YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

Early this spring and well into summer the northern range of Yellowstone was filled with black bears.  Boars, sows and cubs.  We had Mixed Mom, Rosie, Betsy and the cubs and some other families that weren’t seen enough for names.

Everyday rangers and visitors were running from one bear jam to the next.  When bears were found along the roadside they were instantly mobbed by throngs of people who were anxious for a face shot, using their iPhone.  Some wanted their children to pet the cubs.  Meanwhile, many photographers stood back, complying with the rules, waiting long hours in hopes of getting just one special shot but going home empty handed.  Bear jams were closed down or visitors were running in front of cameras.  Or, more likely, the bear(s) just did not cooperate.

And then one day they were all gone.  No more bears.  The rangers did not know what to do with themselves and visitors had to work harder to find something to see.

The last Rosie was seen she was crossing the Yellowstone bridge, heading east.  Apparently, her runt cub was having a hard time keeping up and it showed up at Rainy Lake later in the day, crying its head off.  Rosie disappeared and no one seems to know if the cub ever found its family.

Well, hopefully the answers will come soon because the bears are back!  So darned good to start seeing the black bears again, as they come down from the high country.

A couple of days ago we had one at the Yellowstone Picnic area where those throngs of people spent their day under the careful watch of rangers.  I showed up late but practically just in time because I got to see the bear sitting in the tree.

Where he/she gave us a little show, made up of facial expression and body posture.

And then today I saw the guy heading for the school bus at Tower.  Came out of the bathroom, looked up and there was a bear.