pipes laid across the entrance with spacing between pipes such that the bison can't walk on them). They bunch up and not leave room for cars to get through which creates a back up trying to enter and leave. Usually a Parc staff has to come out on an ATV with a load of corn. The bison quite happily follow the ATV. No ATV came this time, but one or two of the bison moved just enough for cars to slip through.
The wolves, while a good distance from the road, keep a close eye on the cars stopping. Something caught the attention of two of the wolves (maybe a Parc vehicle that they hope might have a snack for them?).
Through the magic of Photoshop, I managed to erase the fence in front of Tico, the moose in the other enclosure were, as always, back in the woods.
I am not sure when/how long the rutting season for the white-tailed deer is, but one male certainly seemed interested in a certain female
The alpine ibex have a feeding "station" on a tall platform. They are quite agile and seem to have no difficulty getting up there.
The Rocky Mountain goats were taking it easy snacking on some hay and not wandering far. Seemed like one was monitoring the group from the roof of the shelter.
The wild pigs/boars were few and far between this visit. We did come across a teenager and its mother.
Only 2-3 prairie dogs were in the open, one was in a cage as it was under veterinary care. The others, we assumed, were asleep in their burrows
For many years the arctic foxes were in a drive-by enclosure of their own. Now they are in a large drive-through area. They used to share the space with the caribou, but something was making the caribou sick, so the caribou were moved back to their previous area. The foxes have now been joined by big horn mountain sheep - a new resident of the Parc. Unfortunately we have not yet been able to spot the sheep.
On this visit, a Parc employee stopped by the shelter and 7 or 8 arctic foxes came running hope she was bring them a treat.
The arctic foxes come in three colourations
The black bears were relaxing in interesting poses....
One of the bears sauntered into its den (I missed the photo of it)
The coyotes used to be by themselves but are now living with the bears in several enclosures
Geese and ducks were in more limited numbers this visit, likely most of them had headed off to the south, but a male common merganser was way out in the lake.
Parc Omega has a number of wonderful large wood carvings in the walking areas. Many of them are in a small woods next to the picnic area
