THE OTHER DAY....
We had gone to Kearney Lake campground in Algonquin Provincial Park to have a picnic, and to allow me to make a sketch, or two. The campground was closed to camping for the season, so we parked the car near to the closed gate, and gathering our things walked the quarter mile, or so, to the lake. At the main beach I found a place to sit with a view of the island just off shore, and began to sketch. Sandy went off to locate a picnic table, preferably away from pine trees and its pitch, or resin. As I sketch I became aware of two men walking along the beach lost in conversation. One of them stopped to make a very authentic moose call. Upon seeing me they approached interested in what I was doing. I learned that they were doing an independent survey of the wolf and moose populations in Algonquin Provincial Park. I learned that within the vicinity of the campground there was a family of wolves with pups, and to the north there was a pack of wolves numbering fifteen, or more. They expressed interest in my sketches, and then went on their way. A few minutes later one of the gentlemen was heard to make a very authentic sounding wolf call. I continued sketching, when suddenly from no more than a hundred yards, or so away the gentleman’s wolf call was answered, by not one, but a pack of wolves. It was quite amazing as several members of the pack took turns vocalizing followed by pups barking. Within a few minutes the howling wound down, and quiet returned to the lake. Although the wolves were quite close I didn’t observe them. I continued sketching. Minutes later the men returned interested in learning where I thought that wolves might have been located. I pointed out the location, and learned that it was not the family of wolves that I’d heard, but the larger pack thought to be located further to the north. It was thought that the pack may have been in the vicinity and were attracted to the moose calls. The men continued on their way stopping from time to time to make additional wolf calls, but they were not answered. The experience was quite thrilling as in all the years that we had been going up to the park we had never heard a wolf vocalizing, although we were aware of their presence from their scat and tracks. Sketch finished we located a suitable picnic table and enjoyed our lunch visited from time to time by various bird species including a male and a female Black-throated Blue warblers. Lunch over we headed back to the car, and on the way stopped to read a poster put up by the park administrators which advised to exercise caution regarding wolves spotted in the park as several people had been bitten, and if we were to be approached by wolves to definitely remain calm and not to run from them as…….
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| Island Kearney Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park. Pencil Sketch |
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