YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

Last year was an exception, but most every spring we find ourselves sitting at Blacktail Ponds where a bison has drowned, waiting for bears, wolves, coyotes and eagles to come in and entertain us.  We have dreams of great shots of the apex predators coming, going and feasting.

Mostly, we sit, freeze and wait.  The first day is filled with joyful conversation but as the days wear on the photographers wait silently in their own little corners, feeling the dreams fade with the light.

But, ultimately, the predators come – though, not always the wolves and bears during daylight.  Some years we have good bears and wolves, other years they really don’t want to have anything to do with us and stay far away.

There are even some coyotes that won’t come close to us and so spend the day skirting the area, wishing for food but not daring.  They are also being cautious of the bears and wolves.  Wolves in particular because they will give chase and kill.  It is interesting to watch them being so careful.

Inexperienced visitors and photographers expect to see the predators come in to feed on the bison carcass.  But, they are always confused when seeing the bison visit the carcass – when they witness the bison mourning for the first time.

Some bison appear to get very angry when they find one of the dead companions.  This bull put his tail up, a sure sign of anger, and was doing quite a bit of bellowing.

Notice the white of the bulls eye.  I have never noticed that before but saw it twice today.  This bull nearly fought with another bull – he was so very angry and it appeared to stem from the discovery of the dead bison.

He then turned, with tail in the air and bucked away with two of his friends.

A lot happens at the bison carcasses, or at any carcass and an investment of time is necessary in order to be there are the right time, when something finally happens.  It is difficult to stay in one place, wondering what else is in the park but generally worth the patience.  Not always but often.  Photography moments are a crap shoot.

At the bison carcass, Casey Anderson did see 6 wolves and one grizzly very early this morning, using his special night vision camera.  But, at daybreak all animals were gone and the carcass did not look like it had been eaten on much.

The Prospect wolves went east and north and were not heard of by us all day.

The Junction Butte were back in Little America again, finally.  I am sad to report that there are only five – the three breeding females and the two males.  The two pups have been missing again for the past two weeks.  We do think that the yearling male is accounted for and with a black female and 3 gray pups – so he might have his own pack!  The bitten black male has not been seen in a long time.  I am told that 870 is not doing well – apparently her head injury is getting the better of her.

And, the Lamars.  Who knows about those guys right now.  I had heard that the pack went into the trees and headed east, in the direction that the Molly’s had been the day before.  But, that there were no signals on the Molly’s and it was believed they were gone.  I had a hard time believing that because when they get behind the mountain they don’t usually get signals.  Although, I think some of the guys went and checked as well.

Not much later some howling was heard around Norris.  I returned and got there just in time to see 967 coming down off the cliff he couldn’t seem to get around yesterday.  When he disappeared I was looking in the forest and found Little Grey and the black male pup that hangs with him and 967.  They were trotting through the forest and I lost them but kept watching the spot where they had gone, until 967 appeared.  Luckily, 967 bedded down right there and so I was able to give everyone a wolf to look at.

Rick had decent signals on 926, after awhile (there had been none for some time) but could not locate her.  There was some lighthearted speculation that maybe she ditched those boys and was looking for a mate.  All of us had thought that with the Molly’s right there that she might find a 2 year old to hook up with.  Could be a matter of convenience and necessity.  Just a guess but I am thinking that she ditched those bad boys of hers for a reason.  The two females and the slinky boy might have been with her.  926 was back to leading the pack this morning, according to eyewitness accounts, but there are concerns that she is not acting like an alpha.  She will be back!