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The aurora borealis, or northern lights, dazzled on the evening of August 25, 2018 in Alaska. Even experienced night sky watchers were anxiously awaiting darkness so that they could witness this amazing display. The beautiful night sky in remote Alaska, unimpeded by any light pollution, makes this display a wonderful treat. You will see many stars, as small satellite trails come into view and appear to zip across the screen. The aurora looks as if it’s raining down on the tall Alaskan Spruce trees which are seen in most parts of bush Alaska. Northern Alaska is fortunate in that the aurora is seen many days out of the week during the winter months, when it is dark. But what is the aurora? The Aurora Borealis (and Aurora Australis in the southern polar regions) is a natural light display in the earth’s night sky. Auroras occur when magnetically charged particles from the sun, carried by solar winds, interact (ionize) with the earth’s atmosphere. The reason they are seen in the northernmost parts of the world is because they are drawn to the magnetic north and south poles. That is why they are not often seen outside northern regions like Alaska, Canada, Norway, and Iceland. But there have been events strong enough where aurora were seen, even in some of the most southern parts of the United States. These events are extremely rare, however. Because these energized particles are interacting with our atmosphere, they sometimes appear to “dance,” as they do in this video time lapse. It’s a myth that aurora can only be seen in winter. These particles are interacting with our atmosphere at all times during the year, but because northern areas experience little to no daylight in the summer months (the midnight sun), the aurora is not able to viewed. It can be viewed from about August through winter into April. Aurora colors and formations can vary, and what you see in most of this video is what’s called a corona. A corona is an aurora that appears to “burst” from a central point. In this video, you will see aurora corona pulsating as it dances in the night sky above Delta Junction, Alaska, near Fairbanks.

The great gray owl is one of the biggest owls in the world. It lives in the northern hemisphere and is considered as the largest owl to live there. This owl is filmed on a snowy February day in Alaska and the couple who recorded it must have been very lucky since it is such a rarity to see an owl during daylight. We know that they are active at night and at dusk or dawn. But when grey owls have nestlings, they also hunt during the day. Their scientific name comes from the Greek ‘strizo’, meaning to screech, and the Latin ‘nebulosa’, meaning dark or clouded, referring to their gray coloration. This owl is not afraid of people and sometimes totally unaware it directly looks into the camera objective of those who take pictures of him. You can see him here how he looks at the camera and is not frightened a bit. The color of his feathers is just like the color of the cold winter day and it so perfectly blends with the <a href="https://rumble.com/v3nbcj-mother-nature-can-be-terrifying.html" target="_blank">Alaska</a>. This owl is an observant onlooker, turning the head to listen attentively to what is going on in its surroundings. The most obvious feature of this <a href="https://rumble.com/v36bq7-owl-and-husky-life-of-my-pets.html" target="_blank">owl</a> is a large facial disk, a satellite dish of feathers with many concentric rings, and he has no ear tufts, which means that all sounds are directed through his feathers to his ears. His striking look makes him easily noticeable and people love taking photos of him. And winter in all her grey and white colors is the perfect season to make few snapshots with your camera.

What do you do if you&r're a kid at a festival on the frozen Chena River in Alaska? You participate in Moose Turd Bowling, of course! What is this madness you say? It's one of the very unique ways Alaskans (and their kids) enjoy the winter months. There is a carnival-like atmosphere every year as these events are held in downtown Fairbanks, in the interior part of the state. Temperatures on this day dipped down to -20 and -30 below zero. That never stops hearty Alaskans from getting out and enjoying the fun. One of the favorites is Moose Turd Bowling. Alaskans have an odd relationship with our friends the moose, as well as their strange, pellet shaped turds left in piles around the state. And to celebrate that, an inner tube, a giant rubber band, and 10 inflatable plastic bowling-pin-sized turds (plus a little grownup help) are all you need for a little fun on the ice!

Winter in Alaska is a magical time, and one of the things that makes it most magical are the northern lights, or Aurora Borealis. In Alaska, the aurora is only seen from August until April, because there is too much daylight to see it during the summer months. But during the long, cold, and dark winters, there are guarantees of marvelous displays nearly every night of the week. As long as the weather is cooperative, those closest to the Arctic Circle stand the best chance of seeing it. The reason being helps to explain the science behind the aurora. Our sun is a giant ball of fire, which is very active with constant explosions of energy that send particles out into space. Headed in all directions, including toward earth, these particles are electrically charged. As these charged particles travel past, they are drawn to earth&'s magnetic poles. They form a ring of waving color at both the north and south poles of the earth, so those closest to the poles are more likely to see it. In the northern hemisphere, they are called Aurora Borealis. In the southern hemisphere, they are called Aurora Australis. The wonderful colors "dance" as the electrically charged particles are excited by the magnetic energy of the earth. It's sort of like a water droplet dancing on hot oil in a pan. Sometimes there will be 'green rainbows', which are bands of green which arc across the sky and appear not to move. Other times, when the particles are more excited, the ribbon whips and moves something like water flowing over rocks in a stream, or like the tail of a kite in the wind. It is no wonder people throughout history have described these displays as magical. Alaskans are very fortunate to see aurora more frequently than many others in the world, and yet it still holds an excitement and appeal for even those who have witnessed them many times. There are over 6,000 images in this video display, which were taken on a very windy New Year's Eve in 2015 outside Delta Junction, Alaska. You will see trees dart back and forth while the aurora moves above them. Sit back and enjoy the wonder and magic of the Aurora Borealis, as it ushers in a new year!

Nanuq (pronounced Na-nook), a 1-year-old pup, certainly enjoyed his day in the snow. Anywhere from 3 to 4 feet of snow had fallen at his home outside Delta Junction, Alaska, and so he and his owners decided to head out on this sunny day for some fun in the sun, Alaska style. The Delta Junction area can get a foot or more of snow at a time, and there is snow for about 8 months out of the year, so there is no lack of winter play for this dog. Nanuq loves to fetch just about anything, and so when his owners threw a stick into the deep snow, Nanuq couldn't wait to jump into the deepest part of his yard to find it. He can be seen here, hopping along as if he were a rabbit. He also goes after a snowball which, of course, disappears (much like the stick did) in the deep snow. This does not slow Nanuq down though! He is always very animated and absolutely loves any kind of play. Nanuq is a dog who was rescued from the Fairbanks animal shelter. Dropped off there with an entire litter of pups who were just 6 weeks old, his owners adopted him at the age of 2 months. He has been the life of the party ever since. He loves to wander and play outside, but also loves to lay by a warm fire after an afternoon of snow play to warm up. He loves sticks, as you can tell, and brings them inside with him. He has no fear of sticking his nose in the deep snow to root around for whatever it is he's looking for. It's no wonder why his owners laugh and enjoy his play so much.

Nanuq (pronounced Na-nook) is a 7-year-old Black Lab/Alaskan Husky mix who lives in remote Delta Junction, Alaska. He is a rescue dog that his owners adopted from a shelter in Fairbanks, Alaska at the tender age of 8 weeks. This dog is fun and has quite the personality! He runs and plays and will often find things outside to eat that he really shouldn’t. So it really doesn’t make sense why he has always been a very picky eater, and on this day he did not disappoint. Human children often turn their noses up at food, and you would think he was a child trying to eat broccoli by his reaction. Nanuq will often turn his head and scoff at things other dogs love. What dog does not love livers, which can be considered a yummy treat by other canines? On Thanksgiving morning, Nanuq’s owners were cooking both turkey and chicken, and it’s a Thanksgiving tradition in this home to share the livers with the dogs. Nanuq was excited when he saw them, as he knew a treat was coming, but when it came time to actually eat them, Nanuq would have none of that! He tries to eat it, as he thinks it smells good and it should taste delicious to him (as it does other dogs), but each time he goes in for a bite of the slippery liver, he turns his head, wipes his face with his paw, and looks longingly at his owner – It’s certain he is wanting something else! He has an entire list of yummy dog foods he does not care for, and even turns away salmon, a delicacy many Alaskans have in their home. Fortunately for Nanuq, his personality wins over so his owners make sure he gets the foods he enjoys most.

The Tired Iron is a vintage snowmobile (or snowmachine, as Alaskans like to call them) race that takes place every year in Downton Fairbanks, Alaska. Held on the Frozen Chena River in temperatures that sometimes dip to -20F and colder, families come from all over interior Alaska to enjoy the races and participate in some fun and exciting games. There are many games to include a giant ping pong ball drop and ice Putt-Putt golf, but one of the favorites at this event is Human Moose Turd Bowling. Yes, you read that right! Everyone knows we have a lot of moose in Alaska, and Alaskans have come up with some pretty creative ways to poke fun at their turds, which are like giant jelly beans. This particular event is just for the little kiddies, but it’s obvious parents get a lot of enjoyment out of this as well. And this is how it works: There is an inner tube with a seat in the center. An assistant makes sure the child has a helmet on, and then instructs him how to get in, and where to hold on. After the child climbs in, the inner tube is placed inside a large rubber band. It takes two people to hold the child steady and pull back the rubber band, then – off they go! The child is propelled at a pretty good clip down an icy lane with 10 inflatable plastic moose turds, each standing 18 inches high and arranged as you would regular bowling pins. If the child knocks 6 or more pins over, they receive a wooden nickel which is good for a real game of bowling at a local bowling alley. Children and parents delight in watching each attempt to knock down as many moose turds as possible!

The Canadair/Bombardier CL215T water tanker planes are amazing pieces of equipment, and the men who fly these beasts are certainly some of the most skilled pilots in the world. In August of 2013, a very large wildfire raged just west of the small town of Delta Junction, Alaska. A fire which eventually grew to over a million acres and threatened the community and its inhabitants, it was named the “Mississippi Fire” – not because it was associated with the famous state or river, but because it began on a military training range dubbed the “Mississippi.” National fire management teams descended upon the community and set up shop, dispersing hotshot crews of land-based firefighters from all over the country. But at the time, the United States had no planes in its fleet capable of dropping water or fire retardant on this large and threatening fire. Enter the Conair Group and its Canadair/Bombardier CL215T tanker planes based in Alberta, Canada. The group was set up shop about 75 miles away at Eilson Air Force base in North Pole, Alaska, but flew each day to Quartz Lake, a large lake just north of the town. This lake sits in something of a hole, surrounded by hills and small mountains. The expert pilots would swoop down into the basin, skimming the surface of the water for 10-15 seconds, allowing the internal tanks to fill with over 1,000 gallons of water, and then rising up again to head off and jettison their loads. They would then circle around and do this again. These runs would last 1-2 hours, and each round trip from lake to fire and back again would take about 10 minutes. The photographer was told 3 of these planes would be working that day, so she rushed down to the lake and positioned herself at one end, waiting for the planes to make another pass. You can tell when that last plane comes in how close to the plane the photographer was, as the camera vibrates from the rushing air circulating around the tanker. This is one of the most impressive sights to witness and this video captures the raw power of these awesome machines and their skilled pilots.

Kyrie was missing! Kyrie is a 3-year-old miniature dachshund. She may be small, but she certainly has a big personality. She only weighs about 5 lbs but her short little legs and long nose give her great burrowing ability. Dachshunds were originally developed to scent, chase, and flush out badgers and other small animals that burrow. But on this day, it was Kyrie who was doing the burrowing. This breed loves to dig and push things around and find their way into spaces most dogs would avoid. She lives in Wasilla, Alaska in a home with her owners, and she knows she is the master of the house. She is playful and energetic, and seems to take great delight in hiding, but also delights in being found. And who couldn’t resist those eyes and that little nose? Given the opportunity, Kyrie will burrow inside anything, but prefers her favorite wool blanket most. You never know where she might be, and more than once someone has found her by actually sitting down on a blanket or pillow to find that she had dug deep and burrowed inside. When she is not playing with a giant soccer ball, or one of her favorite soft toys, she can often be found nestled inside her owner’s blankets on their bed. Sometimes, you can find her in a laundry basket in which she has dug deep inside the clothing. And she’s even been known to try to get inside a pillowcase. She delights in being found, because to her it’s all a game. And on this day, she seemed to be enjoying the attention as she looks at the camera with those big eyes, confident that she is hidden until finally she sees the camera and the person behind it. Who knows where we will find Kyrie next? It could be anywhere!

In the early hours of February 17, 2016, musher Laura Neese entered the Braeburn, Yukon checkpoint during the Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race. She then set about the task of caring for her team under a spectacular display of northern lights, or aurora. The Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race is a 1,000 mile race which spans northern areas of Alaska and Canada's Yukon Territory. On even years, as in 2016, the race starts in Fairbanks, Alaska and heads east into Canada. Mushers race by dog team from checkpoint to checkpoint, stopping to rest, care for their animals, and care for themselves and their equipment. Sometimes the teams stop at designated checkpoints - other times, they will pull off the trail and find a good spot to take a break. At designated checkpoints such as Braeburn, mushers will "check in" with a checker who logs their time, and also makes sure they have all their required equipment. This required equipment includes survival gear such as an ax and arctic sleeping bag for the musher. For the dogs, they are required to have booties for each member of the dog team, and enough food in case they have to stop and camp somewhere other than a checkpoint. After this check in, the mushers parks their team, lays out straw for each of the dogs for a nice warm bed, then begins cooking a hot meal for the dogs. While the dogs are resting, the musher and a veterinarian go about the task of checking each dog to make sure it is healthy and well. The musher will rub joints and apply cream to feet to keep them healthy. The veterinarian will ensure the team is well, and note this in a log book which must be kept with the musher at all times. This ensures that veterinarians at each checkpoint see the condition of the animals, and spot any problems. In this video, you will see all of this. You will see the musher, Laura Neese (in dark clothing), caring for her team. The persons in red and blue are part of the veterinarian team, checking the log book and the dogs. You can see the cooker in the foreground, fire blazing as she is preparing a hot meal for her dogs who are resting on their straw beds. It was a very cold night, about -30F below zero. Just before Laura and her team arrived at the checkpoint, there was a faint aurora display. Almost on queue as she was settling them in for their rest, the sky exploded with movement and color. Braeburn, Yukon is on the remote Klondike Highway, just south of the arctic circle and often receives spectacular aurora displays. The light you see in the center of the sky is actually the moon, rising up as the display raged on for several hours. What an amazing display of nature's beauty!

Delta is an 8-year-old Newfoundland Dog who absolutely LOVES snow! We take her out on our remote property in Alaska and she loves to romp and play. Newfoundlands are actually water dogs who rescue people who might be struggling in the water. They have thick, water repellant coats, as well as webbed feet, and are extremely powerful. Newfoundlands have had many jobs besides rescuing people in water to include pulling wagons, and they were also used in Alaska over 100 years ago during mail routes to deliver mail from one bush Alaska town to another. They were harnessed in tandem dog teams and forged through rivers and snow to deliver the mail before Alaska was a state. Delta is a former trained service dog who is now our loving pet. Extremely well behaved, she does help me out around our property. She weighs about 140 lbs and is over 5 feet tall when she stands on her hind legs. Her thick coat serves her well in our remote part of Alaska. Delta Junction, our small town, can experience days of -40 below zero and colder during the winter months. We typically have snow on the ground about 8 months out of the year, so with her furry coat and powerful legs, she is very well suited to this area. In the last week, we have received nearly 2 feet of snow, and it was still coming down today. Our home is situated on the edge of a ridge on our property, and the drop off you see in the video is about 30 feet almost straight down. She is curious and was really enjoying the opportunity to wander, but it only took a little encouragement to see her climb right back up the snow-covered hill again. You can tell she loves being outside, enjoying all this weather brings.

While driving down a remote road outside Delta Junction, Alaska, this person happened upon two moose who appeared to be praying at a cemetery. It was a warm spring day and the moose were actually down on their front legs in the cemetery, munching on new spring grass. Moose are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants and not other animals. It gets down to -40F below zero and colder in this part of Alaska in winter. Moose cows (or mamma moose) and their calves struggle to find food during the harsh winters. During the long, cold winter months, when everything green disappears, moose will dig in snow for frozen grasses and usually end up eating bark off trees and saplings, just to stay alive. In spring, when fresh grasses and leaves on trees appear, you can often find moose cows and calves enjoying the banquet. An adult cow moose can weigh about 800 lbs, so you can imagine it would take a lot to keep her going during the winter months. That is why they eat almost constantly during the short spring and summer months, so that they fatten up before winter again. Fresh green leaves are a delicacy! Moose calves are typically born in Spring, and stay with their mother for up to 2 years. This calf (left) is not a newborn and obviously was born the previous Spring. His mamma will probably encourage him to be on his own this fall, but may tolerate him up until the next spring, depending on whether or not she becomes pregnant again. Moose will sometimes kneel down like this in order to get closer to very short grasses. Undoubtedly, the calf has learned this from mamma. This quiet little cemetery, with it's fenced in area, provided a safe respite for cow and calf. They seemed totally unconcerned about this person's presence as they munched away on the greens. No doubt they were praying, thankful for the bounty of fresh food after a long hard winter!