Lions and tigers and...

BanditPhotographyNW · Feb 15, 2014

Neither of those... A Valentines day date at the Pacific NW Wildlife Trek. This place is way cool and they offer a photographers only deal for 60$ where the get you all up close and personal with Bison, Roosevelt Elk, Black tailed deer, Big horn sheep and tons of other Local Animals. is about an hour east of Olympia Wa.

1. Dirty Snowy Owl lookin pissed as usual

2. Porcupine chewin on some grub

3. A Ram and part of his harem

4.Mountain Goat smiling for the camera

pjaye · Feb 15, 2014

So I was about to post my first ever snowy owl, then I saw yours. Mine sucks. Great shots. Very cool that they offer that deal.

BanditPhotographyNW · Feb 15, 2014

Don't say that...Post yours up I'm sure it is better than you think. But thank you for the compliment.

DarkShadow · Feb 15, 2014

Nice set. Man that snowy owl looks really pissed off and is in desperate need of a bath.

BillM · Feb 15, 2014

Bait and switch !!!!!!

LOL

Nice shots :thumbup:

Tony S · Feb 15, 2014

Nice shots you got for your visit to NWT. You need to hang out there some more so you can get those bighorns off the road.

Northwest Trek is a great place for photographers to hang out. It's one of the few places where the people are penned up and the animals are allowed to roam. I've found that on the photo tours it gets pretty competitive for spots in the trams, even though there is room because seats are removed so you can use tripods, there's always some jerk who can't get along. They do go off the normal route though and hang out where the animals are, catch one in the fall when the elk are in rut and the keepers will bugle in the bulls. Late spring is also good because of all the babies being born.

I'm spoiled though, it's only ten minutes from my house to the gate and I buy an annual pass. This presidents day weekend is a great time to go because you don't have to pay to take kids 12 and under.

BanditPhotographyNW · Feb 15, 2014

Ya I think I may buy a pass. Is it ever open in the snow?

Tony S · Feb 16, 2014

They were open one day last week when we had some snow, but usually they close because they are worried someone will slip on the walkways and they can't run the trams very well if the road is icy at all. I've been there in the snow and it is something special.

Here's a snow shot from there I was able to dig up...

BanditPhotographyNW · Feb 16, 2014

Ya I went to the Oregon zoo the day the snow started going away and it was closed I was bummed the website said open lol. I wanted to see snow covered animals.

coastalconn · Feb 16, 2014

Wow, that Snowy Owl does not look healthy at all... One of the ones rescued here wasn't nearly as bad looking as that one and it was severely emaciated.. (Nice shots, btw)

BanditPhotographyNW · Feb 17, 2014

coastalconn said:
Wow, that Snowy Owl does not look healthy at all... One of the ones rescued here wasn't nearly as bad looking as that one and it was severely emaciated.. (Nice shots, btw)

I felt the same about how he/she looked as well...We just had a crazy snowstorm (for the Pac NW lol) and the grounds were muddy and wet after it melted off. This was like the day after the snow was gone. Didnt get to see the Great Horned Owl which was a bummer.