Category: Animals

300+ Pigs

A Sow Munches on Grape Hyacinth

Across from the Dungeness Creamery on Towne Road is a farm where apparently, the owner raises pigs.

Every spring, those of us who walk the levee trail see sows as they graze the field, feed their piglets, and often doze between feedings. It’s fun to watch, but a challenge to photograph since they’re quite a distance from the road; so a long lens is required. Even so, capturing the piglets on camera is more difficult due to their size, so I focus on the sows.

And I do so because I find them to be endearing since I once had a collection of over 300 stuffed, ceramic, and painted pigs that surrounded me in an otherwise dull and sterile cubicle.

Each of them helped make work less stressful by easing tensions that sometimes (or often) arose in the workplace, and because my coworkers, and friends gifted them to me, they held good memories with each one having a delightful story behind it.

But sadly, after I retired and we moved to Sequim, it was time to part with them and since a neighbor’s daughter loved them too, I regifted most of them to her and she has been there caretaker ever since.

But to this day, I still find pigs to be endearing, and therefore, the collection continues- with photos and good memories that will travel with me wherever I go.

Horseshoes Anyone?

A Young Colt Nursing

While out photographing with a friend, we happened to pass by a farmhouse on Woodcock Road with not only a beautiful mare nearby, but a very young colt nursing.

And, because I’m a member of a digital artistry group, with an assignment to focus on “shoes that tell a story,” I challenged myself to put the photo I captured together with three of my others to create a composite – and this is the result.

Feedback is encouraged, so please let me know if you enjoy seeing this type of work, and if not, what you do enjoy seeing. I’m attempting to touch on all the aspects of life here in Sequim, and to share some of my travel images as well, but if I can improve on content – feel free let me know, and please be honest.

Thanks much!

Oh So Cute Creature Sightings

A Short-Tailed Weasel Poses for a Quick Portrait

Lucky me! While stopping by the eagle’s nest on Marine Drive a very kind lady mentioned that she had seen a weasel darting in and out of the grass on the side of the road and just as she finished telling me, there it was!

This was my first encounter with a weasel and I was quite surprised at how small it was. I estimate it to be about 5 to 6 inches tall…tiny! And to get more information to describe it, I looked to the web and found Animals of the Pacific Northwest, a website owned and operated by Andrea Merrill, a Western Washington native and author. Here’s what she has to say about “our” weasels:

“The Olympic Short-Tailed Weasel

Found only on the Olympic Peninsula, the Olympic Short-Tailed Weasel is long and slender with short legs and short tails. Their coats are light brown with a yellowish underside. Despite their size, these weasels actually prey upon mammals bigger than themselves and will often feed on small rodents. Their slender bodies allow them to chase after rodents into their burrows. Frequently, they’ll kill more than they can eat and bury the rest to eat at a later time. Unlike other weasels, the Olympic Short-Tailed Weasel doesn’t turn white in the winter, as they stay brown all year round. They’re also great swimmers and found in open habitats near water.”

And just as she described, this little guy later preyed on a much larger creature, took it back to his hideout, and will probably send the next few days consuming it – or hopefully, he shared it with family and friends.

So just when you think you’ve seen it all…guess what, you never will!

Out of the Forest

Sequim’s Roosevelt Elk Herd

During a cold early morning at the intersection of Holland and Medsker Roads, I was able to photograph four female elk at a close distance as they came up the hill and out of the fog.

Not having seen them in this particular location before, I was quite surprised and a bit worried about their safety in such an open field, but later found that they have been known to graze there in the past, and not to worry about them, but to keep my distance. Although they may appear to be docile and friendly, they are to be respected and avoided, especially at close range.

Otter this World

A Female Otter Transports a Salmon Backstrap to her 3 Pups

Freshwater Bay in Port Angeles is a great spot to indulge the senses in not only the beauty of the peninsula, but in wildlife watching as well.

There we found this particular river otter swimming toward shore with a salmon backstrap in her mouth that she would soon share with her young offspring. Huddled in a rock cave on shore, they poked their heads out occasionally looking for her but when they spotted her, they retreated in anticipation of their grand meal.

Surprisingly, mama, although appearing exhausted, hauled her catch (the remains of a fisherman’s catch I’m sure) into the cave, then quickly went back in the surf to repeat the process.

Wildlife Wednesday

Sometimes we could all use a chuckle or two!

In June 2022, my hubby and I loaded up the car and headed for a two week trip to Montana, Alberta, and British Colombia.

Our bucket list along the way not only included seeing family, the Big Sky and mountainous landscapes, but to also witness the stellar beauty and dignity of Big Horned Sheep!

And this magnificent creature was one of our first encounters, as well as one of the funniest.

Yes, this mighty and manly creature made us chuckle but he sort of spoke to me as if to say, “don’t take life to seriously girlfriend, it’s really not worth it!”, and ya know, he was right.

Now whenever I get stressed and need a chuckle, his sweet and unassuming face has a way of turning things around, and if not, I just follow his lead, stick out my tongue, and carry on.

And with that said, I must apologize for my website hiccup the other day and if you missed seeing my Rufous Hummingbird post, please click this link to the full site where you will find it there.

And thank you for your patience! Life is a work in progress.

In the Neighborhood

It seems that on any given day one can drive through Sequim and/or the surrounding area and see calves being born.

This particular Jersey was born in February, 2023, at the Dungeness Creamery, and I suspect that by now, she’s providing milk and cream to our local population, or perhaps she traveled to another farm with a new owner or family.

Regardless, spotting her nursing, after hobbling and shaking to reach her mama after emerging into the cold was just the kind of visual motivation I needed to press on with my day, undeterred by any fears of failure, or reservations of acceptance. 

And knowing that mama’s there to assist along the way, either in spirit or in the flesh, is often the ultimate motivation.