Last Ranger Led Hike and Canada

Pics are 1) Fox with squirrel at rest area in Canada; 2) Grizzly bear marking on "rubbing tree" on Aster Park Hike; 3) evidence of rubbing by bears; 4) Black Bear marking, notice curved claws vs straight claws Grizzly Bear; 4) Maria and Steve at Aster Park Lookout; 5) Steve and Bailey at Canada Lookout

July 25/Day 10

Glacier National Park

Wildlife!

Yesterday we went into the Canadian side of the park for a road trip because the weather was blustery to say the least. We also wanted to see what crossing the border into Canada entailed. We had a pleasant hour and a half drive to Waterton Lakes National Park and just went into the Waterton Village. We had lunch overlooking the Waterton Lake, moseyed around town. In that process we saw a juvenile black bear run right past a family with two small children then disappear between two houses. One of our park rangers told us that in Canada they tend to put towns within their National Parks. She thinks that is a problem because the animals and people get too accustomed to each other. At a rest stop we also saw a fox with a squirrel in his mouth.!

It has been super windy here. The Park Ranger we chatted with today told us that the gusts were minimum 60 mph. The trailer was a rocking and a rolling!

Today is better but still windy.

Today was our last Ranger led hike. We went on the Aster Park Hike through many different wildflowers again. This time we played a game in which the ranger would tell the lead hiker the name of a plant and a fun fact about the plant, then that hiker would tell each passing hiker the information. We had about 10 hikers in our group, we did three rounds so identified around 25 plants. (Some of us were in pairs). It was fun and informative. I learned about a delicate little flower called the DEATH Camus because it is that poisonous. We also identified several different types of lilies and orchids -  yes forest orchids. The reason it is called Aster Park is because the meadows are covered with purple asters and assorted other beautiful nature’s pallet; i.e. Blue Harebane, Red Indian Paintbrush, Spyria (the pain reliever plant),  Yellow Columbine. Just beautiful. We have not seen any bear on the trail and don’t want to. We did see a tree that is a bear favorite, it had claw marks from both the Grizzly and the Black Bear (see the picture). It is also a “rubbing tree” that the bears use to scratch themselves.

Bailey had done super well with our schedule! He enjoys his window perches. We made him one particular perch that has his rug on it. He can look out on his yard and at the water. He likes looking at the water. He also likes watching people walk by and he doesn’t bark!!!!! Good boy, Bailey!