Tag Archives: marmots

2007 Three days at Atlin

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I was briefly hired by an engineering company to look for marmots at a proposed molybdenum mine near Atlin, B.C.  I did find a few hoary marmots (Marmota caligata) – but doubt it made much difference in the grand scheme of things.  The scenery was just amazing.

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Click on any image to start a full-screen slide-show (and hit “Esc” to return here)
On the way to Whitehorse, Yukon, 30 May 2007. With my (almost) brand-new Nikon D70…
on the Alaska highway heading south
Atlin, British Columbia. I think my first reaction was “gee, I like this”.
This is downtown Atlin. There’s not very much to do on a Saturday night!
But the history and scenery are amazing. This is the proverbial old gold mining town of lore.
Some of the original miner’s cabins are still extant.
I don’t know what happened here, but thought this was really poignant. SOMEBODY remembered something…
Parking lot in typical northern style.
The best view from a hotel room I have ever seen. And this photograph was taken at about midnight.
Western gulls
Downtown shopping opportunities in Atlin are quite limited.
This preserved ferry used to ferry miners to and from Alaska.
On the way to Ruby Creek, which was our study area.
More of our study area.
A nice helicopter landing pad. Thank you Daryl. Some other pilots I’ve met would have been impressed.
See? There are marmots there too.
White-tailed ptarmigan at Ruby Creek.
Caribou on ridge
Field accomodations…just kidding. This is clever camouflage for the helicopter fuel storage
Just a walk around town
Downtown Atlin #2
Downtown Atlin #6
Downtown Atlin #4
Downtown Atlin #8
Downtown Atlin #9
Homesteading did cross my mind…
Northern flying at its best…
Dryas integrifolia – one of the hardiest plants in alpine terrain.
I should know the species…but don’t
One of my favorite self-portraits – on the way to Ruby Creek, 1 June 2007.
Surprise lake was just that
The evidence of mining was everywhere – and not always so photogenic!
Western gull – I think…
Hoary marmot at Ruby Creek 1 June 2007
Hoardy marmot tracks in the snow
What is it about civic clocks? The Exif data say it was nine-thirty PM.
Nice female ptarmigan
Rememerance at Atlin
Steamboat Mtn and Surprise Lake
Nice common tern
The terrain was just fantastic
View from Atlin

 

 

from the CBC radio archives

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Base-camp for the 2004 marmot release, Haley Lake Ecological Reserve, Vancouver Island

Base-camp for the 2004 marmot release, Haley Lake Ecological Reserve, Vancouver Island

19 May 2015

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that these old radio interviews are still floating around – the internet has a long memory.  Thank You CBC!

– Protecting the endangered marmot with dirty laundry (aired 31 May 2004)

– Marmot 101 (aired 9 April 2003

Note: these links will open in a new tab

 

Published photographs

Adult female Vancouver Island marmot, Haley Lake Ecological Reserve, 2 July 1988

Adult female Vancouver Island marmot, Haley Lake Ecological Reserve, 2 July 1988

My images have appeared in magazines such as National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, International Wildlife, Equinox, Maclean’s, Western Living, and many other brochures, popular magazines  and scientific publications..

Some have also seen print in books such as

Squirrels of the World (2012)
Hope for Animals and their World (2011)
Rodents and Lagomorphs of BC (2010) 
Wild Science (2004) 
Saving Endangered Species With a Scientist (2004)
Die Murmeltiere der welt (1996)
(The Marmots of the World)

 

It’s not that I’m the world’s greatest photographer or anything, but I did get to spend a lot of time with a particular endangered rodent.  Indeed if you Google “Vancouver Island marmot images”, you’ll see a bunch of my work, more often than not uncredited.

Click on the relevant image to get more details about the book
Squirrels of the World Hope for Animals and their WorldRodents and Lagamorphs of bCWild ScienceSaving endangered species with a scientist