Wild Memories Photography Tours

Well, the temps have warmed considerably but the wind and humidity make it feel even colder.  Funny how that works.  Sitting here at the computer where I have been working for 3 hours now, getting material ready for this post, and am still freezing from the day.

First thing this morning we saw the 911’s group and the Junctions up on a hill and sleeping.  They were in a tight group, instead of spread out, which was nice to see.  The injured black pup is still with them so I would say he is firmly back with his pack.

They are still hanging around Lamar, which is troublesome.  But, with mating season coming up there is a good chance that the yearlings will disperse, particularly the two females because they will be in high demand.  The male might not because of his injury.  If they do that evens the odds for the Lamars to retain their valley.

But, as it is, the Lamars are pushed back even further.  They are presently in some thick trees and enjoying a nice meal.  But, the issue is that they left some pups behind.  Last night there were three wandering about and howling, although when I first found one of them behind some thick willows, there was only two.  Rick later found another pup out across the valley but the three joined up and wandered.  And then split again.

This morning I was able to find 2 pups, Patch and Slinky.  That boy is so submissive and scared of his shadow.  It is a good thing that Patch is looking out for him because he would not survive otherwise.  Patch reminds me of mom – she has the same howl and she is taking care of her sibling.

The two pups were on a little hill but when they saw me on the road, they moved back and out of sight, which meant that Rick and Doug did not get to see them.

The very unfortunate part of this story is that a damned photographer who uses us to locate the wolves so that he can hike out to them, hiked up into their only safe haven – the den site.  Here they are lost, alone, very hungry, and so are waiting in their birth place and an ass has to go out and get bad scope pictures of them and freak them out.  Now they are, who knows where.  Not good.  Hopefully they just went further into the trees and came back out to gnaw on an old carcass tonight.  They had quit howling and drawing attention to themselves.

I was hoping the family would return tonight but they did not, as far as I could tell.

We left and went down to the carcass in Lamar Canyon to see 870.  What a thrill it was for all of us to see her and see that she is much better.  Rick had not seen her for quite some time.  And, although Kirsty and I saw her the other day when I found her in Little America, Kirsty wasn’t sure it was her because she was doing so well.  So much better than when I had seen her a few days before.  But, we have finally figured out that it was 870 trotting around and jumping off of rocks that day.  The swelling in her head had gone down, she had eaten and was doing way better.

But, today, she almost looked like a young gal.  She still needs to build up strength, due to lack of food, but she is nearly back to normal.  Maybe ready to get her man and pack back?  I think we will see some changes soon.  Can’t be soon enough because if the Lamars get pushed out we will never see them and they will be in more danger.

It was all smiles from all of us.  We have been pulling for the girl and she just might pull off another miracle.  I was thanked profusely for sharing her the other day and so have decided it was the right thing to do.

After 870 wandered into the forest I stayed to watch the eagles.  Didn’t really want to but the company was great and so I did.  Two men from Vancouver BC had been in the park for awhile and it was their last morning and the second time that they got to see 870 because I had invited them to join us the other day.  Close wolf sightings for photos have been at a premium and so it was good that they got those opportunities.

These eagles are most likely mom, dad and JR. but they still fight over the food.

Then there was the frightened coyote.  It came into the carcass but something scared it into the forest.  And so every once in a while it would come running out, only to run off again.

But, this is the coyote I found down by the Lamar den a little later.

I did drive all of the way to Cooke City today but did not find much out that way.  Saw some fresh ermine tracks but could not find the critter.

When I returned, I found my friend, Sam, photographing a Golden Eagle on the coyote carcass at the Confluence.  And, so I stopped for awhile.

I had just gotten into a good position when a truck scared the eagle off.  We waited a while and then decided to head west.

Which was when we found 870 back on the carcass and so I spent the remainder of my day with her, until she decided to wander down the river.

At which time I decided to leave and head towards home.  A deer crossed the road in front of me near Mammoth and I had to slam on brakes, causing cameras and stuff to go to the floor.  Shook me up some and so I pulled over to settle down before going on home.

Been a long night of sorting and editing but sure made for a good and productive day.