YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

The West Entrance opens tomorrow and we get to drive all of the way to Old Faithful, looking for grizzly sows and their teenagers – and maybe the Canyons!

See Judy’s sighting report below mine…

Well, it started out fairly cold but warmed right up with clear blue skies.  We began by looking for the Lamars and the Mollies but could not find either.  Later in the morning the plane followed the last of the Mollies back to Pelican Valley.  They had the Prospects on a carcass and 821 (alpha female) was not with them so we assume she is in the dent.

Our attention turned to the Junction Butte where they found 6 up high in Slough Creek, heading towards some elk.  One grey half-heartedly tested the bulls but it was a no go and so they continued on.  970, heavy with pups brought up the rear.  At least one of the two-year olds is pregnant, if not both, but they don’t seem to be having as had a time keeping up.  I am guessing that 970 will be going to the den any day now.

Back to Lamar because someone had sightings of 926 and another on the road and heading towards Pebble.  That is the last I knew.  Rick’s signals grew weaker and I decided to head towards home.  But, that, as always took a long time, with a nap, a phone call and stopping to watch this or that along the way.  Hours it took to get home.

There was a black bear at Phantom Lake and I watched for just a minute, until a big crowd had gathered around him and then I split.

Then, I made it as far as the Children’s Trail at Blacktail before a couple of bluebirds caught my eye.  The missus is addicted to her reflection in the vehicles and she was what looked like a crack frenzy.  When one vehicle left she frantically came to mine and sat on my camera lens.  I must have watched the birds for an hour or more – they were fascinating and, besides, I love bluebirds.

The two kept it up for quite some time before deciding they need to eat and do other things.

Judy and Verne are back in the park!  Yay.  Beginning today we will be doing a daily sighting posting, with several contributors, in addition to our wildlife stories and special moments.  The important thing is that you keep up to date with what is going on in the park, particularly if you are planning a vacation.

From Judy:

Park sitings 4-16-2014

Beaver lodge at China Gardens – there have been beavers in the China Gardens area on the Gardner River for a number of years but over the last few months they have moved their lodge upstream a little and now have a dam both below their lodge and above it.  Still haven’t seen any beavers.

There are lots of elk, bison, pronghorns (it should be a great year for baby pronghorns), and mule deer scattered all over from Gardiner well into the Lamar Valley.  There are lots of bighorn sheep around Wrecker and the Yellowstone Picnic area.  At least 17 mature males and a good number of females and yearlings.

There were 2 moose along Soda Butte Creek right before Round Prairie today. They crossed the creek to the far side and eventually disappeared into the trees.

The Wicked Witch of the West was seen at the Slough Creek bathroom so we unlocked the door and tossed her down the hole.