One day last week I awoke to realize that in addition to other critter invasions in my new home on the Yellowstone River, the baby birds were singing inside the next room. After spending the morning dealing with my wonderful landlords and making a plan to finally get the house in livable condition (according to my standards), I loaded a few things into the car. Thinking that I might spend a night away, I packed the toothbrush, pillows, quilt and computer but no clean clothes. Luckily, other things were already in the car. I spent the morning wandering around Lamar and when I spotted a black wolf, got all excited thinking that it was Spitfire. I haven’t seen the girl since before she went in the den and am past ready for a sighting. A black wolf trotted along Soda Butte Creek, heading north and so I got in position to take a few shots. She turned well before me and that was when I noticed that the wolf was 889, one that I have photographed quite often because she is way too comfortable around people. As Laurie said the other day, I have seen 889 close several times. 889 began to cross Soda Butte but looked at the crowd that had stopped on the road in front of her and changed her mind. Instead, she went down to the bridge and crossed, despite already being wet and despite it being way more crowded. I suddenly realized that I had no desire to photograph the girl, even though she is a favorite, because it is like watching her die a little at a time when she gets so close to people. And, so, I was leaving when she popped out near the road and began to cross. I held traffic and people back so she could go up and visit Ma Spitfire and Daddy Big in the den area. Argh. I told myself that it would be better if she were killed wolf on wolf than the park having to take action. Still, we called law enforcement so that they could haze her if she came back down on the road but she did not. The new realization that I had grown beyond photo whore in a mighty profound way was just a mere acknowledgement. I am changing and so not sure what that means for my future as a wildlife photographer. Animals in landscape more often, I would imagine.
She avoided being hazed again that day. I am anxious for her behavior to change.
I stopped by the black bears at Tower and was yelled at for standing in the road, despite being right of the white line. Guess that I do not do well with constantly changing rules, or maybe just a little tired and grouchy, but I don’t like breaking rules that didn’t exist the day before. Somewhat dazed, I went on. Maybe I would go see the wild horses. Maybe I would go to the Tetons. Over Washburn and down to Lake I went. I knew that a bear friend was in the park and that if there was a bear visible he would be there and so went looking. Sure enough, there was Raspberry snoozing beneath a tree. Thanks to my friend, who let me set up down low in front of him, I was able to get this shot.
When Raspberry woke up, she stuck her tongue out and wandered off into the forest. And, so we went up to the Overlook and had a great time with the Dusky Grouse. He liked me and kept coming my way and he couldn’t understand why I kept moving away from him. Suddenly Dusky startled me by doing a flip. I did not really see the flip, he just flipped and there was a lot of commotion. And then he came towards me looking like this.
When he was being more subdued, Dusky looked like this.
And completely behaving himself:
After awhile I gave up on my big lens and switched to my 80-200, which was plenty for capturing this flirt. But, after awhile, when Raspberry came back out and it was nearly dark, I decided to keep the short lens on and capture her in the trees. Sorry, I forgot to edit one of those shots. Night was falling and I was still undecided – Tetons or McCullough Peaks. A friend had asked why I would want to go to the Tetons and I had no answer – not knowing what was going on down there at all, but those mountains were calling me. But, I could not keep my eyes open long enough to get much of anywhere, except to a place to camp. I slept hard and long. Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow.
I was wondering why you were there, but had thought you needed the mac store in Jackson and preferred to hang out in Grand Teton rather than some other city location. Anyway, enjoying your story and look forward to future installments.