YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

 

To say that myself and the other regulars had been waiting for this day for a long time would be an understatement – it was the best time ever to have the Lamar Canyon pack in full view, howling for each other and the adults swimming the river.

The very best that Yellowstone has to offer.

I arrived barely in time this morning.  Doug was photographing something on one side of the road and then wheeled around to photograph something on the other side and that was when I saw Spitfire south of the river.  It was easy to tell, without even knowing where everyone else was, that she was going to cross the road so I drove down a little ways and got into position, far enough back to not bother her and close enough to get so so shots of the action.  I just wanted to capture her, even though the photos would never be something to ride home about.  My wish was granted.

She stopped and looked around a bit and then began howling.  Must say that I have not seen her in the open and howling very much at all but the sight reminded me of the morning that I captured her daddy, 755, howling for his family.  The day his mate died and his family told him goodbye.  Only, today it was not unhappy times at all.

And, notice the graying underbelly and chin – I see her daddy all over her – she will be one gorgeous woman, even prettier than now.

And then she faced the other way and I could hear Big Gray howling back to her.

With everyone found, the pups up high on the other side of the road and daddy back behind, Spitfire proceeded to the river and did not like what she saw.

She balked as if being shoved into the water.

She actually approached the water a couple of times and backed away as if it were biting her.  But, she needed to get to her puppies, cold water or not.

Being the tough girl that she is, she gingerly stepped into the freezing liquid.

Once on the other side she shook it off.

A quick shake and she was running for the road.

Across the snowy river bank and into the sage where I could only see her head bobbing through.

A car rushed ahead of me, despite my protestations, and stopped just short of where she ran across the road.  Luckily, she had her babies in mind and so they did not deter her.  I waited until she was far from the road and then drove by the other car but the driver quickly rolled up the window and left.  Good.  Because I needed to get turned around and get back before Big Grey crossed, during which the road needed to be empty or he would never make it.

I barely made it in time to see Big Gray bravely jump into the river and go across.

He was across in no time and headed for the road, crossing without a hitch.

And then we waited for the parents to get to the pups.  And the pups put on a nice howling show for us.

I did not realize that the other two pups were just to the right of the black specks I could see on the rocks.  They were so far away.

Luckily, there was one shot that got both of the right side pups in the frame – barely.

They quit howling and then we waited for them to see mom and dad, in hopes that they would run to them.

And they did not disappoint, as this shaky video will show.  I was just too excited to do anything right this morning.  But, I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

They charged down the hill to mom and dad.

A couple of pups were trying to slobber all over daddy but he was none too happy with their shenanigans.  Originally, the pups all piled on mom, while dad looked on but there were a couple of them that did not want to leave him out.

And then it was time to make their exit and follow a familiar trail.

Isn’t that a pretty sight?

Dad was not with the gang – I think that he was de-slobbering himself.  And, look at the long legs on that gray pup!  He is quite large and his coloring appears to be much lighter than Big Gray’s.

The pack made their way across the mountain on the Ledge Trail, which has been used by wolves for about 20 years now.  Such history and such a wonderful present time.

We are so blessed that this mom and dad had the strength to raise this amazing family.  Because, now there are wolves in the valley once again!

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