Wild Memories Photography Tours

I missed the morning shift of watching for wolves in Lamar Valley and so settled in for an unproductive day at the computer, which was nicely interrupted by a lunch invitation from Judy.  She would even pick me up!  Over lunch at the Yellowstone Grill Judy gave me the most beautiful necklace – it just took my breath away.  A Western Bluebird painted onto an oval of ivory, hanging on a beautiful blue cord.  The bluebird of happiness to wear!  And looking at the necklace, seeing the way it accents my blue eyes and thinking of what a sweet gift Judy gave me, does make me happy.

And, having a sit down lunch with a friend was a treat.  I always eat on the go and alone.

Later in the afternoon I just could not sit still and concentrate any longer and so into the park I went, not expecting a lot except for quenching my thirst to be in Yellowstone.  Well, boy was I surprised!

First off, there was a moose jam near Hell Roaring!  Better yet, it was a cow and calf.  My first calf of the year – already brown but a youngster all the same.  So, I decided to spend a little time with the moose.  They truly look very healthy with shiny eyes and nice coats, which was good to see.

Further on down the road, in Little America, past the bison and pronghorn jams, were people acting like they had seen a bear or a wolf.  I asked and was told that a grizzly was in the neighborhood.  All I had to do was look where the people were running and looking to know that Scarface was somewhere around.

I hesitated to call in the bear jam, for fear the rangers would come and haze the bear.  That would not set well with me, particularly if the bear was Scarface.  But, I weighed the fact that people were running towards the bear, waving cell phones and not carrying bear spray and decided that hazing would be better than killing the bear because some stupid tourist, with small kids, ran towards a grizzly bear.  I mean, what could they possibly be thinking to be carrying on so, particularly after a man was just killed by a bear?

Scarface came through Little America, continually forced to change routes due to people going out to see him and being in his way.  But, he finally began turning towards the road.

The ranger came along and told everyone to get back to their vehicles, which was perfectly reasonable given that a grizzly was getting ready to cross.  But, some refused to listen.  And, my car was a half mile away and so I stood near the patrol vehicle which was parked to block both lanes so the bear could cross.  Would you believe that some folks went around the patrol car so they could follow the bear?  While others were being told to get back and overtime the person waved their arms up, the guys would duck beneath to keep taking photos.  And, then, many others were well behaved, as was Scarface when he went right behind my friend’s truck and on across the road.

He crossed, went up the hill and continued on toward Specimen Ridge, away from people.

Scarface was well-behaved today but some who know him were disheartened by his appearance.  I would guess that the bear has lost about 150 pounds since coming out of the den, at a time when he should be adding weight.  His ribs, backbone and hip bones all show.  But, in a way, I saw his youthfulness from a time long ago.  His eyes looked bright and his face younger with less weight.  It was amazing to see his details, of his feet and claws.  The shape of his face.  His coat is not horrible and dry – it even has a little shine to it.  Perhaps I am being optimistic and not realistic, but I think the boy still has a little fight and life left in him.  He rallied and put on weight in late 2014 and it could happen again.  The bear managers told me that the white bark pine trees were good this year, so perhaps Scarface is on his way to a good meal and some fat.

Go Scarface!  I hope to see you again.