Yellow leaves are turning more gold and starting to drop from birches, red maples (that can have yellow and red leaves), and big-toothed aspen. 
Crow in red mapleThe crow in a red maple tree with yellow leaves is an example of the deeper color now. The same tree is background for the blue jay. I think nearly all the leaves will be down within a week or two.
Gray fox on scaleIt is 8:34 PM, and only one bear—a timid juvenile weighing 199 pounds—put in an appearance on the scale. He trotted off when he saw me, and I don’t know who he is. I thought I’d see Samantha and her four cubs here by now.
Blue JayA few minutes after the juvenile trotted off, I saw the first fox eating here this fall. Gray foxes have crossed the yard a few times this month, but this is the first one to stop, eat, and visit the scale (weighed 6 pounds). I hope he or she turns out to be one that kept things lively here last winter.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center