stopping on the side of the Trans-Canada Highway to take pictures of wildlife
Since it’s always good to have something to aim for, I have a list in my head of things I’d like to take pictures of. I like animals, so there are a lot of animals on that list. Whenever I’m in the mountains, I’m on the lookout for mountain goats. They were elusive in Jasper and Banff two years ago (so I bought a mountain goat art print in Jasper instead). This year on my camping trip with my parents, we saw some off the highway a few times, but it was never in a place that was safe to stop on the side of the road, until we saw one near Field, BC. Granted it was across the busy four lane Trans-Canada Highway so shots had to be timed between big semis passing by, but sometimes you can’t be picky and just have to make the best of it.
At least, it wasn’t like the only time we saw a black bear in Banff on this trip (there were many bear warnings in Banff this summer so it was a bit odd this was the only one we saw). We stopped on the side of the road, along with about a hundred other tourists – and yes, of course, you’re not supposed to stop on the side of the road to take pictures of wildlife, but try telling that to a tourist who just wants a picture! 🙂 Anyway, there was a black bear on the other side of a fence in some bush and a crowd had formed on the edge of the highway – there were so many tourists jockeying for position, that I had to put my elbows out to protect mine (I’m not particularly proud of that, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!). At least I didn’t try to take a selfie with the bear in the background!!
Next on the list…owls.
prairie girl wonders 