Dolly Sods and Canaan Valley are two of the more geologically diverse areas in West Virginia. Dolly Sods is a high elevation plateau between Cabin Mountain to the west and Allegheny Front to the east. Southern Dolly Sods is a designated Wilderness Area and the north Dolly Sods plateau is controlled by the USFS. Canaan Valley is a high altitude valley of unusual character. A large part of Canaan Valley is a National Wildlife Refuge.
Both areas provide a diversity of wildlife habitats. Wind swept bogs with grand vistas and unique wetlands and forests. Abundant wildlife of all types provide remarkable photographic opportunities. Numerous species of birds either live or migrate through Canaan Valley and surrounding areas. Unquestionably my favorite study is the West Virginia State Animal - the Black Bear.
West Virginia black bear numbers have been estimated to be anywhere from 5,000 to 11,000. Most of my sightings and photographic opportunities have been on Cabin Mountain between Dolly Sods and Canaan Valley. The photographs on this site reflect a portion of the bear activity I witness from April to November of every year.
I work with Canon cameras and a wide variety of lenses. Wildlife lenses I use most often are the EF 70-200mm 2.8L IS, EF 100-400mm IS and EF 300mm 2.8L IS. I also work with several lense extenders. The majority of the bird pictures on this site were taken in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge and wetland areas of Tucker County. "Black Bears in a Different Light" were shot with a 20D converted for infrared.
The key to photography in Tucker County is to always have a camera ready for use. All a person has to do is look - there is always something there to photograph in Tucker County, West Virginia.
~ Jim ~ Jim@WVBlackBears.com
View new "2010 Black Bear Art"
View new "Tucker County Herons"
