Hunters in the Snow

How would you like to be trapped in a cabin all winter long, miles from anyone except the pristine beauty of the Yosemite high country in winter. That’s exactly what two rangers do every year as they stay in Tuolumne Meadows to conduct research, provide information, and help any wayward travelers there might be.

Here’s a report from Tracey and Bruce in Tuolumne Meadows on the wildlife that calls the meadows its home in winter.

The moonlight tends to extend the activity of twilight and nocturnal hunters particularly during the short colder days of the year. Often activity is unknown to us night time snoozers but on occasion there is a story left in the snow to interpret the next day. One such story was left by a Great Horned Owl and a weasel. Weasel tracks are common out in the open part of Tuolumne Meadow where mice live subnivean (under the snow) on meadow vegetation. The weasel tracks are rarely straight and dart around as the weasel follows its nose scenting for prey and diving into the snow on many occasions. We saw an area where an owl had landed, or rather pounced, on top of one of these weasel tracks. The story continued though as the weasel track continued and so did the Owl track but on foot not wing. Every so often there would be a scuffle spot in the snow where we are guessing the weasel popped up out of the snow. This pattern continued for about 30’ before the distinct take off wing pattern of the owl showed an airborne exit and the weasel track continued on in the snow. The owl had not lost all interest as we found this same scenario played out in several other spots nearby, each time both predator and prey left by snow or air.

It has been said that although the weasel turns a camouflage white in the winter it’s tail stays black to distract or attract predators from its more vulnerable parts. Perhaps that tail played a significant part in the outcome of the snow tale we read in the snow that day.