Trip Report ~ by Bill Hamblin

02 - 05 July 2010

~ July 2010 ~

Friday - 02 July

I left work around noon, and had a lot more traffic now, particularly motor homes and trailers. Just South of Chittenden Road around 3:35 PM I ran into a bear jam, the grizzly sow with two (cubs of the year) coy's about 250 yards above the road. Around 5:00 PM I spotted a yearling black bear off the road near Tower Junction. At 5:35 PM I found a large black bear on Ski Slope viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 5:45 PM I next found a cinnamon black bear on A-Z Meadow. At 5:50 PM there was a small black bear on the second sliver west of Ski Slope. There has been a bison carcass in the river corridor best viewed from Enclosure, so I went up the hill and over about one hour, there was four different grizzlies in the area of the carcass. At 8:30 PM someone spotted a grizzly low on Druid Peak viewed from Trash Can Pullout. It turned out to be two different grizzlies, perhaps a pair of sub adults. Spotted a lone gray wolf in the rendezvous area at 9:00 PM. Weather for the weekend was nice, lows in the low 30's to mid 40's and almost 73 degrees for a high. Most days were a little windy, which blew the mosquitoes away. I spent Friday night near Silver Gate and Saturday and Sunday nights at Pebble Creek; both places were nice and quiet for sleeping.

Saturday - 03 July

At 5:35 AM I spotted one gray wolf in the rendezvous area. At 6:00 AM I found a grizzly south of midpoint. At 6:05 AM I spotted a grizzly with three coy's high in the bowl, viewed from the Institute. At 6:10 AM I found a black bear south of the Institute in the tree line. At 6:15 AM I next spotted a small grizzly north of Picnic Area. At 6:30 AM there was a black bear south of the Soda Butte Cone. At 7:15 AM I located a bear in the dead trees south of the Institute, not sure if a black or grizzly. At 8:00 AM I found a grizzly sow with two coy's high on the 3rd finger of Norris. From 10:00 to 11:00 AM I climbed the hill to Enclosure and had two different grizzlies and two wolves near the old bison carcass in the river corridor. In the evening around 7:00 PM there were two separate cinnamon bears in the tree line south of Coyote Overlook. At 9:00 PM I found a grizzly in the rendezvous area. At 9:10 PM I spotted a grizzly south of confluence and a gray wolf was seen south of Trash Can Pullout.

Sunday - 04 July

At 5:15 AM I found a large grizzly on the skyline south of the Institute. At 5:35 AM there was a grizzly sow with two coy's high on a meadow behind and South of Ski Slope. At 5:53 AM I found a grizzly with three coy's low on No Bear Meadow viewed from Dorothy's Knoll and later from the Institute. At 6:30 AM I located a grizzly sow with two coy's high on the 3rd finger of Norris. I kept hearing of wolves close and far away down near Trash Can on the radio. I spent the next four hours at Trash Can. Apparently a bison died or was killed in the river just west of Picnic area. We noticed wolves coming and going from there, then around 7:30 AM a large grizzly was spotted coming in from the west. When it got a few hundred yards from the carcass, it took off on a dead run to the carcass. This was a really large grizzly. For the next 3 hours or so, we had all five adult wolves in site, sometimes only one or two, but always in view. The carcass was only about 50 yards from the road and soon a large crowd was at old picnic area watching the grizzly. Another grizzly came in from the east, but didn't go directly to the carcass, milled around a bit, chased and was chased by the wolves, but finally went to the carcass. The larger grizzly must have been full, since it left the carcass. All the while the wolves tried to get to the carcass, but the bear wasn't sharing. Meanwhile at least the alpha female and all four pups were visible near the den area, near what they call the Mossy Rock. Ending up with a total of three grizzlies, one black bear, 5 adult wolves and 4 puppies and then a badger all from Trash Can this morning. Leaving Pebble Creek from my nap around 2:30 PM there was a black bear grazing just west of the campground. At 6:30 PM I found the grizzly with two coy's low in the 3rd Finger of Norris, briefly only for a few minutes. Then I found a grizzly with two coy's on K Meadow. At 8:00 PM Carma found two separate grizzlies north of Trash Can, sub adults, I think. The evening had grizzlies, black bears and an occasional wolf all viewed from Trash Can. The alpha female, really a light gray, almost white wolf visited the carcass, but the bear didn't give in.

Monday - 05 July

I arrived at the old picnic area about 4:45 AM and was pondering a walk out to view the carcass when I noticed a large dark figure in the road. A large grizzly was crossing north to south and went to the edge and looked into the carcass area. There were three different large grizzlies, one on and two near the carcass and 147M was also in the area. Just after that, the cars started ariving from both directions. I went to Trash Can. Saw two of the three grizzlies moving away, then one returned. I had a grizzly, two separate cinnamon bears, two adult wolves and three pups near the den area. At 6:15 AM I headed east for one more look prior to leaving. I found the grizzly with two coy's still on the 3rd finger of Norris and the grizzly with two coy's on K Meadow. Pretty good viewing on K Meadow, poor viewing looking into the sun on Norris. Passing the picnic area, I spotted a new white collared grizzly running into the area from the south. At 7:35 AM I had a large black bear on the 2nd sliver west of Ski Slope. On the way home, the grizzly with two coy's was out right up near Chittenden Road.

Other News

The host's camper at Tower Store had a problem with a tree falling on it. That's the second year in a row, the host's weren't around and I assumed the trailer wasn't live able. Rick had a grizzly with three large cubs earlier in the week at Soda Butte Picnic area. Neither me or Ralph remember any sow with three coy's last year, except the one Linda and Marshall had from Hellroaring. I never saw it. A grizzly sow with three coy's been seen often in Hayden Valley. The sow with four coy's still showing up every other day or so at Swan Lake Flat's. Most of the elk have finally left the valley, elk sightings are fewer than grizzly sightings now.

by John William Uhler

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