This morning there was nothing in Lamar, according to Rick’s signals, and Slough Creek looked pretty crazy with 100’s of people down that road and some arrived in large buses. And, so I went to Lamar anyways, just to make sure.
Nothing going on in Lamar, not a whisper.
At some point we got word that wolves were coming into the Slough carcass. By this time things had settled some and so I went over to see 911 feeding. It was a long ways out but still nice to see a wolf out there and he is looking great!
After he left the carcass we got word that he was at the new bridge and raiding a coyote den. I got there just in time to see him being run off by a coyote. 911 swam the river and trotted behind a crowd of folks, feet from everyone, to go on his merry way.
Later, a crowd hiked out to watch the coyote den. I went out for awhile but we could not decide what was going on out there, across the river, with the coyotes. Maybe they figured it out later but the coyote kept going into the den and coming right back out, looking lost. It was sad and several people mentioned that it reminded them of the fox den after the badger killed the kits. One person did see the female running off with a pup so maybe they were able to save one. We just don’t know how long 911 was at the den but it could not have been long, or what damage he might have done.
For a bunch of tough wildlife photographers, it is tough to watch nature at times like this. But, they are wild animals doing what they do.
Other than that I pretty much hung at the den area all day where I managed to ket some of my best bison photos yet. One would think that after this many years it would be tough to continue photographing bison but it is not – they are challenging to fit into the landscape.
Later afternoon, while folks were looking for Scarface to travel through the valley, I saw the black yearling leave the den area and head south through the Confluence area. I lost her in there. Not long afterwards several elk came running down the den hill, as if being chased, following in the yearling’s path. No shots, I was too far back and in a no stopping area.
The elk began grazing near the creek and everything looked fine for them until the yearling came along and pushed them into the creek for awhile. But, it wasn’t long (and it was pouring rain by this time) before the elk ran from the creek and up onto the middle flats, being pursued only a short distance by the wolf. The elk and wolf disappeared into the rain but I did manage to see that the elk had relaxed more and were walking instead of running.
That is about all the news I have for today.
See you tomorrow and please enjoy the photos.
I really enjoyed the pictures today and of course your words. Bison are fascinating to me. Everytime they come near, such as right next to my window in the car, I get a chill and hope they won’t gore the car door! You have a great line of vision on the photos you take and that is great, artistic work!
Deby…The last photo is wonderful…I wonder how many buffalo wear a collar….we did see one that was wearing one last summer there.
Hi Debby, I was there when the Coyote mom got 911 out of her den by taking a huge bite at the wolf butt… It was impressive to see the courage of the mom trying to save her pups… I was far but was able to take some interesthing photos of this drama unfolding in front of our eyes.
My pictures to help tell the story
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.984201471599337.1073741850.372447556108068&type=1
You can never have too many wildlife pictures. They are all amazing in there own way.
Deby I can never get enough photos of the bison…this may not be the place to ask you but have what are your thoughts of them hazing the bison back into the park, while calving? Seems to be lots of stuff from the buffalo field campaign you can message me if your interested really just wondering about all of this thanks Joyce