Arrived in the park around 6 PM after spending an hour or so in the hot sun at Chatfield (I didn’t see much hiking along Plum Creek, only mosquitoes and meadowlarks). The twin fawns were with their mom near the visitor center, they’re growing up so quickly. No bears or lions to be seen, and the lack of predators put the deer at ease along the Fountain Valley trail. I was so busy watching and shooting the deer that I nearly stepped on a rattlesnake – the loud rattle at my feet sent me into the air, haven’t jumped that high in a while. Rob spotted a nice bull elk in the far eastern meadow around sundown – pretty far away for shots, but it was nice to see one in that area.
That is one intense snake!! GREAT shots!