WILDLIFE OF ALASKA – SEEN MOSTLY FROM A MOTORCYCLE
Motorcycle Vapors . Mutterings And MurmursOn a recent, bucket list, non four wheeled trip to Alaska, I was reminded of the vulnerability required to travel roughly 7600 kilometres on two wheels, open to the elements, and exposed to sights and sounds not typically experienced when operating a fully enclosed motor vehicle. The insulated, enclosed vehicles offer comfort, security, and distractions that can be so limiting to what is available beyond the windshield. There is also an added awareness to what might present a hazard to your ride. The risk becomes greater when you travel in remote areas. Animal crossings and the potential for road and operator contact are very real. Evidence of road kill carnage in the form of splatters, smears, and the smells of carcasses in states varying from fresh to aged and blackened is easier to detect from the open platform of a motorcycle seat. The natural world is best represented by the scene of crows and ravens cawing and croaking excitedly over the long rotted carcass of a moose.
The food chain.
ELK
MOOSE
BARREN GROUND CARIBOU
DALL SHEEP
BIGHORN SHEEP
WHITE TAIL DEER
BLACK BEAR
ALASKAN BROWN BEAR WITH CUBS
MUSKRAT
PORCUPINE
COYOTE
PINK FAIRY ARMADILLO
SUNDA COLONGO
RED FOX
CHIPMUNK
RICHARD GROUND SQUIRREL
CANADA GOOSE
SEA GULL
GREAT GREY OWL
QUAIL
EMASCULATED RAINBOW SOFT BELLIED BAIT RACER
GOSHAWK
GOLDEN EAGLE
BALD EAGLE
CROW
RAVEN
WHISKEY JACK
SPARROW
CHICK-A-DEE
TRUMPETER SWAN
NEUTERED GENDER CONFUSED DODO
SANDHILL CRANE
INSECTS. MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF THEM. MASHED OR WHOLE.
Imagine what you could see and hear and feel if you pulled over, parked, took off your gear and walked off into the bush for a few days.
What?