Can't beat Seattle on a good day...

We woke today to perfect weather – cloudless blue skies right to the horizon.  This was very good as we had planned to visit the North West Trek Wildlife Park today and it was going to be way more fun if we weren’t peering out from hoods.  We have been to other zoos and safari parks here in the USA, but this place promised the chance to meet some of the local wildlife.  So far the closest we have come is a few grey squirrels, and the awful smell coming in through the car’s air-con when someone has hit a skunk!

We are staying in a place where our room has a little kitchenette, so we had our breakfast before getting on the road.  I was hopeful that on such a gorgeous day we might get a sight of Mount Rainier – and so we did.  Sadly we were on the freeway so the only photos we got this morning were through a somewhat grubby windscreen.

The drive to the park took nearly an hour, through a strange combination of forest and strip mall (with regular appearances by Mt. Rainier).  Entry to the park includes a ride on their tram through over 400 acres of open roaming ground where all the herbivores live – bison, caribou, moose, elk, long-horn sheep and mountain goats.  Our turn was at 12.30, so we had a bit of time to wander around first.  One of the first things we found was a keeper giving a talk with a Spotted Northern Owl – what a beautiful bird (the owl, I mean).  It seems their habitat of native hardwood forest is under threat from the logging industry.  It seems insane to me that there could be any question about sustaining what little natural forest is left, but this is such a huge country with such a lot of people.  The logging industry would say the timber for construction has to come from somewhere, and they don’t have the temperate climate we have at home that makes growing plantation timber so easy.

We caught a brief glimpse of a very sleepy black bear before we headed down to our tram tour.  Our driver, Katy, was very enthusiastic and had the patter for the younger passengers well sorted.  My favourite comment; “this is the best day Seattle has had in, like, the history of ever”.  Glad we were there to enjoy it!  The tram ride was fun – we saw bison, caribou and moose up close, and saw all the other “critters” (as Katy said) from a distance.  At one point we had a lovely vista out over the forest; we were told that there used to be a view of Mt. Saint Helen but she is too short now.

After the tram ride finished, we had time to explore around the rest of the park where the carnivores are in separate enclosures.  We stopped for some lunch first, and when we came out of the café there was a keeper with a female American porcupine.  This was so cute, and not at all as I expected a porcupine to look.  Most of her quills are well-hidden by hair and whisker-like fur.  She was just adorable as she held and nibbled the treats the keeper gave her while we all asked questions. 

Next we walked up the big animal trails. The cougar was asleep, the lynx was eagerly pacing by the door to his cage (right down the back of the enclosure) as he could hear keepers inside; the bobcat was sitting still as a statue under a tree.  So much for the cats.  The canids were more interesting, although it was a little disappointing that the keeper was throwing treats for the wolves about as far as possible from the viewing area.  The coyotes were great; all dogs should have such cool tails.

The grizzly bears were gorgeous – although they were snoozing when we got there, they were right up close and did eventually get a little active.  We stayed and watched them for ages.  Sadly the black bears were still sleeping – I guess they are just getting over hibernation so sleeping is a habit.

Finally we reached the enclosures for all the wetland creatures; these are the wildlife I think of when I think of the Pacific Northwest.  Beavers, otters, raccoons, skunks, badgers, fishers; they were all there.  We got some lovely photos and some not so lovely – all these guys move fast and were very active.  In the end I stopped trying to get pictures and just enjoyed watching them.  The fishers were especially beautiful and much bigger than I had expected.  

Otterly beautiful

Fisher at speed

"Where's my lunch?"

At home with Mr. Badger

 

All in all we had a beautiful day in the sun and thoroughly enjoyed ‘meeting the locals’.  Grant managed to cap the day off nicely with a fabulous photo of Mt. Rainier – not through the car window.  I made it a little easier for him by actually stopping the car.