Sunday, July 31, 2011

Voyageur's Wildlife

This series of photos were at the visitor's center. After looking at these two eagles fighting, the last photo will give you information about them.




Unbelievable. What a stroke of luck to come across these birds fighting.

The Moose was on display inside the center. It is HUGE. Can you imagine coming across something like this while out in the woods?

I'm sorry but I don't remember the name of this bird and it's hard to read the sign. Impressive though.

He's a cutie too. You would need an awful lot of these little ones to get an Ermine Stole though.

Knock, Knock, Knock Who's There?

A Timber Wolf!

Who Gives A Hoot?  Me, the Boreal Owl, That's Who!

This is a Great Grey Owl with his lunch in his beak.

International Falls Area-Jo

This sign is what the visitors from Canada see as they drive across the bridge from Canada. 

An interesting sign outside the International Falls Visitors Center.

This is Big Vic, a Voyageur, he's 30 feet tall and greets visitors as they turn to go into the town of Rainer. Rainer is a small resort town for tourists (not very commercial). There are numerous lodges/resorts for fishing or just kicking back and relaxing.

Again in search for a good pizza. Here in Ranier is a place we were told to go, the pizza was good.

Here are some of their "specialty pizza toppings".


This is at the entrance to Smokey Bear Park. He's 26 feet tall.


We have yet to find an answer to our question as to why most of the logging trucks we see have logs that are cut in about 8 ft. sections. Out west all of our logs are full length of the trees generally. Does anyone have any answer to our question?
This guy was standing outside the entrance to a gas station/tackle shop/currency exchange, etc. Behind him is the sign for a restaurant we went to called the Chocolate Moose.

I had to throw in a sunset. This is the Hilltop Inn across the street from the RV Park we were staying at in International Falls (I must say the only RV Park we could find AND get into). All state parks were still shut down because of the budget problems.

The sign shows the fees to cross the bridge with a vehicle. You can walk across for nothing but still have to go through customs.

The toll house that collects the bridge fees on the U.S. side.

This is Border Bobs which is the last shop before you go into Canada. Many Canadians cross over to get U.S. products/prices. There is also a duty-free shop behind Border Bobs.

Wise words of wisdom from Border Bob.

I thought this was a neat totem pole.

Just Flowers

 A very persistent plant, (who needs soil?, I can grow in a rock).
 Just pretty
 I'm OK
 Enjoy
 OK I'm pretty in my own way
 Yellow anyone
 Just a flower
 Nice flower
 I am different
 A little different
 Not many this color
 Seen these before
 Just liked this one
Hope you enjoyed the flowers

Red River Zoo, Fargo, ND

 We took a couple hours to relax at the zoo, the gray wolves were among the animals we saw, here you see two of them, no idea about the different colors.
 I just thought this one was a beautiful animal, what do you think?
 This North American Porcupine was really content as he slept in his hollow log.
 The peacock would not spread out his tail, he was too busy keeping track of the ladies around him.
 What's a Zoo out west without Prairie Dogs.
 The Slender-tailed Meerkat are fun to watch, plus they know how to poise for the Kodak moment.
 We all know that Jo loves to see animals, this Llama decided to lay down for her.
 This White-lipped Deer has a very nice velvet rack, it was a hot day so he decided to spend it in the water.
 A couple of Geese chowing down.
 This deer is an Asian species, fairly small as you can see.
 An adult Takin Ridge, first one I can ever remember seeing.
This baby Takin Ridge is only a month old, according to one of the signs by the display.