Ferocious face and bears!

We had a canine visitor today, and R had a wild wrestling game with him.

R looked far more ferocious in that photo than any of the bears that I've ever photographed with my trail cameras. I entered one of my favorite bear photos from this year in a contest. This big male bear was marking a tree during mating season.

I'd like to ask a favor. I'd be incredibly grateful if you could go to the Trailcampro photo contest and vote for my photo. To do so, click on this LINK and then, on that page, click "VOTE HERE". My photo is number 138 in the "US and Canadian Category". Please notice that you are *not* required to give your name and email address. You can just vote for my photo by entering its number. The winner gets a trail camera.

As you know, I adore trail cameras so I'd be incredibly happy to win. My trail cameras have been such fun, even through the inevitible tough times.

Every year, I use trail cameras to stake out bear marking trees to see the crazy marking dances done by the males during mating season.

And, I watch closely for the new cubs that appear each year. We followed this family for all of last summer.

Finally, I even sometimes get lucky enough to find an occupied bear den in the winter, like in 2010. K and I were out for a hike in the snow, and I noticed a hole under some rocks. We investigated and found three bears snuggled in the cave. I posted a trail camera next to the den, and I got to witness the secret life of a bear family as it emerged from hibernation in the spring.

Here, mom appeared to be telling her yearling cubs to behave themselves.

But the two cubs had irrepressible energy. This was one of the funnier play photos that I captured.

So, if I win the contest, I will be over-the-moon happy to win another trail camera, and I promise to share the photos that I capture with you.

Here are the instructions on how to vote once more: Click on this LINK and then click "VOTE HERE". My photo is number 138 in the "US and Canadian Category". Please notice that you are *not* required to give your name and email address. You can just vote for my photo by entering its number.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!