YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

We are some dedicated grizzly bear photographers down here in Grand Teton National Park!  There is the carcass, sitting in the Oxbow, just waiting to feed some hungry animals.  Adrift amongst the fast melting sheets of ice and slowly being pushed by the wind downstream.  Soon it will be out of our view and of course that is when 610 will finally decide to come in for her feast.

All day!  I mean all day.  610 and her two cubs were digging in the field next to the Oxbow.  Tiny bear dots out on the landscape, teasing us by coming closer, only to turn and go the other way.  We were hopeful but in the end 610 stood up several times and then her and the cubs ran for the hills.  There were some fisherman in a drift boat down by Cattlemans and we think that might have sent her running.

So close, yet so far!  We searched and searched but did not see the bears again.  But, the wolves were out hunting again – six of them.  It has been 5 years since wolves have been this visible in GTNP and boy is it nice to see them!

So, what do you do when out at the Oxbow all day, waiting for bears?  Well, wait.  And get creative.  Like shooting the reflection of the aspens.

Or, of course, shoot Mt. Moran, reflected in the Oxbow.  Despite there being no clouds in the sky and very little color on the landscape.

Well, there were other things.  Trumpeter swans, muskrats, dead beaver, Canada geese, eagles, vultures, and things like that.  But, one tends to ignore those things when waiting on grizzly cubs to come close enough to afford a photo op.

Two days of waiting on 610 and hoping to photograph those cubs and skunked.  So, when I saw skinny, scrawny, 783M grazing in Willow Flats,  with very little light left, I was determined to get at least one grizzly shot for the day.  And, here it is.

After photographing and filming the young boar, I turned around and caught the full moon sitting on a shelf.

And, so, you see, when you get stood up by grizzly bears, you take what comes your way.  Not a bad day after all!

I did get word that the Mollies, 8 of them, were attacking the Junctions near their den area this morning.  Last I heard the Junctions were fine and the two sisters were now denning together.  But, the Mollies were still in the area.  926 was near her den area and I just hope that the Mollies leave the Lamars alone for a change.  It would be nice to see the Lamars get a little break.

Until tomorrow.