Nighttime in the Wind River Canyon is a mysterious time.  Wildlife epics occur in darkness that our human eyes will never see, and the isolation of this Wyoming canyon easily keeps her nighttime secrets.  Few people have ever lived in this beautiful, golden canyon; even fewer have experienced the mysteries of "the time of darkness."  

     One early morning, before coffee, my wife asked me a question that made me smile, "Were you hooting last night?"  My response was probably a caveman grunt, but I do remember a giggle that probably wasn't.  Her window had been open to allow the crisp mountain air into her dreams, and keep her cool.  One of our Great Horned Owls had been sitting on the wooden "In Memory of James Whale"Great Horned Owl Photographed in Wind River Canyon, Wyoming; Inspired by the Great film Director James Whale. beam outside her window.  It's his habit to let the Wind River Canyon know he's around, and I've spent many nights watching owls and listening to their "hooting."  When she realized I wasn't being a jerk, we both had a good laugh over her "owl story."

     In the Fall, our Great Horned Owls bring their young to hunt under the only mercury light, near an open field, in the Wind River Canyon; the one in our yard.  Every once in a while this makes for some crazy nighttime events right outside our cabin door.  The best one was when I sneaked out a door to observe a yearling owl chasing field mice under the light.  I was "peeking" around the corner of the garage with my left eye, trying not to be seen by this cute little owl.  Not accounting for his amazing hearing, he must have heard me breathing, because he turned around and looked right at me!  The jig was up, I stepped out from my lousy hiding place so he could get a good look.  This young Great Horned Owl was not happy about the interruption.  He flew up to a nearby boulder and gave me an "Owl dirty look."

     Are there Cougars in the Wind River Canyon?  The simplest answer is yes, as we've seen their tracks in the mud within a stones throw from our backdoor.  I've also seen Cougar tracks in the freshly fallen snow far up in the canyon cliffs.  These big cats are the most secretive of all the wildlife in Wyoming; most people will never see one in the wild, unless they're hunting for a Cougar with dogs.  But at three in the morning, on an unusually warm June night, I was awake and thirsty for ice cold water.  As I entered the kitchen in the pitch dark, something on the wall outside caught my eye.  With juniper all around it was impossible to make out what wild animal was visiting.  I grabbed the nearby binoculars and readied myself to turn on an outside light, and to my astonishment a young Cougar was standing on the wall watching the nighttime field mice activity!!

     To this very cold Winter's day, I am not sure how long we looked at each other on that dark June night.  I know it wasn't a dream, and it couldn't have lasted anywhere near as long as it does in my mind now.  That single moment of the young Cougar, staring at me through my old binoculars, hovers somewhere in my subconscious.  Try and get to sleep after something like that.  

     Every time I get up in the middle-of-the-night to do my man thing, I look out the bathroom Mule Deer-Portrait-Wind River Canyon, WyomingMule Deer Portrait photographed in Wind River Canyon, Wyoming. window that overlooks the lit field.  You'll never believe the things I've seen in the nighttime here in the canyon, like the time I saw deer "dancing in the dark."  One particular night the biggest Coyote ever just cantered right by, as if it was just his regular route.  Watching the owls hunting is something I really love; so big and silent.

     Wyoming Mule Deer are very large wild animals, and unfortunately are out at night.  I've lost amazingly large bucks to traffic, even here in the Wind River Canyon.  One cold Fall night two of our big bucks were eating their way by our cabin.  I put on my nasty old cowboy hat and big brown coat, and headed out the backdoor to try an "old Indian trick" I'd been taught.  

     I made my way as silently as I could to the corner of our garage.  Sticking my hands in my Mule Deer-My Friend-Wind River Canyon, WyomingBuck Mule Deer photographed in The Wind River Canyon, Wyoming. pockets, I then "turned to stone."  The smaller of the two bucks came from behind the juniper into the mercury light, right in front of me!  He looked around, but didn't seem to see me; he walked twenty feet more.  Then out from behind the pine tree came the buck deer that is on my website.  His magnificent antlers thrown back as he scanned the area, lit by that weird mercury light, he didn't seem to see me; I was invisible!!!  The trick worked, my silence and patience giving me a really cool wildlife tale; all true, I swear.

     I'd really like to document some of the nighttime wildlife activity here in the Wind River Canyon, but that technology is out of my reach.  If you want to watch big bats, deer and owls in the dark, or one of our startling moonrises, then the canyon will blow you away....in the dark. Canyon Moonrise, Wind River CanyonMoonrise in Wind River Canyon, Wyoming. Wind River Canyon Blog and all photography by Michael John Balog - Hogbats Photography, Wind River Canyon, Wyoming.

*Go to HogbatsPhotography.com for more wild animal photographs.