Dec 14: Antelope Island

Well its probably been a month since I've been out. Between bitter cold and winter storm warnings on week-ends I've been cooped up (except Thanksgiving which was with family -- great time). So today, despite a heavy inversion and temps in the mid-20s (which is actually a heat wave for us lately), I'm going out. And I'm heading to see the animals of Antelope Island.

Crossing the causeway to the island was like being in a blizzard without the snow -- a total white-out caused by the haze. The water by the first few miles of the causeway is frozen and there is absolutely no view other than a few 100 yards ahead -- actually a little eeery.

The closer I get to the island, there is now water but still no views --- that's OK I'm here looking for animals. :)

Decide to head down the east side of the island to the Ranch 1st. The roads are plowed but snow packed and slippery so its slow going today. As soon as I make the turn, there's a coyote trotting across the road from the lake into the sagebrush behind the Visitor's Center. His fur and tail are so much more fluffy than the scraggedly looking fellow this summer. I hurry to where he crossed hoping to get a better look. I finally see him for a brief moment before he disappears into the brush.

I drive only a few feet down the road scanning and something on the icy lake catches my eye -- its another coyote!! Bet they're mates as they are very close (my car didn't move much on the road). He (or maybe she) stops, looks around, trots a little further out onto the ice, and repeats.

Not sure what's she's looking for on the ice but she continues to do this as she travels further onto the ice (maybe heading to Layton for some Christmas shopping :))

I continue down the road. The visibility is a bit better -- I can see the hazy outlines of the island's mountains. And boy, are there a lot of ravens out today.

I come to the first fence and can see my 1st 2 bison of the day, figured I'd cross to the other side of the fence and then stop for a better look but unfortunately, its a hill and I can't find them so I just continue. As I get closer to the ranch, there's another fence and a herd of bison near it. They are pretty much all laying down - must be naptime.

Just before the turn into the ranch, there are a few bison right next to the road. I stop just ahead of them and get out of my car. It's so quiet and still out I can hear the bison breaking the grass and chewing on them. (I can also hear the ravens flying in the air -- weird noise their wings make.) The bison slowly move off away from the road and down to the ranch.

There is only 1 car in the parking area -- probably a worker. I check the spot where I saw the Great Horned Owl last time but nothing. I walked down to the ranch and meet the DNR guy. He tells me that they haven't seen the owls in a few days but go ahead and take a look in the trees. The area is fenced in (don't know why) but I start to wander looking up into the branch for the owls. I looked down and noticed that I'm being watched by a doe - a mule deer and the big ears are cute.

 I try to get closer and she's actually pretty accommodating for a wild animal (one that's seen 100s people before). I notice another set of legs of yet another deer. I walk to get in back of them and I realize that yet another deer is watching me! There is a total of 4 female deer --- wonder why some have a black tip on the tails and others are pure white.

The one turns its head and I can see it chewing.

I exit excited about the deer but still no owls.

Time to head back up the road to the west side of the island. This time I spot at the herd of bison --- some of them are now on their feet but most are still laying. I get out of my car and walk down the fenceline (the bison are on the opposite side of the fence and there's a small gully in between us. I'm excited to spot "Crooked Horn" from the bison physical day.

Continue back down the road to the first fence line, there are 2 bison by the fence near the water and a few up near the road. Again, I can hear them chewing.

I cross over to the west side and head to Bison Point. No one is there. I attempt to climb the snowy trail from the south approach but soon lose the trail in the snow. I cross over to the north side and see 1: the trail has been recently used and 2) there are 5 bison down there (laying down). So I follow the trail uphill to try and get myself a better view of the bison. And that I did.

I could've went further up but since the views were still very hazy, time to move on. Headed to the White Rock campground hoping the road would be plowed and it was (I know when I came on Jan/Feb, these roads were not plowed). I make my way to the White Rock trailhead. There was one other car. The trail on both sides of the loop had been used which is good, I won't have to search it out myself.

My plan is just to walk the bay-side of the trail -- didn't bring the gear for a long hike so this is about a 3-4 miles pretty flat walk. I quickly notice 3 bison just off the trail. One is standing and the others are laying down (definitely a lazy bison day). As I approach, the 2 bison quickly get to their feet and look my way -- I'm a little nervous but continue walking past.

I keep looking back to make sure they didn't decide to follow but they just decided to eat.

There were 2 more bison a little further up the trail, both laying down and they paid me no attention as I walked by.

I meet 2 bikers coming in the opposite direction and ask if they had seen any antelope. They told me there was a big herd of deer up the hill near the bench (probably another 1mile away). I wanted to see the deer so I put it in high gear.

Lots of rabbit tracks along the trail. There were signs of coyote as well. White Rock looked like a glacier on the water.

As I was going I kept watching near the bench area, I did manage to see something moving and it was 2 deer but from very far away. Looks like they were heading back up the valley (I was on the bottom). But I continued as fast as I could uphill (yes, huffing especially near the end).

When I got to the bench, no deer. I decided to head up the valley just to the treeline where I saw the deer. My brain was hoping these objects in the snow were deer laying down but when in reality they were just rocks. :( Hey, but I tried.

The views (although hazy) were still pretty nice here.

So I turned around and headed back. The 2 bison were still laying down but one stood up as soon as he noticed me -- his tail was up (a sign of aggression or poop) -- and thankful that I just scared the poop out of him. :)

The 3 others remained laying down this time.

I got to my car and heading toward the visitor center and the exit. Along the way I spotted another doe grazing in the grass. She looked up a couple of times and continue to feed.

I saw one other bison near the visitor's center. I wonder if this guy is sick because I could see his ribs. Hopefully, he makes it through the winter.

Great to be out again!