YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

Pretty excited to introduce to you, my first pika of the year!  Seeing that cute little face made my day.  Actually saw several running around and caught a couple of glimpses of a weasel.  The thing about spring is that the photo ops grow every day and it is nice to expand.

The pika was hanging out at Hell Roaring.

But, for some reason I am finding myself drawn to the bison and pronghorn, as if discovering them for the first time.

The cows had not been looking all that pregnant but I noticed this one today and she was swinging her stuff and holding her head high.  There is something about a pregnant bison cow that exudes confidence and “hot stuff.”  It is like they pick their feet up higher, their eyes are brighter and they are showing their bad selves off to the world.  Definitely makes me smile.

I am hiking every day, trying to continue getting into shape and will hopefully lose more weight.  And, so I am also carrying equipment for strengthening as I want to spend more time taking photos in the back country this year.  So, today I went down Slough, carrying the big lens and tripod.  Decided I would photograph whatever was there.  Well, of course, that turned out to be bison.

Actually had a blast with this small herd and hiked just the right amount.

The other cool thing today was the discovery of this nest.  Wonder what will be occupying this?  I am guess a Red Tail Hawk.

And, now for today’s wolf story.

First thing this morning I hear that there are signals and howling out in Slough.  So, out I go, preferring to stand somewhere else, away from the crowd.  But, the bison were in my way and so I couldn’t get to my perfect spot.

The wolves were down by the bathroom and I could see them kind of just barely.  It was the Prospect Peaks, in the exact spot they were supposed to be in the day before when I hiked out with the camera!  Figures.

Once again the Junctions were somewhere close but we could not find them.  Lots of looking but no go.

Both Rick and I noticed that 965 walked off from the Prospects and wondered where he went.  Maybe back to 926? Some said that they saw 964 out at Slough also, by herself.  Wonder if 926 was close or she left and was heading back to join her pack.  Or, was 965 going to find her?

There are always so many questions in Wolf World.

Right now there are so many elk – everywhere, thousands upon thousands.  And, they are making it easier to find wolves because if we notice them bunched up and alert, there is a chance of something nearby.

Which is what happened later in the morning when I noticed some elk on a hill.  I went to investigate but couldn’t see anything.  But, the way the elk seemed to be following movement got me and I decided to hike out to a hill for a better look.  And, guess what?  I found the Junctions for the second time this week.

The Prospects were sleeping so everyone was happy to have wolves to watch.  Except that they decided to go over to Slough Creek, very close to Bob’s Knob and uncomfortably close to the Prospects.  We were worried that the two would interact.  And, with two or three pregnant girls in the JB’s, it could get tough to run away with those big bellies.  But, the Prospects slept through the whole thing and the JBs headed towards Lamar.

And, so we all went over there.  I was in the perfect spot for possible photos but just as they arrived a family pulled up, slammed doors, yelled, ran, etc.  And, so the wolves did not take the usual route.

So, instead of getting close they left, never seen again this day.

And, during a snow squall the Prospects got up and left.  And, so I went for a hike.  Ate lunch, took a nap, found the pikas – and called it a good day in Yellowstone.

Deby