Critters on the way to Grand Junction

[tamrock]

I just got to Grand Junction for the night. On the way over I stopped by a mine in Empire, Colorado and only having my smartphone for pictures this little mountain sheep seemed I was good to take its picture from a close distance from the truck. Where I-70 curves east of Junction I really gotta go, so I got off on the Collbran exit and pulled along side Plateau Creek. I noticed some pig tossed some trash down the ditch and I began to relieve myself and heard some branches breaking. Thinking I spooked something I turned around to hopefully catch a glimpse of what it might it be. It was this Brown Bear who only went a short distance in a tree behind me and seemed to be a bit agitated of me disrupting his dinner of garbage someone left. I watched it for a bit and it kept contemplating weather it should come on out of that tree and chase me away from his score of human garbage or not. It was like okay I'm coming down and then well, I better not, because I'm not sure I can whip this human over that delicious trash the Bear Gods left for me. I took a few pictures and let it be.

 

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[billb]

That’s incredible
The bears are quite active these days and glad to hear all is well.
I wonder if Cubs were close by it would’ve been time to fly
Colorado is so so beautiful
Take care

 

[tamrock]

That’s incredible
The bears are quite active these days and glad to hear all is well.
I wonder if Cubs were close by it would’ve been time to fly
Colorado is so so beautiful
Take care

I didn't see any cubs. This would be the 2nd bear I've seen in less than a year now and both in western Colorado. Last bear I saw ran like hell away from me when I stopped to try and get a picture.

 

[billb]

I didn't see any cubs. This would be the 2nd bear I've seen in less than a year now and both in western Colorado. Last bear I saw ran like hell away from me when I stopped to try and get a picture.

Colorado must be such a beautiful place
Years ago we took the trains from NY to KS to visit relatives I hope someday to get back and see Colorado
Take care

 

[newnan man]

Those are great pictures!

 

[Jim in Idaho]

Ya know, Grant, if I didn't know better, I could believe that's a young grizzly, looking at that dished-in face.
Jim

 

[tamrock]

Ya know, Grant, if I didn't know better, I could believe that's a young grizzly, looking at that dished-in face.
Jim

Ya know, Grant, if I didn't know better, I could believe that's a young grizzly, looking at that dished-in face.
Jim

Really, It sure was a bit unique looking with that cinnamon color coat and it wasn't a very agile tree climber. I thought it odd it didn't panic in a retreat like the few other bears I've come across would normally do. Here's another picture of it.

 

[billb]

tamrock…Incredible
It will be a moment in time that you will always remember
Take care

 

[Old Dude]

We have quite a few cinnamon colored black bears here in my area, but I would not dare guess what you saw. I have never seen a grizzly in the wild, so definitely will take you westerners’ word. Great pics.

 

[RGINN]

Kinda different lookin. Haven't seen any bears so far this year, but a lot of moose around.

 

[tamrock]

Kinda different lookin. Haven't seen any bears so far this year, but a lot of moose around.

Over the decades the moose have really flourished in the Rockies all the way from Montana to Northern New Mexico. Saw this one on the east side of Cottonwood Pass in July 2021. Not far west of me along the eastern side of hwy 72 on the front range the moose have been going after hikers more frequently.

 

[RGINN]

They have calves now and there's been a few confrontations here, nothin serious. We had a bull in the parkin lot at work early the other morning so I took Keita out there to see it. This guy is straight outta Africa and don't speak no English yet. He was thrilled. We stopped about 50 yds. back. He started filming it. I taught him the english name, Moose. He's hollerin 'Moose, moose, moose!' That moose turned to face us, lowered it's ears, and that hair stood up on the back, so I told him, Keita, Keita, Keita, quit, we got to move back. (I ain't that great in French either, so I just grabbed him) Only thing I can figure, is this guy is a huge guy, so maybe the moose saw him as a challenge, haha!