YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

7/13/2015

Today I am sitting in a field, behind some tall sage that may or may not be hiding me from nosey people on the road. Possibly, in front of me, is a badger den. Lacking anything exciting to do until the evening show with the Lamars, I decided to take my low chair, camera, book and iPad out and wait.

Earlier, I saw the biggest badger I had ever seen, resembling the size of a medium dog. The badger disappeared and I wandered around and found this hole, which looks slightly different than many of the others, as it is larger, wider, unobstructed and possibly used recently. But, I don’t even know if the badgers are still denning because it seems as though some of them were early this year.

Of course, I have my iPad out and raindrops are falling. That makes three days in a row that I have begun writing while on location, only to get rained out. I look to the south and there are some heavy clouds coming in. The wind has whipped up and the breeze feels mighty fine. I was trying to cook something a little while ago, and clean up but the wind kept blowing things over or away. One of those days when my best efforts still end me up with more mess than good.

Now, I am sleepy and can barely keep my eyes open. Not sure what the deal is but I can’t seem to get enough sleep anymore and so have to take multiple naps every day. If I sit for more than a few minutes my head begins rocking, my eyes shutting and the yawning commences. It is as if I haven’t slept in days even though last night was a good one, as was my nap earlier. I wonder, because of the sleepiness, the numbness in my left hand and other factors, how long I can continue to do this. Guess I will keep going until I can’t.

This spot is not far from the den hill and is in an area where the wolves cross frequently. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be sitting here, concentrating on badgers, and have a wolf trot by? It could happen but probably not without a large crowd knowing what was happening, thereby making me aware. At which time I would have to move if possible. But, still could you imagine? That once in a lifetime shot of a wolf trotting past, me sitting at eye level and capturing the instant when the wolf’s eyes shift towards mine. It doesn’t hurt to dream. This will be season 3 of my dream that Spitfire will come to the front of the den hill with her puppies and I am there for the family shot. I have a big imagination and wish list for wolf shots but times aren’t like they used to be. Besides, if I simply go to the next pullout to capture a distant shot of the wolf crossing the road, it is wrong. Even though that is what Bob Landis would do. Even though some guys heard the howling the other night and went and sat below the hill. I went to a pullout and got a distant road shot while they got the wolf close and looking at them. My actions are scrutinized unfairly and I don’t have a chance of getting a great shot, not unless some luck finally came my way and I just happened to be sitting ready in the right place at the right time, not knowing that a wolf was coming by.

It is interesting. For a long time I tried to be the good girl but no matter how careful I was, someone was complaining. And so now, I try to get the shot without interfering with the animal. I can’t remember the last time I disturbed a wolf but it has also been a long time since there was a good shot.

And, so, I closed my eyes for a few minutes and took a cat nap. Still no badgers but I think that they might be there. The raindrops stopped and the sky is mostly cloudy, except to the north where some blue sky and thick clouds hover over the Absarokas. This morning’s sunrise, reflected on Soda Butte Creek, was nice. Not great, but we get so few sunrises and so it was good to see. And, it got me out of the warm cold into the brisk morning air to make my coffee and breakfast.

I leave camp early every morning and usually find a place to park where I can boil water for the French press and the oatmeal. Oops, someone has spotted me and is pulling over to find out what I see. Why can’t people just do their own thing and leave others alone? I am sitting out here in the sagebrush…OMG, there are black ears in the sagebrush, right in front of me!

Can not believe that I was sitting there, dreaming about a wolf walking by and one did! 926, no less! When the cars began to stop behind me I looked up from the iPad, towards the badger hole and saw black ears in the sagebrush. At first I did not think they were real or that there was some other explanation, but they moved. And, 926 appeared. She did not see me right away but when she did, only about 50′ away, she turned and looked at me. She seemed to be asking what the hell I was doing sitting out there. No aggression, no fear, no hurrying off, just simple curiosity. I am convinced by now that she recognizes me, somehow, after all of the encounters over the past 2.5 years. She trotted off but did stop to look back a couple of times.

I had been sitting in a low chair and my camera and tripod were low to, too low for the sagebrush, but I did not dare stand up to get the close photo, for fear of disturbing her. And, so I waited until she was more than 100 yards away before standing to get some photos.

Meanwhile, Jeff called and told me to get to Footbridge because he had just seen two pups. When I told him what was going on with 926, he told me that I should stay with her. A line of cars had formed to follow but somehow I got way ahead of them and managed to park off of the road. I got my camera ready, just in case, and when cars came along I managed to convince them to wait, as she had appeared and was heading towards the road. Everyone was great and they sat and watched the view as Spitfire began to go to the road but was scared back by cars coming the other way, a couple of times. It was interesting to watch how cautious she was being, particularly after running the road last week. But, she would spook back, go up a hill and wait for another opportunity. When she finally crossed all was clear for her and we cheered with big smiles. I thanked everyone for being kind to the wolf.

926 went on, definitely on some sort of mission, and I returned to Footbridge to hear about the puppies, one black and one grey, that Jeff saw. Jeremy and I hiked out again but did not see anything.

I had my moment today and it was one that I will never forget. To be sitting there, not knowing that a wolf was in the area and to have it walk by was incredible. I am thankful to have had a few special moments with our girl. For Jeff to see pups while I was having my moment, was pretty darned special.