Tag Archives: Vacation

Gone for the Week!

Seems like a good time leave town….

Severe Weather Alerts – Kalispell, MT

  • Winter Weather Advisory

    Winter Weather Advisory in effect until Saturday, 11:00 AM MST. Source: U.S. National Weather Service

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MST
SATURDAY…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MST
SATURDAY.

* IMPACTS/TIMING: LIGHT SNOW WILL DEVELOP THIS MORNING BECOMING
MODERATE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ROADS WILL LIKELY
BE SLICK AND SNOW COVERED THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. NORTHEAST
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE FRIDAY NIGHT… CAUSING BLOWING
SNOW AND LOW VISIBILITY THROUGH FAVORED WIND AREAS… SUCH AS
ON HIGHWAY 2 THROUGH BADROCK CANYON.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 1 TO 3 INCHES…LOCALLY UP TO 4.

* WINDS: BECOMING NORTHEAST FRIDAY NIGHT 10-20 MPH GUSTING TO 35
MPH… MAINLY THROUGH THE NORTHERN FLATHEAD VALLEY.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…FLATHEAD LAKE…FLATHEAD VALLEY…
MISSION VALLEY…POLSON

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

Looking forward to the sand between my toes, sun on my face and spending some time with my husband, our oldest son and his wife!  🙂img_1718

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Mule Deer

 

We spotted this big mule deer while in South Dakota and the Bad Lands a few years ago…

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Where do mule deer live?

Mule deer and black-tailed deer (collectively called mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus) are icons of the American West. They are distributed throughout western North America from the coastal islands of Alaska, down the West Coast to southern Baja Mexico and from the northern border of the Mexican state of Zacatecas, up through the Great Plains to the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the southern Yukon Territory.

What do mule deer eat?

Mule deer are primarily browsers, with a majority of their diet comprised of forbs (weeds) and browse (leaves and twigs of woody shrubs).

Deer digestive tracts differ from cattle and elk in that they have a smaller rumen in relation to their body size, so they must be more selective in their feeding. Instead of eating large quantities of low-quality feed like grass, deer must select the most nutritious plants and parts of plants.

Because of this, deer have more specific forage requirements than larger ruminants.

Why is mule deer and black-tailed deer habitat conservation necessary?

The MDF’s mission is necessary due to loss of habitat, predators, poaching, highways crossing through the middle of transitional ranges, and subdivisions being built on winter ranges.

Only landscape-scale conservation efforts can make long-term gains in mule deer abundance in many areas.

What does a mule deer look like?

Mule deer are generally easy to identify due to their large mule-like ears (generally 3/4 the length of the head).

They usually have a distinctive black forehead, or mask, that contrasts sharply with a light grey face. The lighter facial coloration makes the eye rings and muzzle markings seem less obvious.

Mule deer are brownish-gray in color, have a white rump patch and a small white tail with a black tip.

How long do mule deer live?

Mule deer usually live 9-11 years in the wild and can live to be much older when in captivity.

How big are mule deer?

Mule deer range from 3 to 3-1/2 feet tall at the shoulder, 4-1/2 to 7 feet long and have a tail that is 5 to 8 inches long. They can weigh between 130-280 pounds. The female deer are smaller than the male.

For more information visit here...

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And a little Bad Lands landscape…

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Linking up with friends at:

Nature Notes

Sunbathing…

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We spotted these two iguanas within a couple of yards within each other in Tulum, Mexico while looking at the Mayan ruins.  They seemed pretty happy to be perched above the ocean and soaking up the sun.  It was very neat to watch these guys, definitely something we wouldn’t  see in Montana!

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Linking up with friends at:

Nature Notes

Gone for the week

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It hasn’t been all fun and games though! I went snorkeling with one of my friends. We were suppose to go to three different sights to snorkel. We almost finished the first spot when something hit my arm and it started to burn instantly. It hurt so bad! My arm wasn’t even red but it felt like it was on fire. We signaled for the pick up boat and by the time it was able to get out of the water it started to turn slightly red. At shore it was really red and we could see welts within the redness and it was determined that it was a jellyfish sting. They poured some vinegar over it and offered me some tequila. It was hurting so bad and I was so cold despite it being very warm. I couldn’t quit shaking and thought I was going to be sick. Then my hand turned a dark blue/purple color and did I mention I hurt? I was trying not to cry and got a bit freaked out about my hand being blue , so we called it a day, called a cab and went back to the hotel.

Our husbands were both in meetings, so I called mine and told him what had happened. The taxi driver didn’t understand much English and I speak even less Spanish. He told me, no more tequila for you when he saw my arm. I think he thought I fell on it! It took over 40 minutes to get back to the motel. I was in so much pain and still shaking so bad! The hotel brought me some warm towels and called the motels doctor. We went back to our room were I jumped in a hot shower, the hot water helped to warm me up and stopped the pain and burning in my arm. When I took it out of the warm water it would instantly start to hurt again. The doctor gave me some “stuff” to put on it, which helped a bit. Slowly the color came back to my hand too.

It was pretty sore the first night, I couldn’t stand anything rubbing up against it and would wake up in the middle of night and have to jump in the shower. Today it just has a feeling like I’m being prickled and it itches like crazy!!

My arm looks better too. It’s actually kind of cool! I can see right where the tentacles hit my arm. Three on the lower arm and two on the upper arm. My arm was bent in about a 90 degree angle when the jellyfish hit it and passed through. It completely wrapped around my lower arm!

Other than that little mishap , we’ve had a great time. My hubby finishes up with meetings tonight and then we get 4 more days to just hang out .
🙂

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