Outdoors – Page 5 – Syndication Server

No mistaking fabled ‘king’ after close encounter in India

Folks quizzed about the identity of a large snake photographed recently in India did not require much time to form a consensus.

An Indian Forest Service employee this week shared an image showing a large snake pausing in a clearing with its head and neck raised in a classic cobra posture.

Parveen Kaswan stated via X: “This beauty. Let’s see who can guess the species.”

Responses quickly formed an overwhelming consensus that the snake in question was, as one commenter remarked, “The King himself.”

King cobras, which can measure 15-plus feet, are the longest venomous snakes on earth. They inhabit rainforests and plains in northern India, southern China, and Southeast Asia.

(Click here to view Kaswan’s post on X.)

Although rarely encountered, king cobras are revered in India, where they’re considered the national reptile.

They’re not typically aggressive toward humans, choosing to escape rather than bite in most cases. But a king cobra bite, if not treated immediately, can kill a person in less than 30 minutes.

MORE: CAN YOU SPOT THE RATTLESNAKE HIDING IN BACKYARD?

Kaswan, at the time of this post, had not provided details regarding the sighting. Nor had he responded to comments beneath his X post.

One follower, referring to a recent study that suggests there are four types of king cobras in India, commented:

“It’s now established as 4 different species in different ranges. Assuming this is in northern India, it’s Ophiophagus hannah. If it were from the Western Ghats, it’d be Ophiophagus kaalinga, based on the recent classification.”

Another follower observed: “The Most Mythical of Serpents. The One who Straddles Terrestrial Earth & Heavenly Divinity.The Companion to Lord Shiva. Worshipped & Feared in equal measure by Man.”

A man claiming to be a physician remarked, “We are not left with much to do when a patient is brought to us after it has bitten them.”

Another follower stated that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, directing his comment to Kaswan: “Sir, you call every snake a beauty, but for a common man, it’s scary.”

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Can you spot the rattlesnake hiding in Arizona backyard?

A Phoenix company that relocates rattlesnakes issued the photo challenge after being summoned to a residence to capture the reptile.

–A version of this post was published by FTW Outdoors in 2021.

A Phoenix-based company that relocates rattlesnakes reported by concerned residents has quizzed Facebook followers by posting the accompanying image and asking:

“Western Diamondback Rattlesnake spotted in a backyard by Dave recently. See it?” (Answer at the bottom of this story.)

Can you spot the rattlesnake? Photo: Rattlesnake Solutions

While many will spot the rattlesnake after a brief inspection, the image reveals how adept rattlesnakes are at blending into their surroundings.

The image was posted to Facebook by Rattlesnake Solutions, which operates in Phoenix and Tucson. The company is licensed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and maintains that snakes are not harmed during capture or relocation.

MORE: Can you spot the Yellowstone elk in striking “moonset” image?

Many in the comments section correctly described the location of the rattlesnake in the image. But some were merely intrigued by the prospect of discovering a rattlesnake in one’s yard.

Reads one comment: “Not your average backyard thankfully! Note to self – do not buy a house with a backyard with rocks to hide under in Arizona, in fact buy a condo on the 12th floor!”

For those who would like conformation that their guesses are correct, the snake is circled in the image posted below.

Western diamondback rattlesnake circled in red. Photo: Rattlesnake Solutions

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‘Taxman’ claims share but wants more as anglers land swordfish

Footage shows anglers posing with a partially consumed swordfish as the still-hungry mako shark circles the boat.

Anglers out of San Diego boated a large swordfish recently, but not before an equally large mako shark claimed part of the catch.

“The taxman took his share, but Pacifica Sportfishing managed most of a swordfish on the first day of their trip,” Seaforth Landing explained via Instagram.

The image shows five anglers posing with a swordfish whose lower body had been shredded by the shark as the swordfish was being reeled to the boat.

A swipe-through features video footage showing the mako shark swimming near the boat as one passenger remarks, “He’s wondering where his meal went.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBHZ7N9zrSw/?img_index=1

Swordfish catches by recreational anglers are rare off Southern California, but it’s not rare for sharks to go after any large fish that’s struggling at the end of a fishing line.

Sharks that claim part or all of a hooked game fish are commonly referred to as tax collectors or, singularly, the taxman.

Mystery over Arctic fox found in Oregon starts to unfold

An Arctic fox was discovered roaming the streets of Portland, Oregon, and left the community baffled as to how it could have gotten there.

Originally, an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman suggested to OPB.org that the white, fox-like creature could be a wild leucistic gray fox, that is, one that has a defect in pigment cells resulting in the animal becoming all white.

But after a good Samaritan collected the animal and took it to the Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Wildlife Care Center, it was identified as an Arctic fox. Which begs the question, why is an Artic fox roaming around in Portland?

“Arctic Foxes don’t naturally occur in Oregon, so this species is considered an exotic animal here,” the Bird Alliance of Oregon wrote on Facebook. “Its native habitat is in the far north in places like Greenland, Svalbard, northern Russia, Canada, and Alaska.

“While we don’t have information yet on where the Arctic fox came from, or how she got to Portland, we believe the animal has only known a life of captivity. The fox doesn’t show a species appropriate fear response to people, and was actually approaching humans when rescued. We believe the fox either accidentally escaped from captivity or was intentionally dumped by the people who illegally held her.”

MORE OUTDOORS: 5 stunning Supermoon photos from October

Bird Alliance of Oregon spokesperson Ali Berman told KOIN that the Arctic fox was a 6.5-pound female that was thin and dehydrated but otherwise in good health.

Publicity about the Arctic fox prompted Portland resident Kendre Berger to come forward Wednesday and tell KOIN 6 News that she took a photo of a couple “walking a strikingly similar creature” on a beach in Lincoln City on Sept. 6.

After examining the photos, Berman told KOIN that is appears to be the same fox, saying, “Yes, that appears to be her.”

From KOIN:

“According to Oregon state law, it is a violation to own an exotic animal unless the person has a valid exotic animal permit issued by the State Department of Agriculture prior to January 1, 2010. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Beth Quillian said that Arctic foxes are considered exotic animals in the state of Oregon.

“`Because Arctic foxes are a canid species that is not native to Oregon, their holding falls under the authority of the Oregon Department of Agriculture,’” Quillian said. “`The people who held this fox did so illegally as it was not registered with ODA.’”

The ODA is currently working with Bird Alliance of Oregon to find a home for the Arctic fox at an accredited zoo.

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Watch: Massive sea creature crashes picnic on Mexican beach

Footage shows a startled family retreating as an enormous elephant seal hauls ashore to rest in Mulege, Baja California Sur.

–FTW Outdoors periodically reposts unique or compelling video clips that we’ve featured over the years. The accompanying footage shows a massive elephant seal – they can weigh 4,500 pounds – hauling ashore in Mulege , Mexico, in July 2022, disrupting a family beach outing.

Click here to view the story or simply enjoy the video, courtesy of Noticias CD Constitucion bcs:

https://www.facebook.com/noticiasconstitucion/videos/882243142733984

Watch: Incredibly fat grizzly bear beyond ready for hibernation

Footage from Canada’s Yukon Territory shows an extremely plump grizzly bear that seems beyond ready for hibernation.

A trail camera in Canada’s Yukon Territory has captured footage featuring an extremely plump grizzly bear that seems beyond ready for hibernation.

“This rotund grizzly sure knows how to prep for the big sleep that awaits,” David Troup of Yukon Wildlife Cams stated this week via Facebook, in reference to the impending hibernation season. “While not the biggest grizzly I’ve captured on camera, definitely the fattest, which is meant in the most admirable of ways.”

Troup’s footage (posted below) shows the massive bruin strolling past the motion-sensor camera with sleepy eyes that almost seem closed. (Please click here if video player doesn’t appear.)

https://www.facebook.com/yukonwildlifecams/videos/1200441621186859

Understandably, Troup’s followers were impressed enough to chime in.

One suggested that the bear is pregnant, to which Troup replied, “Nope, just fat.”

Another remarked that the bear could have been a contender in the annual Fat Bear Week competition that features coastal brown bears of the Brooks River in Alaska’s Katmai National Park.

Another comment: “Great footage, you can see he/she is very content, even looking happy.”

Troup’s reply: “It looks like its eyes are even closed as it walks along.”

The top comment refers to lyrics in the 1978 song by Queen, “Fat Bottomed Girls.” The revised verse: “Fat bottom bears they make this rocking world go round.”

Can you spot the rattlesnake testing its new hiding place?

The western diamondback rattlesnake had blended almost perfectly into its surroundings near a Tucson home.

–In May we featured an image from Arizona as part of a quiz challenging readers to spot a camouflaged rattlesnake. Below is a repost for those interested in testing their spotting skills.

An Arizona company that relocates rattlesnakes reported by concerned residents has been busy dealing with snakes flushed by rain from more remote hiding spots.

Rattlesnake Solutions shared the accompanying image showing one such reptile: a western diamondback rattlesnake hiding in a new and “less ideal” spot near a Tucson home.

Can you spot the rattlesnake in the accompanying image? (Answer at the bottom of this post.)

Rattlesnake in hiding. Photo courtesy of Rattlesnake Solutions

It’s a difficult quiz for many because only a small part of the snake is visible. Dozens of followers chimed in on the Rattlesnake Solutions Facebook post.

A sampling:

– “Nope. I’d be dead.”

– “Wow! Best camouflage ever.”

– Took me about 5 minutes, that’s crazy camo.”

– “That was tough. Excellent camouflage.”

– “I finally found it.”

Rattlesnake Solutions waited hours before sharing the answer in a separate post. Click here to view that image, showing the snake circled in red.

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Dramatic footage shows tusker elephant being rescued from well

Footage shows the disoriented elephant emerging from the well and ramming a tractor before returning to the forest.

A representative of the Indian Forest Service has shared footage showing the tense rescue of an elephant that had become trapped in a well in the state of Odisha.

“A tusker rescued from an open well in [the town of] Narla. Well done team Kalahandi North,” Susanta Nanda stated Thursday via X.

The footage, captured from the cab of a tractor used to create a path for the elephant, shows the disoriented animal struggling to regain its footing and ramming the vehicle before trotting into the forest.

(Click here to view the video.)

It also shows townsfolk cheering the rescue from the branches of a large tree.

It remains unclear how the elephant became trapped, but unprotected wells are a threat to elephants throughout much of their habitat.

Can you spot the Yellowstone elk in striking ‘moonset’ image?

Photo shared by Yellowstone National Park features a lone elk that may or may not be easy for viewers to locate.

Yellowstone National Park, five years ago this month, shared a striking image captured at sunrise, showing the moon setting behind a barren slope, informing Facebook followers that they’d earn “bonus points” if they could spot the elk.

Can you spot the elk in the accompanying image? (Answer below.)

The image was captured in late October, when as many as 20,000 elk inhabit the park, before the winter migration.

Can you spot the elk in this autumn sunrise image? Photo: Yellowstone National Park

The time frame coincides with the end of the rut, or mating season, which occurs primarily in the park’s northern range.

For some who posted in the comments section, locating the elk appeared to have been easy, while at least one person claimed success only after increasing the image size.

“Found the elk, but do you give bonus points if I had to blow it up to find it?” the follower joked.

The image was captured at Mammoth Hot Springs in the northwestern portion of the park.

The moon is setting behind Sepulcher Mountain (9,642 feet) between Electric Peak (10,969 feet) and Mammoth Hot Springs, a famous elk gathering spot.

If you haven’t already located the elk, the answer is provided in the image posted below.

Lone elk shown below mountain ridge at sunrise. Photo: Yellowstone National Park

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