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  3. 2011 visuals: Grizzlies, cougars, sage grouse and other critters of note

2011 visuals: Grizzlies, cougars, sage grouse and other critters of note

Photographed in September 2011 after it had matured, this sage grouse was one of the chicks hatched in spring of 2011 from the first documented sage grouse breeding ground in Lincoln County, Wash., since 1968. The hen that produced this clutch had been translocated with other grouse from Oregon in 2010, the second year of a reintroduction effort at the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area south of Creston, Wash. Researchers know of several hens that produced clutches this year. While mortality is significant, particularly from avian predators such as hawks and owls, several hens were documented to have several surviving chicks of the year in September. After the breeding 2011 breeding season, another 40 sage grouse were released at Swanson Lakes. (Kim Thorburn)
Photographed in September 2011 after it had matured, this sage grouse was one of the chicks hatched in spring of 2011 from the first documented sage grouse breeding ground in Lincoln County, Wash., since 1968. The hen that produced this clutch had been translocated with other grouse from Oregon in 2010, the second year of a reintroduction effort at the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area south of Creston, Wash. Researchers know of several hens that produced clutches this year. While mortality is significant, particularly from avian predators such as hawks and owls, several hens were documented to have several surviving chicks of the year in September. After the breeding 2011 breeding season, another 40 sage grouse were released at Swanson Lakes. (Kim Thorburn)

WILDLIFE -- While some photographs snapped in the region marked wildlfie milestones in 2011, some were simply one of a kind. 

Click "Continue reading" at the bottom of this post to see a sampling of photos to get a sense for what I mean.  Click on photos for captions.

Meantime...

A helicopter's speedy pursuit and net capture of pronghorns in Nevada for transport and REINTRODUCTION IN WASHINGTON was captured on amateur video last winter and posted on YouTube.  If you think helicopter net gunning is child's play, you need to watch this. 

See video above and then click here for one video showing the intensity of the helicoptering skills required. Listen for the two shots as the gutsy gunner -- tethered by a cable out the door of the rocking ship -- fires nets down on the speeing pronghorns.  The video above shows the netting done closer to the camera in the final frames.

Un January 2011, I ran a package of stories detailing the reintroduction of these unique critters to Washington.

The footage was shot by volunteers in Nevada during  the roundup of 100 pronghorns destined for the Jan. 15-16 re-introduction on the Yakama Indian Reservation in central Washington.

After the animals were netted, the volunteers raced out to untangle them and secure them so they wouldn't injure themselves before transport. The project was funded by Safari Club International.

Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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