WNCNC - Black Bears

On my days visiting the Western North Carolina Nature Center, my first visit after passing through the barn yard entrance is the Bear pen.  There are two American Black Bears in residence, Uno and Ursa.  Both bears are in their upper teens.
I'm not a bear expert.  All observations are that of an ignorant observer.  
All that out of the way, I probably spent more time watching these two.  Not sure why exactly, maybe waiting for some bear stereo-typical action.  No jumping up and down, no standing on their hind legs.  Quite business-like and bear professional.  Although for sure, there was a lot of napping involved.
I don't have enough experience to know if the bear pen is large enough for two, but looks large enough to me.  I was lucky enough to see the bear feeding procedure.  I should say, I did see the procedure, the actual feeding takes place in an enclosed shelter that separates the occupants and probably keeps the keepers at a safe distance.  A learning experience for me.  The bears however had the process down pat.  As soon as the keeper, with pail in hand, started toward the feeding enclosure, they were on the move.
These are some shots of the Bears going through their morning.

Baby Bear Walk

NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

262 mm, 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800 (Auto)

EV +2, Manual Mode, Size DX

When I first saw what I'm calling the baby bear walk, I hear the baby elephant walk music.

Bear and Stump

NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

150 mm, 1/320 sec, f/6.3, ISO 500 (Auto)

EV +2, Manual Mode, Size DX

It seem like most of the Bear's day was keeping its body weight equally dispersed on the ground.

Bear Looking for Food

NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

117 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (Auto)

EV +1, Manual Mode, Size DX

Bear in Shelter

NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

390 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (Auto)

EV +1, Manual Mode, Size DX

What does a bear do on a Monday?

Bear Nap

NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

195 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (Auto)

EV +1, Manual Mode, Size DX

Look at those bear paws.  Awesome.

WNCNC - Bobcat

On the two days I visited the Western North Carolina Nature Center, I made three rounds of the area each day.  I arrived as early as I could, opening time is 10:00 AM.  Number #1 through the gate.  It was either morning feeding time, or close to it.  By the time I'd finish up around 1:00 PM, it was generally nap time for the inhabitants.  It usually worked out that those who were 'slow' on my first round were generally more 'awake'  in round two.  Round three was for those who didn't get the memo that there were visitors at the gate.
There was one exception.  The Bobcat.  Missy.  Missy the Bobcat loves to nap, and nap in the sun.  In five of the six rounds, Missy was napping.  Only once did Missy see me.
Bobcats in the wild are very rarely seen.  You're on their ground.  If you see them in the wild, it might not be a good thing.  Bobcats are predators.  Its appetite covers small things and large things.  Excellent night vision.  My only survival defense is that I might not be fast enough to even get on its radar.
But it certainly is a cat, and I like cats.  Missy is cute, by my standards.  And like my cats, she has the 'stare'.  Missy is bred in captivity, but her DNA identified me as 'food'.

Bobcat Looking at Me

NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

232 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (AUTO)

EV +2, Manual Mode, Size DX

I recognize that look.  Even with my cats at 8 pounds, this might not end well.

And I recognize this look.  All is well with kitty dreams.

Bobcat Napping

NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

262 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (AUTO)

EV +1, Manual Mode, Size DX

WNCNC - Red Panda

I like learning.  Days go better when I lean something new.  And at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, I learned something.  And it was good.
I had no idea there was something called a Red Panda.  Cute doesn't begin to describe this critter.  And it was the most difficult to photograph.  Seriously.
As to the critter, and how it wound up in North Carolina it is a bit of a story.
Is it a panda?  Is it a raccoon?  No one knows for sure.  Currently it is in its own family.  But why is this an inhabitant of the WNCNC?  The center is residence to current Appalachian inhabitants.  Red pandas live in the mountains of Nepal and northern Myanmar (Burma), as well as in central China.   That's current.  A direct relative of the Red Panda, Bristol’s Panda, was found to live in the Appalachian mountains nearly 5 million years ago.  Learning.  The Red Panda should be represented in the nature center.
As I mentioned, these critters were hard to photograph.  Yes they move slow.  Yes, you can predict where they are going to move to and from.  No place to hide.  The issue is the fencing.  The chain link is about half the size of a 'normal' chain link.  Auto focus didn't work so well.  All manual focus.  Not complaining, just a fact.

Red Panda Looking

NIKON D500 Ver.1.20 /70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

165 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 640 (AUTO)

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

Red Panda Walk

NIKON D500 Ver.1.20 /70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

165 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 720 (AUTO)

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

Learning.  It's a good thing.

WNCNC - Gray Wolves

There are times when I think I was born too early.  I mean technology is growing exponentially every day.  I love technology.  And then I think I might have been born too late.  Living in the history that I've learned.  What would it be like to be among the first to see the Rockies?  Who am I kidding, I was born at the right time.
These gray wolves were probably born too late.  Wolves need a good PR firm to change their image.  Maybe then they could survive.  Wolves are high on the food chain who have been pushed out of their territories by no fault of their own.  They fight back as they can.  And its not good for them.  And they are not alone in their fight to survive.  I won't debate the right and wrong of either side - it just is.
That aside, the wolves who are residents at the WNCNC were fun to spend a few hours with.  Graceful animals in the walk.  Probably wouldn't say that if one were chasing me me for dinner.  But in my eyes, beautiful animals.
As I approached the wolf area, there is a blocked off from view part of the fence and he first you see of the area is from an enclosed viewing area.  Simply, some clear plastic in nice housing.  When I approached this area, this is my sight.  Wow.  He was right there.  Less than four feet away from me, separated by plastic.  In the wild, this probably would have been terminal.  For me.  Here, I got the first shot.  (Lucky for me, no odd reflections in the plastic.)  Love the eyes.

Gray Wolf Eyes On

NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

105 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (AUTO)

EV +2, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

I think the pen for the wolves is pretty good size.  Easy for me to say, I'm not penned in.  That not withstanding, there are a few protective sheds for the wolves.  On one of my passes by, this gray one was on top of a shed, resting.   Resting with eyes open.  As the wolf was born in captivity, it has no memory of running wild.  Unless it hears it's DNA calling.  I hope not, would be awful.  I hope it just hears the birds above.
This shot is cropped pretty severely.  The issue was a red leaf on the hind quarter.  The red leaf was about half way between the wolf and me.  And the light bend was enough to make it look like not a leaf, but some bad coloring on the fur.  Didn't really like it.  And it is an excuse to make the eyes larger.

Gray Wolf On the Shed

NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

330 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (AUTO)

EV +1, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

Beautiful animals.  As long as I'm not on the menu.

Red Fox Close Up (Not that Redd Fox)

I had two or three nice shots from my trips to the Western North Carolina Nature Center.  Well, two or three that really stuck with me.  This shot of a red fox is by far is the one I liked the best.  Well, so far anyway.
In the Nature Center, the fox enclosure allows the fox to come very close to the two legged critters.  Unfortunately that brings into play the fence.  But I'm not kidding anyone, this is a fox in an enclosure who is not afraid of the higher food chain. 
The only issue I have with this shot is the fox's left eye is partially obscured by the chain fence.  9 out of 10.  9.5 out of 10.

Red Fox Close Up

NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

202 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (AUTO)

EV +1, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

For me there is a lot to like here.  First, the eye is sharp - followed by the rest of the fox.  I can see the whiskers.  I can see the red and white hairs.  I like the background of green and yellow.  And I can learn to like the fence.