Canadian Geographic’s 2012 Wildlife Photos of the Year

Fishing Bear-Handed

Canadian Geographic’s 2012 Wildlife Photos of the Year(image via: Edmonton Sun)

Kevin Mazur of Victoria, British Columbia, feels very fortunate to have captured this unique photo and escaped none the worse for wear. While hiking along Thornton Creek on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Mazur came across a large North American black bear fishing for salmon at the base of a waterfall. Mazur snapped the shutter just as the bear caught a large salmon in his teeth. Though the bear turned to face Mazur, his hunger took precedence over any urge to attack. Call it a “fight or bite” reflex.

Canadian Geographic’s 2012 Wildlife Photos of the Year(images via: Panoramio/Alan Rust, Thornton Creek Hatchery/Facebook and Kreider’s Korner Photographs)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has been overseeing the Thornton Creek Project (a Japanese method of rearing chum salmon in concrete keeper channels) since 1976, though the salmon hatchery is currently managed by the Thornton Creek Enhancement Society. According to the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website, “We have tours for visitors and schools, there are a lot of tourists around in the fall to visit, mostly to see the bears eating fish but we do not promote bear watching due to liability concerns.” Learn and live, folks.

Vulture Culture

Canadian Geographic’s 2012 Wildlife Photos of the Year(image via: Canadian Geographic Photo Club)

Roger Leekam of Toronto, Ontario, knows the true meaning of being in the right place at the right time. The right place was along the Niagara Escarpment one fine morning, as scores of Turkey Vultures soared across the sky on invisible thermal air currents. When one of the bare-headed creatures suddenly landed in a nearby tree, Leekam held back his surprise and clicked the shutter.

Canadian Geographic’s 2012 Wildlife Photos of the Year(images via: Niagara Escarpment Views and Milton Trails)

Turkey Vultures aren’t native to the Southern Ontario portion of the Niagara Escarpment but around 70 years ago their population began to increase – these days over 6,200 birds make the area their home. Efficient scavengers who rarely take down live prey, these striking-looking birds with 6-foot wingspans make short work of roadkill and have become a vital part of the region’s ecosystem.

Foxy Lady

Canadian Geographic’s 2012 Wildlife Photos of the Year(image via: Canadian Geographic Photo Club)

Peter Ferguson of Fonthill, Ontario, was driving along Highway 60 in Algonquin Provincial Park one day when he spied a red fox along the roadside, trotting towards him. Pulling over to the shoulder, Ferguson watched as the fox approached and as it neared, observed a freshly killed rabbit clutched in its jaws. Nature photographers know all too well that opportunities for the best shots are usually unplanned and all one can do is keep a loaded camera within reach, and Ferguson had been there and done that… and was about to do it again. Snapping away from the shelter of his car, Ferguson watched the fox (and its lunch) come as close as 10 feet or so before angling off into the bush.

Canadian Geographic’s 2012 Wildlife Photos of the Year(images via: National Geographic, About.com/Canada and Wild Nature Images)

The Red Fox is famed for its adaptability to environmental conditions of all sorts, and it’s exploited this characteristic to spread across the entire northern hemisphere from the arctic down to tropical regions of northern Africa and central America. Due to its attractive appearance, bold hunting habits and proximity to human settlements, nature photographers have documented these carnivorous canine relatives in graphic detail. That goes for the pros as well as the Joes… and in this case, a Peter as well.