Wild video out of the highlands of Scotland where adventure photographer Dan Milner got a face full of wild stag during a trip to snap pics for the now defunct magazine Transworld Snowboarding around Cairngorm, The Lecht and Glencoe ski resorts back in March of 2011.

Dan got a puncture wound on his nose and scratch on his camera lens which ended up costing him £1,400. Dan had a sense of humor about the incident and posted this quote to his personal blog:

“You’d think I’d be braced for pretty much anything the weather can throw at me by now with 15 years of pro shooting in remote corners of the world tucked under my belt, but hey ho, Scotland was playing its joker when it came to photographer-bashing last week.”

Scottish stags, or red deer (Cervus elaphus), are iconic symbols of the Scottish Highlands, embodying the rugged and majestic beauty of the region. With their impressive antlers, these majestic creatures are a common sight in the expansive landscapes of Scotland. The stags play a central role in Scottish folklore and traditions, often symbolizing strength, resilience, and the untamed spirit of the Highlands.

During the autumn rutting season, male stags engage in fierce battles for dominance and mating rights. The haunting sound of their echoing roars fills the air as they establish their territories and compete for the attention of hind groups. The sight of a powerful stag silhouetted against the dramatic Scottish scenery is a testament to the wild and untamed nature of the Highlands.

Conservation efforts have been crucial in preserving the red deer population, balancing their presence with the delicate ecosystems of the Scottish landscape. These efforts contribute to the overall biodiversity and maintain the ecological balance of the region.

Encountering a Scottish stag in its natural habitat is a captivating experience, evoking a sense of awe and connecting visitors with the untamed spirit of the Scottish Highlands.

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“Today, history was made in Colorado. For the first time since the 1940s, the howl of wolves will officially return to western Colorado.” –Colorado Governor Jared Polis

The people of Colorado voted in the reintroduction of wolves to the landscape back in 2020 and they have finally been released 3 years later.

5 grey wolves, (3 males, 2 females) were released yesterday in Grand County, west of Rocky Mountain National Park. The animals were captured in Oregon, evaluated by veterinarians and biologists, fitted with GPS collars and transferred to Colorado for their release.

These 5 wolves are just the beginning of the reintroduction efforts. Colorado Parks and Wildlife plan to release an additional 10-15 wolves by March 2024 and another 30-50 in the next 3 to 5 years.

Check out the video and find the Colorado Parks and Wildlife press release below:

PRESS RELEASE:

Today, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) experts released five gray wolves onto public land in Grand County in a historic effort to create a permanent, self-sustaining wolf population and fulfill voter approval to re-establish gray wolves in Colorado.

The gray wolves were captured in Oregon where CPW veterinarians and biologists evaluated them to determine if they were fit for relocation to Colorado. Criteria for release included the age, sex, health and body condition of each animal. 

Each gray wolf was weighed and measured. Staff collected genetic material – tissue and blood samples – before fitting each with a GPS satellite collar for tracking upon release by CPW staff. Then, the wolves were given vaccines and were placed in crates and flown to Colorado for release back into the wild.

Meet Colorado’s new wolves:

2302-OR: Juvenile female, black color, 68 lbs., Five Points Pack
2303-OR: Juvenile male, gray color, 76 lbs. Five Points Pack
2304-OR: Juvenile female, gray color, 76 lbs., Noregaard Pack
2305-OR: Juvenile male, black color, 93 lbs., Noregaard Pack
2307-OR: Adult male, gray color, 108 lbs., Wenaha Pack

Note: All wolves captured, collared and released in Colorado will use the same naming convention: The first two numbers (23) will indicate the year the animal was captured. The second set of numbers informs biologists of the wolf’s gender (males will have odd numbers, females will have even) and the order in which it was collared. *The “OR” suffix indicates the wolves came from Oregon. 

CPW will repeat the process until at least 10 – 15 wolves have been reintroduced in Colorado by mid-March 2024. As outlined in the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan, CPW hopes to release 30 to 50 wolves over the next 3 – 5 years using wolves captured from nearby northern Rockies states from several different packs by trapping and darting them in the winter.

Gray wolves are listed both state and federally as an endangered species in Colorado by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the Colorado wolf population as Experimental under Section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. This provides management flexibility that would otherwise be prohibited.

CPW’s reintroduction program builds on work started by the USFWS in 1995 when that federal agency began restoring gray wolves in the Western U.S., starting with an experimental population released in Yellowstone National Park in Montana. Wolf reintroduction efforts eventually spread to Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico and Arizona.

The Oregon wolves released represent CPW’s determination to fulfill the wishes of Colorado voters who, in 2020, directed the agency to begin reintroducing wolves by Dec. 31, 2023. The new wolves will be managed by CPW using the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan, approved by the CPW Commission in May 2023, after more than two years of extensive statewide stakeholder meetings and outreach via a series of public hearings. 

Ultimately, CPW plans to recover and maintain a viable, self-sustaining wolf population in Colorado while balancing the need to manage interactions between wolves, people and livestock.  

This project marks another milestone in the long CPW tradition of species recovery in Colorado. These include the black-footed ferret, one of North America’s rarest mammals, the 1999 effort to reintroduce the lynx, the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, the greenback cutthroat trout, and many more. 

“Today, history was made in Colorado. For the first time since the 1940s, the howl of wolves will officially return to western Colorado. The return of wolves fulfills the will of voters who, in 2020, passed an initiative requiring the reintroduction of wolves starting by Dec. 31, 2023. What followed were three years of comprehensive listening and work by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to draft a plan to restore and manage wolves that included public meetings in every corner of the state and was inclusive of all points of view and weighed the needs of a wide range of communities with a deep interest in the thoughtful outcome of this effort. I am proud of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff for their hard work to make this happen. The shared efforts to reintroduce wolves are just getting started and wolves will rejoin a diverse ecosystem of Colorado wildlife.” –Colorado Governor Jared Polis

“Today’s reintroduction of the gray wolf is a tremendous accomplishment for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the citizens of Colorado. This would not have been possible without the tireless work of CPW staff and the Parks and Wildlife Commission, the members of both our advisory boards and the citizens and stakeholders who engaged and weighed in to make our wolf management plan the best for all Coloradans and for wolves that once again grace our Colorado landscapes.” – Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources

“This is a historic day for Colorado. We want to thank the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their work to complete and approve the 10(j) designation that lists wolves in Colorado as a nonessential, experimental population. This helps us to follow all of the conflict mitigation plans we accounted for in the final Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan. Having the rule in place in early December helped CPW to stay on track to reintroduce wolves in 2023 with the ability to use the appropriate management tools. We’ll continue releasing animals based on our plan to have wolves not just survive but thrive in Colorado as they did a century ago.” – CPW Director Jeff Davis

“Pulling off a successful first wolf release in Colorado touched all corners of our agency. This has been two years of work to approve the plan plus another year of work to secure our first source population and get us to this release day. We are grateful to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for working with our agency on an agreement for up to 10 wolves and for all the CPW staff who contributed to this historic day.” –CPW Assistant Director Aquatic, Terrestrial, and Natural Resources Reid DeWalt 

“It was an honor to participate in this historic effort. We were thrilled to have great conditions for capture and early success in Oregon. Weather conditions and information on pack locations provided by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff combined to help us capture five gray wolves on day one of capture operations in northeast Oregon and release them earlier today on Colorado’s Western Slope.” –CPW Wolf Conservation Program Manager Eric Odell

Just days after a skier nearly collided with a black bear on a trail at Heavenly Ski Resort, another bear video has emerged from the slopes of South Lake Tahoe. This time a family of three bears was filmed from a chairlift trudging through fresh snow. If you’re wondering why these bears aren’t in hibernation you need to know hibernation is directly proportional to how much food and resources are out on the landscape. Turns out there’s a ton of human-provided food in Lake Tahoe and the bears don’t always need to hibernate in the area:

Just yesterday Heavenly released this response to the bear video that went viral on international news, acknowledging they operate on National Forest Lands and bears are fact of life for the resort:

“As a resort that operates on National Forest lands, wildlife sightings can occur on occasion. We deeply respect the diverse species that inhabit the area within and surrounding the resort.

In situations where these animals are noticed, we have specific protocols to prioritize the safety of our guests and the well-being of these animals. This includes maintaining distance and promptly alerting our ski patrol, mountain safety, and security teams when needed. Thankfully, interactions between our guests and bears are infrequent as these animals usually move on quickly.

In this case, it appears this bear was just looking to find some fresh tracks out on the mountain like the rest of us. You know you’re at Heavenly when even the bears are taking in those views down Ridge Run!” -Heavenly Communications Manager, Cole Zimmerman

Original video from TikTok of the near collision:

“We advise keeping at least 120 feet (36 meters) or about three bus-lengths away from black bears, moose, and mountain lions. Stay safe and never assume you are the one that can get away with a close encounter.” –Rocky Mountain National Park

Mind numbing idiocy out of Rocky Mountain National Park where a mother caught on camera filming her daughter approaching a moose well within the recommended 120 foot distance for safe observation. Getting this close to wild moose in dangerous in general but when you factor in the moose in the video is a juvenile, the risk increases significantly. Cow moose are extremely defensive of their young and getting between one and her calf can trigger an attack. This is a textbook example of what not to do if you see a moose in the wild:

What if I really want the perfect photo?

The popularity of selfies and capturing any moment through photographs or video is posing a new threat to wildlife and humans. Trigger-happy tourists have started to provoke animals, and in some instances, alter their behaviors as a result. Quietly watching from a distance can be even more rewarding than getting the perfect shot. Perhaps you even came here to “get away” from a busy lifestyle and technology. So, use your zoom or a telephoto lens, or put your camera down and take a moment to really appreciate what you see.

RELATED: Idiot Tourist Plays Dead After Moose Charge In Jackson Hole

That video of a skier who nearly collided with a black bear while skiing down Ridgerun Trail at Heavenly Ski Resort has gone full viral prompting a response from the Lake Tahoe resort:

“As a resort that operates on National Forest lands, wildlife sightings can occur on occasion. We deeply respect the diverse species that inhabit the area within and surrounding the resort.

In situations where these animals are noticed, we have specific protocols to prioritize the safety of our guests and the well-being of these animals. This includes maintaining distance and promptly alerting our ski patrol, mountain safety, and security teams when needed. Thankfully, interactions between our guests and bears are infrequent as these animals usually move on quickly.

In this case, it appears this bear was just looking to find some fresh tracks out on the mountain like the rest of us. You know you’re at Heavenly when even the bears are taking in those views down Ridge Run!” -Heavenly Communications Manager, Cole Zimmerman

If you’re wondering why this black bear is still active and not in hibernation you have to understand that not all black bears hibernate. Hibernation is directly proportional to how much food and resources are out on the landscape. Unfortunately in Lake Tahoe there’s a ton of human-provided food and the bears don’t always need to hibernate:

Here’s an interview with California Department of Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira who explains why bears in Tahoe don’t always hibernate:

Very close call for this Lake Tahoe skier who nearly collided with a black bear while skiing down Ridgerun Trail at Heavenly Ski Resort. Thankfully their paths did not intersect but it was super close.

ABC10 reports the video of the incident which was posted TikTok was filmed Sunday morning. The skier felt extremely lucky that he was able to avoid an impact and felt better after seeing the juvenile bear reunite with its mother off the side of the trail.

Glad this little fella made across the trail without getting struck. Lets hope it learned its lesson and avoids active ski trails in the future:

The black bears of Lake Tahoe, California, are a fascinating and integral part of the region’s diverse ecosystem. These bears, Ursus americanus, thrive in the lush coniferous forests surrounding the iconic alpine lake. Known for their distinctive black fur, these bears exhibit a remarkable adaptability to their mountainous habitat.

During summer, when the lake’s surroundings burst into vibrant colors, the bears forage for berries, nuts, and insects. Lake Tahoe’s plentiful vegetation provides an abundant food source, allowing the black bears to fatten up for the approaching winter months. As autumn descends, these bears undergo hyperphagia, a period of increased feeding, to build up fat reserves for their winter hibernation.

Human-bear encounters are not uncommon in the Lake Tahoe area, as these intelligent creatures navigate both natural and urban landscapes. Conservation efforts and educational programs aim to promote coexistence while minimizing potential conflicts. Residents and visitors are encouraged to secure their food and garbage to prevent bears from becoming accustomed to human-related food sources.

The black bears of Lake Tahoe represent a symbol of the delicate balance between wildlife and human communities, emphasizing the importance of responsible conservation practices in preserving the region’s ecological integrity.

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“Meanwhile, on the way to Pamporovo today, they filmed this. Honestly, I don’t know why they’re not sleeping.”

A momma brown bear and her cub filmed on road to Pamporovo Ski Resort in the Smolyan Province of southern Bulgaria and the little one looks mad cute. The cub played with its paws in the freshly fallen snow while it mother kept a watchful eye as cars passed by. Pamporovo isn’t open for skiing yet but judging by the accumulation on the access road, things are looking good to start spinning lifts soon.

RELATED: Video Emerges Of Brown Bear Chasing Romanian Skiers

About Ski Zone Pamporovo:

In 2016, for the first time in Bulgaria, two neighbouring ski areas Pamporovo and Mechi Chal united and started operating jointly with a common ticketing and transport system.

The union aims to create the largest winter sports center in the Balkans, actively using the available natural resources and enabling the country to host prestigious international sporting events.

Both resorts offer a common lift pass, which gives access to all ski and snowboard slopes and facilities.in Pamporovo and Mechi Chal.

Regular specialized ski buses serve both ski areas and provide transfer for all tourists. Separate stops and signposts provide information about the current schedule and movement of ski buses in real time.

The ski areas in both resorts provide extremely good conditions for practising winter sports. The slopes are of varying difficulty (green, blue, red and black) suitable for all ages and skill levels, for both beginners and experts.

Pamporovo is one of the best ski centers for beginners with the longest green ski slope in Bulgaria.

Mechi Chal ski area is a challenge for intermediate and professional skiers, as the main slope in the resort is red.

Pamporovo resort is located in the central part of the Rhodopes at an altitude of 1650m, at the foot of Snezhanka peak (1928 m above sea level). For more than 85 years the resort has been developing as a sports and climatotherapy center.

Pamporovo ski area comprises about 60km of ski slopes, snowboard slopes, sledding and freeride areas, as well as cross-country ski trails. The slopes in Pamporovo are suitable for people of all ages and with different skiing abilities. The degree of difficulty of the slopes allows the ski areas to be both accessible for beginners and advanced, alternating workload and rest on steep and sloping sections.

Modern lift equipment, new snow treatment machines and powerful snow cannons ensure the fast movement of tourists without crowds, optimal snow cover and excellent conditions for practising winter sports.

“Knowing that the animal would surely perish if nothing was done, we decided to do our best to give it a fighting chance and try to dig it out.”

Just a couple of snowmobilers living up to the that Canadians are really really nice people. The following video comes from the Taylor’s Brook Road area of western Newfoundland where a group of snowmobilers stopped to observe 3 moose walking off in the distance. One of them appeared to fall out of sight and when they went to investigate, they discovered it had fallen into a deep treewell. Knowing full well that the moose stood little chance of surviving, they broke out there shovels and got to digging. The animal eventually emerged and trotted away seemingly unharmed. Nice save boys!

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Working on a holiday will never be a fun task. Knowing that nearly everyone else is enjoying a day off, spending time with friends or family, while you’re at work missing out on the fun sucks. But we need people working on every day of the year, especially first responders, so we tip our hat to those hard workers.

When police in Rockland, Maine, responded to a 1 p.m. burglary at a local retailer, they were probably amping themselves up for the worse. When they arrived to find a large front glass window shattered and items scattered around knocked over inside, they probably expected to find at least one burglar hard at work destroying the inside of this shop. They probably weren’t expecting to find exactly what they found when they closed down all of the exits and began searching the entire store.

Rather than a thief or a crew of thieves, the Rockland police officers found a white-tailed deer, eager to beat the Black Friday traffic a day before the deals really began.

“Officers assisted store management with herding the animal outside. Fortunately, the animal was able to leave the building on its own and was not seriously injured.” – Rockland Maine Police Department

As glad as we are that the Rockland police didn’t have to deal with a serious break-in on thanksgiving day, the owners and employees of that retailer certainly had a rough Black Friday, if not a rough Thanksgiving. Imagine sitting down to enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family only to receive a call that your shop was torn to pieces by a whitetail deer. Who are you supposed to get angry with in that situation? There’s almost certainly nothing anyone could have done to prevent it.

Related: Deer Makes A Mega Jump

Image Credit: Rockland Maine Police Department via Facebook

“Now was this a charge? No, not really, as a charge is generally considered here in Alaska an encounter where a bear runs at you with intent.”

This hair-raising encounter with a grizzly up at Jaques Adventure Lodge in Alaska is not actually considered a charge by the experts as the bear  unintentionally ran into someone and wasn’t targeting. If you watch close, you can see bear looking over his shoulder and watching behind him the entire time. FULL EXPLANATION BELOW:

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Okay, guys, so here is an exciting encounter with a bear and one of our apprentice guides that might seem dramatically different once explained. So, the blond apprentice guide you see here sees a bear running at him and correctly steps to the side of the trail, readies his bear spray, and even starts to warn the bear of his presence verbally. You’ll notice that he goes through all the correct protocols despite the stress he’s experiencing. All of this is great and conducive to the best possible outcome, something we look for in a guide candidate. With everything I’ve said, you might say to yourself, “Well, it sounds like he handled this charge well,” and you know I would generally agree with that statement, excepting, of course, the fact that this grizzly was running away from something else. Now make no mistake, a bear running away from something is far, far more likely to trample you, or nock you out of the way, or even run into you and become aggressive than you might think.

What you may not see is the bear looking over his shoulder and watching behind him the entire time. This behavior indicates that whatever is behind him is driving his behavior. A big bore was actually outside the border of the video the whole time doing what we call “pushing” behavior where the large boar uses his body language and feromones to intimidate the young subadults and run them off. This behavior is expected in many of Alaska’s coastal and inland areas, where there are dense populations of brown bears that subsist off of an annual salmon run.

Now was this a charge? No, not really, as a charge is generally considered here in Alaska an encounter where a bear runs at you with intent. This was a bear nearly unintentionally running into someone and not a bear targeting and charging. Our apprentice stayed reasonably calm and took proper precautions, and avoided a potentially dangerous situation. Remember that every guide is constantly learning, and no one is perfect guys, so stay safe and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more content! It was a great learning experience for our apprentice and something we are lucky he was able to experience and learn from.