Roads End Naturalist

Exploring the natural world as we wander at the end of the road

Author: Mike Dunn

  • Yard Elk

    The elk have been hanging around the yard a bit more lately and now a town bull has started following them around. And that is not the only yard wildlife we are seeing! Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • The Last Hummingbird

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    We had our last hummingbird of the season at our new home earlier this month. But what a season it was – shorter than we had in NC, but incredibly active. Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Season of the Bears

    Bears on the landscape are a humbling experience. This time of year they are on the move looking for food in preparation for hibernation. Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Trail Camera Critters, Montana Style

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    Here’s to a new home, new adventure, new memories. ~The Wilders Life is different in our new home. We left behind our wildflower gardens, water gardens, and 14 acres of mature hardwoods and moved to a place with a lot of non-native plantings from the previous owner (including a lot of fruit-producing trees and shrubs)… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Learning New Leps

    I’ve been trying to learn more about the many new (to me) species of butterflies that call this area home. Identifying some has proven challenging. Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Shore Patrol

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    A follow-up to Melissa’s post about our recent canoe camping trip to highlight one of the bird neighbors we encountered on that beautiful lake. Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Dewlap-a-doo

    If it is meant to be, it will be. ~Anonymous Japanese photographer I’m going to try to catch up on some of the many cool things we have witnessed in recent weeks as we travel to learn about our new surroundings. Melissa’s parents visited back in July and one thing they wanted to see was… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Wolf Watching

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    The gaze of the wolf reaches into our soul. ~Barry Lopez It’s hard to believe we have been in our new home now almost three months. Though we have been busy with numerous home projects and family visits, we have managed to get out into the park a few times to enjoy seeing some of… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Bison Days

    What must it be like to be a bison, to own nothing yet have everything. ~Donna Frider, N.C. teacher on one of the museum’s Yellowstone Institutes I’ve probably used this quote on a previous post, but it seems to capture my thoughts and emotions when it comes to these incredible, almost mystical animals. Last week… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Sharing Yellowstone

    Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent in the office or mowing your lawn. ~Jack Kerouac Two years ago we started planning a summer vacation trip to Yellowstone with Melissa’s brother’s family. Melissa made reservations over a year ago and we planned on dong a trip itinerary similar to what we… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn