YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

The park has quieted to a gentle murmer in the new winds and snows that dance about, threatening to return us to Winter.  Winter wonderland.

With the wolf mating season winding down and many of the February visitors gone until the next time, the park road is nearly empty.  One can stand on a snowy rock and hear not voices but the songs of nature.  A few birds singing, a raven’s wings overhead, a distant howl and a coyote yip, all can be heard if you stand still long enough and do nothing but listen.  Listen and enjoy a quiet that can not be purchased anywhere and can be found in few places.

With the last of the visitors disappearing, only a few of us remain.  Me, of course, because I am always here.  Josh is back.  And a few others here and there that I am not familiar with.  Cliff is still running around somewhere, I suppose. And, only a few wolf watchers.

And, I wonder, did the animals know that the show was over – that their audience was leaving and so they too decided to disappear.  Rarely is the park this quiet.  And, for all I know, things could have picked up today but I chose to take some time away to work on other tasks.  Photography and making stories is not just about being in the field – unfortunately, the computer work is endless.  And then there are the living tasks.  Firewood delivery, car repairs, paying bills…It is my thought that when one lives in nature all of the other stuff should not exist because it is so hard to pull away from the sounds of silence for the chores.

When the Lamar Canyons left their carcass, they made some coyotes, yotes, song dogs, very happy.  A family of 4 or 5 were left to feast in luxury with no worries of being chased.  And, they were quite laid back and comfortable.  So good to see them getting a meal.  But, what a surprise to see such a large pack of them together.  I have seen it before, while in Yellowstone, but so seldom.

While the large pack were feasting there was a mating pair – a new couple due to one’s mate being killed – who were left out and so working hard to get their own meal.  This pair have proven themselves to be worthy hunters – often going after and killing the big horns.

I saw the two of them, earlier in the day, running across the Lamar River as if being chased.  The ran across the road and up on this hill to look back at their foe.  Their unseen foe.  What a gorgeous sight to behold.

Afterwards, I went on to watch the Lamar Canyons on their carcass and mating.  Unfortunately, I have lost those images, except the ones that were opened when looking through.  This is heartbreaking but what happens when tired and trying to move too quickly.

It was a good day to watch the Lamars though.

When I left and began driving towards home I came across one of those heartbreaking sights.  A deer standing in the creek, covered in ice and trembling from the cold.

The mating pair of coyotes had run the deer into the creek and were lounging close by, waiting for the deer to make a wrong move so that they could take her down.  I was there for a long while, my heart sick for the deer but unable to leave.  The coyotes were quite cute together, particularly when they rolled in the snow together.  Eventually they trotted off to hide behind a tree and it was too dark and cold to watch the deer, and so I left, expecting to find a deer carcass in the morning.

But, early the next morning – no carcass!  It was obvious the deer had gotten away.  Leaving us with the question of how she could possibly survive so many hours in that cold water.  These wild animals are incredible survivors and they certainly have my respect.

Until tomorrow, or the next day.

Deby