Wildlife Caught on Camera - Volume 7

Winter came early this year to the Rocky Mountain Front. On the Club’s Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch in northwest Montana, the plains slam into the Rocky Mountains in dramatic fashion—and the weather can be intense. Winds in some places on the Front average 18 mph every single day. That doesn’t seem to stop the big game, predators, and other woodland creatures from going about their business as usual. 

The ranch has dozens of wildlife trail cams set in key locations. Those cameras take thousands of shots every year. The incredibly meticulous job of choosing the best photos falls to Ph.D. candidate and Boone and Crockett Fellow at the University of Montana Chris Hansen. Check out the highlights below. 

Want to see more wildlife in action? Five of the 10 images have video available!

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1 of 10—Elk (Cervus canadensis)

During the elk rut, bulls rarely sleep. Instead, they roam far and wide to gather cows for a harem. Younger bulls, known as satellites, sneak around the edges of the herd, hoping to pass on their genes without alerting the bigger herd bull. This guy doesn’t seem to appreciate the camera. 

2 of 10—Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)

Elk aren’t the only animals sneaking around in the dark. The eyes on this grizzly make you think he feels the same way about it as that bull in the last video. 

3 of 10—Elk (Cervus canadensis)

Those elk running around day and night tend to get thirsty, and this particular watering hole attracts more than a few different species. 

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4 of 10—Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)

When storms roll in on the ranch, animals, predator and prey alike, still need to eat. And these trail cams are a great way to keep tabs on them as they head to the cafeteria. 

5 of 10—Moose (Alces alces) 

Moose are opportunistic herbivores, and they’re able to munch those hard-to-reach leaves and twigs. This moose takes advantage of some low-hanging branches over the watering hole. 

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6 of 10—Coyote (Canis latrans)

This coyote managed to find the sunshine before the storms rolled in on the Front. Regardless of how you feel about coyotes, this one sure is a handsome devil. 

7 of 10— Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus)

The large hind feet on the snowshoe hare allow it to float across the snow as it bounces through exposed country. 

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8 of 10—Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

Mule deer bucks like this one rarely make appearances in the middle of the day. In November, though, all bets are off. The rut is in full swing, and these guys are hoping to sow their oats, which means they’re not thinking clearly.

9 of 10—Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

What a difference a month makes on the Front. Here, mule deer enjoy 60-degree October days, which morphed into below zero weather only a month later. 

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10 of 10—Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) 

As harsh as the weather can be on the Rocky Mountain Front, it still makes for some amazing sunsets—especially when the wind isn’t blowing. 

All images and associated video © 2021-2022 The University of Montana