WWW: Wonderfully wet web

A spider hangs in its dewy web on a hillside near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020.

 

Up and over

A wild black-tailed deer doe jumps a farmer's fence on a hillside near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020.

 

Video of HHI responds to wildfires in western U.S.

I shot and produced this video on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 of the  Heart to Heart International response to the Oregon wildfires. HHI is an Non-Governmental Organization based in Lenexa, KS 

The sifting of ashes after an Oregon wildfire

The sifting of ashes and assessment of lives changed forever in Phoenix and Talent, Ore. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. On assignment at the Almeda fire for ZUMAPRESS.com. About 2500 homes lost and thousands displaced.

 

The three bears

Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear forage in a pasture at the edge of a forested hillside on a golden afternoon near Elkton in western Oregon on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2020. The bears likely have been feeding on plentiful blackberries all summer. As autumn begins the bears will move onto eating acorns, nuts, roots and other forage.

 

Catch of the day

An osprey with a freshly caught smallmouth bass in its talons flies low over the Umpqua River near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020.

 

Killer hornet

A bald-faced hornet attacks and kills another insect in a field along a country road near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. Bald-faced hornets are omnivorous and are considered to be beneficial due to their predation of flies, caterpillars, and spiders. However, their aggressive defensive nature makes them a threat to humans.

 

Wildfire smoke in Oregon

A heavy layer of wildfire smoke hangs in the air as black-tailed deer forage in a hazelnut orchard on a farm near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. Massive wildfires burning in the region are producing unhealthy air quality levels. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Pollution Advisory in effect until further notice.

Almeda wildfire aftermath in Phoenix, Oregon

On assignment for ZUMAPRESS.com in Phoenix, Oregon covering the aftermath of the Almeda wildfire on Sept. 12, 2020. The devastation is overwhelming. Hundred of homes and business have been lost.

 

Taking shelter

The Douglas County Fairgrounds in Roseburg, Oregon is serving as a shelter for people and their animals displaced by the devastating wildfires burning across the region. Photos taken on Friday, Sept 11, 2020 while on assignment for ZUMAPRESS.com

 

Oregon wildfire smoke

Smoke from numerous nearby wildfires tints the sun a vivid color as a vulture is silhouetted from its perch on a dead tree near Elkton in western Oregon on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. Hot and dry weather continues in the Pacific northwest with the potential more massive wildfire growth.

Wearing the respirator masks they have used during the COVID-19 pandemic, MAIREAD MILAN and her boy friend ALEX LOZNAK pause for a portrait while heavy smoke from nearby wildfires shrouds the countryside near Elkton ion rural western Oregon on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Pollution Advisory for the area in effect until further notice.

Wildfire smoke paints the rising sun a vibrant color as a flock of swallows perch on a utility wire over the Umpqua River near Elkton in western Oregon on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. Numerous large wildfires are burning uncontrolled.

Wildfire smoke over on apple orchard near Elkton.

Smoked hot dogs. We only stayed out for a few minutes due to the near toxic air quality.

 

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Otter family time

A family of wild river otters climb on rocks along the bank of the Umpqua River near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. The group was made up of six individuals.
Dive Dive time for the otters.

One of the otters climbs onto a rock with a tasty fish. 

After playing and hunting for a while the otters hauled out onto a sandy area downstream and rolled around. 

 

... and in otter news

In the morning light, a wild North American river otter feeds on a freshly caught fish while clinging to a log in the Umpqua River near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020.

 

Hang on little buddy

A small gopher climbs on the branch of a hazelnut tree while attempting to stay dry as the orchard is watered on a farm near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020.