Winter Wildlife
Dave Henry, a premier instructor at The Canon Learning Center in San Francisco, led a winter wildlife photography workshop at the Triple D Game Farm in Montana.
This “game farm” is not your “billboard advertised, roadside attraction, private zoo” with cages and pens for public viewing. “Game farm” is the permit designation assigned by the State of Montana – a better title would be “game preserve”.
The owner is a retired Game Warden. He used to saddle up a horse and ride for weeks in the Montana wilderness searching for poachers and grassing violators. His family horse ranch became a refuge for rescue animals and endangered species. Providing filming and photography opportunities of the creatures in natural settings pays the bills - for nutritious diets, secure buildings for sleep, exercise and play areas including “natural” environments, veterinary care, and support staff that dotes on the menagerie like family pets. (It’s not often you get to see a leopard asking for a tummy rub in the snow.)
Most of the Farm’s customers are wildlife photographers and filmmakers such as National Geographic, Nature, Disney, and the BBC. (The reputable presenter will indicate that these are “captive” animals.) If there is anything “negative” concerning these “captive” animals, it’s that they don’t look “wild” enough. They are happy, healthy, with no battle scars, and have no concern about their next meal or a predator making them their next meal. They can sleep warm and secure without one eye open, and romp and play without confrontation. Their much later-than-usual demise will not be due to adversity of nature.
The animals we were photographing were still "wild" in instinct. Consequently, we had to stay together as a group in one corner of the compound lest a critter wanted to "cull the herd".... We huddled in the snow with cold feet for many hours for four days photographing dozens of animals....
Everyone in our group shot many thousands of images. This was “tools and opportunity” on steroids - thank God and engineers for digital.
The crowd favorite at Triple D is a young leopard named Mystique.
She exudes a mischievous personality and lives to play.
“I’m going to get that toy!”
“If I just reach a little further…”
“One big reach and…”
“Where did it go?!”
Her “goodbye” was a peek-a-boo from a hilltop.
The Red Fox is a study in curiosity.
This little girl demonstrated the hunting techniques necessary for winter survival in the wild.
To paraphrase Dorothy, Lynxes and Cougars and Wolves…
…Oh, my!
This “adult” leopard was a bit more serious…
…more mature and displayed an “I am predator and you are food chain” attitude.
The Mountain Lion was the epitome of grace.
He had little competition for agility and “off-road” capability…
The Arctic Foxes were the motors that wouldn’t wind down.
The “I want one to take home!” award goes to the Arctic Foxes..
They are well-seasoned hams and can play for hours.
They know that they are a “runaway” success!
They play hard but they don’t have to try hard.
As we were leaving, one of the backstage support staff asked me if I could get him a prime time gig.
Consider it done.
MANY THANKS FOR THE LOOK!