YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

The rain was pouring in Gardiner this morning when I left home but the snow at slightly higher elevations filled me with excitement and anticipation.  I eagerly drove into Yellowstone and headed out to Lamar to see what the day would bring.

At some point every day I dream of seeing the Lamar yearlings once again.  I can’t help but wonder at my lack of luck, given that when 925 was attacked when I was in the Tetons and that the last time all six pups were seen, one month later, I was in the Tetons.  Considering that I am in the park during nearly every single daylight minute on a daily basis, one must wonder, what would be the odds.  What are the odds. I may never forgive the universe for excluding me from those two events but life goes on until the next one.

I have learned that an unknown grey was in the valley yesterday, with a badly injured leg.  Apparently, there was howling, which would lead me to believe that it was not a stranger trying to pass through undetected.  But, then where did the grey go?  So far today I have only seen 926 and Twin but who knows who all is at the den site and how many pups might be wiggling around in the hole.  Only time will tell and this wolf world stuff requires either patience or the ability to move quickly and keep up.

This morning Rick had signals but no sightings.  People were looking from everywhere but visibility was low with the fog and wet snow, which, by the way, is melted now.  Plus, it was cold and not many seemed eager to stand out and look for wolves.

But, we did not have to because before long Bill called out that he had a black wolf crossing the road and heading south of the institute.  I felt desperate with the need to see something but when all was said and done I realized that also extended to the opportunity to really photograph something in a way that would make me proud of a job well done.  Because, heavy wet snow is not great for photography for many reasons.

Twin headed out to what might be a bison calf carcass but it is difficult to tell because of distance and such.  Some bison stood near the carcass and he attempted to grab food and dodge them at the same time.  But, their numbers grew and some were intent on keeping the wolf from its meal.  Twin tried to wait them out but the bison went looking for him, to move him even further away.  After a while of this drama Twin gave up and headed toward the road, crossing and go up above the institute.  We quickly lost him in the heavy snow.

I headed east thinking about watching for more wolves in that direction but came upon some photographers shooting something.  I rarely turn around when the object can’t be easily seen but something told me that this would be a good time to alter my ways.  Besides, it could have been a wood duck or a badger.  Imagine my surprise when I saw 926 digging near the road.  As luck would have it there was a parking spot close to the action and so I pulled in and tried to get some shots but the snow prevented focus.  I could hear an animal barking but the sound was muffled.  Then I realized that she was digging at a coyote den and that the female was inside telling the wolf to go away.

Not long after I arrived 926 gave up on the den and headed towards the carcass, paralleling close to the road.  Should have been a time for some great shots but the snow prevented good focus and the fast moving action made it impossible to use manual.  She is a fascinating wolf to be sure as she carries herself with certainty and ownership.

I changed locations and went to watch 926 go in to the carcass.  A line of bison were still hanging about and they tried to tell her to go away but she would have none of their instructions.  After hesitating only an instant, 926 proceeded to the carcass, shadowed by the bison.  She is so darned gutsy and I worried for her safety while remembering that her reputation with bison is what earned her the name, “Spitfire.”  She seemed to be living dangerously but she knew what she was doing.  I just could not watch and so back to the coyote den I went.

Stopping to photograph the baby bison in snow first.

There was a chance that 926 would re-visit the coyote den on the way back to her own den but it seemed more likely that the female would move her den as quickly as possible.  And, so, I kicked back to wait and see what would happen next.  Mama coyote stuck her head out a few times and looked around but I did not see her sneak off, cross the road and dig out a new den within sight of where I sat.  Coyotes are amazingly intelligent animals and they don’t get near the attention that they deserve.

When I saw the mama next she had just crossed the road and gone in front of my car, on her way back to the den.  Some people pulled up right then and then suddenly the action began.  After only a minute or two out came mama coyote with something in her mouth.  At first I thought she had a squirrel or some type of food but quickly realized that she had a pup and was moving the family.  Her new den was on the other side of the road, in easy view and not all that far from the old one.

She delivered the first pup and back she came for the next one.  This whole operation, digging and moving, probably only took an hour, if that.  Four coyote pups were taken to the new den and then she came back one last time, inspected the den thoroughly to make sure she had not left any kids behind, and then ran back to her new home.  It turned out that the male was hiding out down below the new den, in the sagebrush, to make sure everything went well.  He was not far behind her when she finished and dad followed his family into the new digs.  Safe for now.

And, now, a line of photographers stand in wait.  It looks to me like the coyote pups are very young and most likely won’t be coming out of the den to see the world for at least another week, but maybe two.  So, why am I sitting here?  Well, maybe something else will go by.

It was not even noon an we had had a whirlwind day already.  I once again headed towards Hitching Post but the line was long there and so on to Pebble Creek I went.  Where, there was a cow and yearling moose grazing in the campground.  The two were peaceful when I arrived but something, people I presume, spooked them good and they quickly took off running.

Now, it is afternoon, well into it, and nothing has happened since.  Last I checked Bill had not found any bears.  I did go by the picnic area and it looked like the bears had vacated.  Bill told me that yesterday Rosie took her three cubs to the Yellowstone River bridge where they crossed while people were still standing on the bridge, and went to the picnic area.  And there Rosie encountered Picnic and her two cubs.  Apparently all five cubs were sent up a tree and there was a little huffing argument before Rosie took her children and continued.  She spent a great deal of time in the Specimen area last year so perhaps she was headed that way.  But who knows where the young family has gone.  Perhaps none of them will be seen tomorrow.  And here everyone was looking forward to Tower road opening so that they could see and photograph the famous black bear family.  Don’t think that will be happening any time soon.

As I was leaving tonight, Picnic mom and her two cinnamon fur balls were under the Yellowstone bridge. Another black bear sow with two black cubs of the year was near the road west of Hell Roaring.  People parked in one lane and standing in the other, over the top of the bear.

BTW, a bison calf spent the night on a rock next to the Lamar River, after failing to following its mom across, and was still there this morning.  Some how mom and calf were reunited.

Reports from Andrew and others down south – the bears are finally coming out!

Blaze and her two cubs were out in a meadow, near some trees, too far off for photos.  Split Lip boar was seen near Mud Volcano.  The Hayden sow was spotted but no word on cubs.  Also, one of her offspring was seen swimming the river a couple of times.  There was also a mating pair of grizzlies at Grizzly Lake and a young bear in the construction.

Those last sightings makes me wonder if Mini Mom got nabbed and she had to send Mini Cub packing.

No grizzlies on the northern range today.  The Junction Buttes have a new carcass near Slough Creek that was kept a secret until I was headed home this evening.

The possibilities are endless in  Yellowstone.

See you tomorrow,

Deby