Porcupines

Sandy and Jim learned a lot about Porcupines on their wildlife trip. Did you know?
Porcupines do not throw their quills.
Quills are really like hair.
Quills are meant to only go in, so the have rachet like ends. An animal would have no way to remove the quills. The quill would then move through the animal's body under the skin to the heart or lungs and then the animal dies.
A person can actually easily remove a quill as they just pull out. For example: Mario was with a friend watching Porcupines and the friend got a quill in his arm. Later that day when the quill was remembered it had disappeared. 7 months later the friend found it in his shoulder while bathing. So the quill had moved through his body but not to a critical organ like the heart, because he was human.
Mario commented if his friend bathed more often he would have found the quill earlier. Ha! Ha!

Interesting facts,
Sugar

Kroschel Wildlife Tour

While I waited along side of the road the tour was started by Mario who was our tour guide for the day. First thing I have to say about him for the short time everyone hung out waiting for a tour bus, is his a wealth of information and he has lived a life of outdoor adventure. While waiting for the tour Mario talked about the Red Tailed Hawk that was with him. What a beautiful bird, tame but not. Mario and Steve Kroschel have made documentaries for National Geography, Disney, Discovery and Animal Planet and probably more.

Jim and Sandy feel that this is one of those true Alaskan Tours. The buildings were rough and the animals are kept in natural enclosures. Since this location is right in the Alaskan forest the animals were at home. Pictures will tell a better story than I can. Bananas were fed to moose by hand and caribou were fed grain by hand by tour guests.

One other thing, feel free to use any pictures you want on your computer monitors.

A Fun Day!

Sugar

Moose!!

Today is June 5, Thursday.

Jim and Sandy took me out for a ride Mosquito Lake Road to take a wildlife tour. More on the tour in the next post.

We saw a moose on our way. Not just a mother moose but her two calves as well. As I was driving down Haines Highway there they were. I am guessing by the look on the mother's face the plan was to cross the highway. She looked at me with that look of "what are you doing here?"
The three of them were on the same side of the highway as Chilkat River. As they turned around to head back to the river the babies floated with the current, while the mother moose walked down stream. The calves were very young and probably not very strong and the tier is deep there. This is one of those times that stays in your memory as pictures do not tell the whole story. You may have to zoom in or enlarge the pictures and move to the left to see both calves.

That was fun and not to be forgotten.

Sugar

Eagle

Here are eagle pictures. There is not much eagle activity right now.

Haines Brewery

Jim and Sandy took a quick bike ride to the brewery. The brewery is in Dalton City from the movie White Fang. Here are some pictures. No beer for me.

Relaxing,
Sugar

Rain Boots or Xtratufs

Sandy also bought a pair of shorter boots. They are pink and yellow plaid! They are not Xtratufs but walking around town the shorter pair is more comfy for her.

Monday June 3

Today is moving day. Before we get settled at our next RV park we will be taking a ride to Chilkoot Lake and State Park. Now, don't get them confused. There is a Chilkat State Park and a Chilkoot State Park. Chilkoot has a lake, called of all things - Chilkoot Lake. Sandy is always getting them mixed up. Part of this trip will be looking at campsites. After the Kluane Bike Race which is June 15, camping will be more camping stye, rather than RV parks. But it has been nice to have electric, as it still gets cold some nights and early morning.

Friday was an extremely rainy day, especially from afternoon through the evening. Saturday was much better, but pretty cloudy. Jim and Sandy went to church Saturday night. If they weren't there and 4 other visitors there would have been about 5 people attending. Last Sunday they went and there were more people, probably about 20, but not what they are used to.

I am parked at the HitchUp. The views aren't as good, but great wifi, that makes Jim and Sandy happy. I really enjoyed the drive to Chilkoot Lake and State Park. Spotted an eagle in a tree. Great camping, so that is in our list too.