Beaver Has His Wood Stove Fired Up

Water Vapour Rising From Beaver lodge Vent

     Beaver Has His Wood Stove Fired Up this chilly morning. It is -37c at Elk Island National Park this morning, but the sun is shining. It is an optimistic sun. We all think it is much warmer when the sun shines through the ice fog.
     I did not realize that beaver cut firewood as well as food, lodge, and dam material. It is so cold in the park that the beavers have lit their wood stove, as evidenced by smoke rising from the lodge chimney. Every beaver lodge I came across today was smoking. Actually, the vapor we see rising from this beaver lodge is heat escaping through an air vent that the beavers build into their lodges. The vapor is most noticeable on cold days and when backlit by the sun.

Elk Herd Grazing and Browsing

     Ungulates were all out grazing and browsing this morning. A few elk still snuggled warmly in beds but most were up and about. Bison, moose and white-tailed deer were also up and about. None seemed to be out of sorts in any way due to the cold weather.
     I do enjoy being out in the park early in the morning hoping to see wildlife and beautiful landscape. The cold weather adds a bit of drama and tension to the land but life goes on. The cold seems to bother us and our equipment far worse than the wildlife.

Sunrise Star Burst