A young Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata) rests on a log after climbing out of the warm waters of the onsen that draws hundreds of monkeys and tourists alike, Jigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
For some time prior to visiting I wondered how the monkeys did not catch hypothermia after emerging from the hot springs, as I speculated that their wet fur must inevitably become a chill, clinging blanket in the cold winter air before it could dry. As if to answer my question, this young one climbed out of the water after swimming around for awhile and made it all seem so very trivial. It simply shook vigorously for no more than 5-10 seconds, much as dogs are wont to do, and the result was what you see here: nearly dry and with a shocking resemblance to Billy Idol.
As we watched them swim, play, heckle each other, and gambol about, the scene did raise other questions. Even though the cold creek was nearby, I noticed that many of the macaques came to the onsen to drink rather than take water from the faster-moving stream. I also noticed several turds float through the same warm water quite near to where the monkeys were actively drinking. I had wondered whether the monkeys had the common decency not to crap in the hot tub, and apparently they do not. I now wonder whether the onsen are a point source for macaque coliform diseases, whether susceptible individuals simply don't survive very long, or whether the primate diet and immune systems are such that a few coliform bacteria here and there can be blithely ignored. I do know that if the Oregon Trail is anything to go by, human beings would likely contract cholera and dysentery in record time by engaging in such practices.
Tags: Japan Japanese Macaque Jigokudani Jigokudani Monkey Park Macaca fuscata Nagano Prefecture National Park Valley of Hell animal hot springs macaque monkey onsen portrait primate snow monkey wild animal wildlife Shimotakai District
© All Rights Reserved
A fierce predator races through deep snow toward its hapless quarry, white fangs flashing in the spring sunlight, Boulder Open Space, Colorado.
In truth, this is our ridiculous mutt Rafferty, ploughing full-speed through nearly 18" of snow that fell over the past day and a half. Like many dogs, he is almost irrationally excited when an opportunity arises to head out the front door. I suspect moments of pure unfettered motion like this are at least partly responsible. Not my usual fare, but I post this as a simple, canine reminder to embrace life for the full-throated thrill that it is, never knowing what may come next.
Tags: Boulder Colorado bokeh dog running running dog snow snow dog wild animal United States of America The Mutt
© All Rights Reserved
A wild Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata) slakes its thirst from the side of one of the hot springs in Jigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Before my visit to the Park, I always wondered how the monkeys avoided frost-bite and hypothermia when they exited the pools in the middle of a cold and snowy winter. While I can't say I have figured out how the fingers avoid frost-bite, I did notice that the guard hairs of the fur were particularly hydrophobic, such that a vigorous shake would leave them surprisingly dry-looking with relatively little effort. It is unclear to me how long it takes the softer insulating fur close to the skin to dry out, or if in fact it gets very wet in the first place! Suffice to say they clearly have developed a method for avoiding hypothermia, as otherwise the troop that winters near the hot springs would not be nearly as robust in size as it is.
Tags: Japan Japanese Macaque Jigokudani Jigokudani Monkey Park Nagano Prefecture National Park Valley of Hell animal drinking hot springs macaque monkey onsen portrait primate reflection snow monkey wild animal wildlife Shimotakai District
© All Rights Reserved
A wolverine (Gulo gulo) hunts for small mammals in a high elevation meadow, Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Montana.
My hiking partner and I stood on a small granite knob to the side of the valley, resting for a moment in the afternoon light and taking off the packs for a minute. We arrived at this point after having been off-trail in the mountain wilderness for 15 miles. Our route led over several passes, up and down drainages that were first choked with downed logs in the forest, and were then transformed by elevation into rock-strewn, twisted heights. Prior to this point, we saw zero mammalian wildlife save the regal Least Chipmunk and the scolding Chickaree Squirrel. There were plenty of deer, elk, and moose tracks and lots of fresh scat, and we also noticed several places in which elk had bedded down the previous night. We must appear oblivious to them, since they were all able to avoid us for many days.
As we stood plotting a route across the stream and consulting the map once more to re-affirm the path we wanted out of the meadow, this thrilling animal moved with singular purpose into view. It pounced into hollows near the stream looking for rodents to eat, and it dug furiously into one of the stream banks. It was unclear whether the effort resulted in a meal due to the angle of observation. It then crossed the meadow, and as it did, it would sometimes leap into the air and pounce with its front paws, similar to what I have seen coyotes and dogs do when hunting rodents. It ultimately leapt across the stream, hunted along another bank, and then it climbed up a granite shelf and disappeared from view amongst the rocks and low vegetation. We stood for awhile just gibbering about the probability and luck involved in us being there to watch and photograph. The wolverine didn't bother to look at us once, though I have no doubt it knew we were there and immediately pegged us as doofuses.
This photo is an extreme crop due to a stripped-down camera setup for backpacking, and I admit is of poor quality. However, I never thought I would see this species in the wild, let alone photograph it, so I decided to post it anyway. The essence of wilderness cannot be more absolutely defined than by the presence of the wolverine.
Tags: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Beartooth Plateau Gulo gulo Montana Rocky Mountains afternoon afternoon light alpine meadow high country high elevation hunting meadow mountains off-trail wild animal wilderness wildlife wolverine Red Lodge United States of America
© All Rights Reserved
Two female Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata) inspect each other's fur for parasitic guests, Jigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The monkeys efficiently dispatched whatever was found with a well-rehearsed crunch between the front teeth. Both of these individuals show bloody marks from recent altercations, most likely with males who seem to throw their weight around as they try to gain and maintain status. I saw several mothers with young babies clinging to their chests quite obviously fleeing at the approach of a marauding male.
Tags: Japan Japanese Macaque Jigokudani Jigokudani Monkey Park Nagano Prefecture National Park Valley of Hell animal grooming macaque monkey portrait primate snow monkey wild animal wildlife Shimotakai District
© All Rights Reserved