The Intruder

It was a rainy, cold day in Yellowstone and after trying to get down south where I thought it might be a little drier, I went towards home.

Was heading on down into Gardner Canyon when I saw a big bull on the sky line, walking towards Mammoth. Had just seen Touchdown there, lazing on the lawn and so in anticipation of a little brawl, I went back up the hill where people were already lining up.

The bull marched right on down, hesitating only briefly, before going down behind the justice center to have a chat with Touchdown. Well, I did not get to see what happened but do know that the cows never got up. And, I do know that this guy turned right around and came back, heading out on the same trail he came in on. It was a quick visit.

He did stop on the hill to think things over before continuing on, but on he went.

Not even Touchdown has many cows, it seems, and there are a lot of big bulls hanging around the area, many without any girls. Not sure what the difference is this year but things have heated up for the rut. Not sure who has all of the girls either. There was about 200 in the herd outside of the park but I am assuming some of the bigger guys are keeping a low profile.

We did get to see the entire Lamar Canyon pack this morning! All of them traveling together. What a joy it was to see the five pups bringing up the rear and trying to keep up. One of them has mange pretty bad and another has a milder case. I think the other grey is doing well and that one of the blacks has some on its rear.

As you can see, it was a good morning in Lamar!

Here is Peter Gentes report from Hayden:

Peter Gentes

Sep 17th, 7:09pm

Yellowstone Day 15 – PM Wrap-up (Sept 17, 2015) At saddle north of grizzly overlook/point in Hayden valley to spot on the wapiti lake pack. Sunrise to 8:00am very poor visibility due to rain/snow and fog. Improved after. – 7:00 – 7:05am grizzly spotted in creek bed moving from west to east towards peninsula of trees. Lost visibility when snowfall increased – 8:27am large elk herd to southwest of grizzly/point overlook. Immature golden eagle at grizzly overlook. – 8:30am Wolves spotted in right most sand pit, back inside the pit – 8:40am in rightmost sand pit, 4 pups and female alpha in back of pit. – 9:25 – 9:40am grizzly spotted back in right most sand pit (aka “three stooges sand pit” for the 3 trees in front of it). Alpha female and 4 pups charged from right to drive bear off. Catching glimpses of the 5 wolves on and off in the trees on left side of pit. 9:34 bear seen back in sand pit again. – bison passed by and mountain bluebirds swarmed in near trees – rain restarted at 10:50am. Time to call it a morning. Afternoon: – 2:30 – 2:50pm grizzly moving east to west between Elk Antler and Trout creek area. Moved west thru creek bed area and then climbed escarpment up to plateau and headed west. – approx 4:45pm – rain drove us of bench at 7:00pm, Valley Girl was just below us about 150 yards. She started at old wapiti pack elk kill site below grizzly point, then moved north to below the saddle we wolf spot from. At last viewing she was moving north towards alum creek area. Also reported – 10:10am grizzly north of mud volcano area. – 2:00pm 3 grizzly in meadows northeast of east entrance and man loop road, north of fisherman bridge. Good sighting everyone, Pete

And, he had a black pup in the Three Stooges – the right most sand pit, named thus for the three trees out front – after sending the report.

Thanks Pete!