After the south gates close us off from the interior of Yellowstone, we begin to settle into times on the Northern Range. If you want to spend your days in the park during winter, there is no avoiding unpleasantness – you just go in, smile and commit to having a good time in the wild.
In the early days we wait for the snow to fall and the elk to come down low. And, we dream of seeing the wolves in action, much closer than most of the year. The big horn also begin to come down low and prepare for the rut – theirs is the last of the year and always the coldest.
The bison tend to move around a lot, moving in and out of the park, back and forth between Little America and Lamar Valley. It always depends on the snow pack and the availability of food. Winter in Yellowstone is all about survival and many die during the coldest stretches of time.
Most mornings find the bison covered in frost, though they stay well-insulated by their fur coats. Bison have to use their big heads to dig through the snow for food and when the going gets really tough, they head out of the park where there is little snow. But, they are not welcome there – also, they are hunted from now until March 15, so they are never safe.
In contrast to the snow inside of the park, the big horns, while ramping up for their time of love, are playing in the yellow grasses of the low lands, just inside or outside of the park.
The big boys are showing themselves off to the other guys and generally trying to make each other’s lives miserable while keeping their eyes on the girls. Their big bright eyes have amazing vision and their many expressions are guaranteed to make the observer smile.
And, next spring we will have cute little lambs running around on the steep cliffs.
Unfortunately, many of the big horn sheep are succumbing to pneumonia that is transmitted to them from domestic sheep. This little lamb was choking and it will not be long before it can not get a breath and will simply fall down and suffocate. This is terribly sad to watch and it is not just the lambs that are affected – some pretty nice rams were sick as well. Apparently, there is nothing that can be done for the sheep.
All of these images were taken in one day and show the contrasts of weather and terrain in Yellowstone.
Deby
Amazing pictures Deby. Sad, but the reality of life with Mother Nature in the wild.
Fabulous Pictures and sad commentary. That must really be hard for the sheep.
These pictures are amazing! I knew about the pneumonia but hadn’t realized it had arrived in Yellowstone. It is such a hard disease for them and the numbers rise from the deaths of these beautiful animals.
Stay warm and keep up the great photography!