Red-winged black bird calling. Copyright ©2011, James McGrew.

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A few examples of some of Yosemite's abundant wildlife. Thought not known for the big animals like Yellowstone, a diverse array of beautiful creatures inhabit Yosemite and play important roles in its complex ecosystems.

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James McGrew > Mergansers fighting over a large crayfish in the Merced River, Yosemite Valley. Copyright, James McGrew ©2011.

As I worked on a commissioned painting of half dome, I found a private location on the Merced River. During my painting session, numerous wild animals went on with their usual routines and managed to get surprisingly close, apparently unconcerned of my presence because I was relatively stationary as I stood at my painting. Most entertaining were these mergansers who hunted for crayfish. Every so often one of them would emerge with a crayfish in its mouth and immediately run away, hotly pursued by the other.

James McGrew > Coyote (Canis latrans) rests near Glacier Pt. ©2012 James McGrew

James McGrew > Bobcat in Yosemite Valley; illustrates its camouflage in its habitat.

James McGrew > Steller's Jay on the Upper Yosemite Fall trail. ©2012 James McGrew

James McGrew > Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) on Yerba Santa in Hetch Hetchy Valley. ©2012 James McGrew

James McGrew > Red winged black bird takes flight. ©2012 James McGrew

James McGrew > Red-winged black bird calling. Copyright ©2011, James McGrew.

James McGrew > What are you lookin at? (Clark's Nutcracker). Copyright © 2004 James McGrew.

James McGrew > American Black Bear, Yosemite. A few weeks after I took this photograph, this bear was killed by a moving vehicle. Speed limits in national parks are set to protect wildlife as much as they are for the safety of tourists.

James McGrew > Mule Dear Fawn in Bracken Ferns.

James McGrew > Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) near Bridalveil creek. ©2012 James McGrew

James McGrew > In search of carpenter ants and grubs, a young American Black Bear ventures out at dusk, stripping bark from a dead aspen trunk near Merced Lake in Yosemite National Park. Copyright ©2010 James McGrew

James McGrew > (Crotalus oreganus) Northern Pacific Rattlesnake on the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail. ©2012 James McGrew

Perfectly camouflaged, this snake sat nearly invisible to most hikers who walked past without even noticing the snake until I stopped and pointed my lens in its direction, at which point people began to question what I was photographing. When they saw the snake about ten feet away, they gasped and jumped back. Rattlesnakes generally pose little threat to people and do their best to avoid a confrontation. This poor guy was trying to cross the trail but met with a steady stream of visitors so it patiently waited off to the side. Rattlesnakes sense their environment by three primary means including vision of visible light with its eyes, sensing infrared light with the "pits" between the mouth and eyes, and chemical "smell" sensed with its long forked tongue. All three sense organs are plainly visible in this photograph.

James McGrew > Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalis oreganus oreganus) in Hetch Hetchy Valley. ©2008, James McGrew
When alarmed or threatened, western rattlesnakes may coil, rattle, and usually retreat to cover as quickly as possible. However, this snake turned around and began moving quickly and erratically towards me. Its aggressive movements coupled with rattling tail rose my heart rate and worried me even though I was at a relatively safe distance with a 200 mm lens. Although sometimes intimidating and surprising, they rarely pose a danger to visitors and these well camouflaged rattlers are well suited to hunting small rodents and a vital part of the ecosystems.

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Copyright ©1995-2013 James McGrew. All rights reserved. Images may not be reproduced in any manner without express written consent. To purchase prints or for commercial licensing, please contact James McGrew.

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