Yellowstone National Park 2015 Trip Reports
Trip Report ~ Bear & Wolf Sightings ~ by Bill Hamblin
21 through 24 April 2015
~ April 2015 ~
Tuesday - 21 April
25 degrees this morning warming up to a nice 63 degrees. Sian J and Richard B (Washington) had an eight ungulate and three dog day. Ungulate (hoofed animals) (moose, bison, elk, white tailed deer, mule deep, pronghorn antelope, big horn sheep, and mountain goat). Canines (fox, coyote, and wolf). At 7:00 a.m. I found a large grizzly on a fresh cow bison carcass on Jasper Bench, good viewing from Dorothy's Knoll, fair viewing from the Institute and from Coyote Overlook. He wanted to leave the carcass after an hour or so, but did not want the ravens, coyotes and bald eagles to have it. But after a few attempts he headed to the tree line. At 7:15 a.m. I spotted a small dark grizzly northeast of the Institute. At 8:00 a.m. Scarface was noticed moving down the valley across the river. At one time he was only 600-800 yards from the grizzly on the bison carcass, but neither ever detected each other. At 12:45 p.m. we had a grizzly high in the Salad Bowl viewed from Dorothy's Knoll.
Wednesday - 22 April
26 degrees this morning warming up to 65 degrees. At 6:00 a.m. the same grizzly was on the cow bison carcass on Jasper Bench. At 7:45 a.m. I spotted a small colorful grizzly in Bear Meadow viewed from Midpoint Pullout. At 8:00 a.m. Scarface was south of the Soda Butte Cone on the bench digging. At 8:15 a.m. Ralph N. found a grizzly digging in the K Meadow viewed from the Soda Butte Cone, but we had a better view from Footbridge Pullout (note: this grizzly was far right of "Jennings Rock"). At 12:00 noon I found a black bear just under "Jennings Rock" in K Meadow. I did have a THREE DOG DAY today.
Thursday - 23 April
34 degrees warming up to 55 degrees. I had an owl (great horned I think) on the railing of the bridge over the Yellowstone River in Gardiner at 5:10 a.m. I saw two jack rabbits on the road on the way in today. 6:00 a.m. the same grizzly on the cow bison carcass on Jasper Bench viewed from Dorothy's Knoll. Today he stayed out until about 8:30 a.m. At 7:00 a.m. I spotted a large grizzly under the tree line of Specimen Ridge in Little America viewed from Boulder Pullout. He was traveling east and I later picked him up east of Crystal Creek from the Slough Creek bathroom. At 10:30 a.m. Ralph N. found a grizzly digging in K Meadow. At 10:50 a.m. we had a small colorful grizzly digging in Bear Meadow viewed from Midpoint Pullout. At 12:30 p.m. I spotted a grizzly high in the Salad Bowl. It moved north down the hill and we thought maybe it would pick up the scent of the Jasper Bench carcass. But it did not. At 2:15 p.m. I was at Footbridge Pullout when Sian J arrived to visit. A tourist in front of us hollered he had a wolf in the creek east of us. Yes, he did. 926F was chewing on a really old elk carcass. At 7:15 p.m. Ralph N spotted a black, a gray, and a collared gray wolf harassing a small herd of bison. I only got to see the two grays and we discovered a new bison calf in the herd so that was the cause of the harassing.
Friday - 24 April
28 degrees warming up into the high 50's. I hiked to Trout and Buck Lakes today. At 5:55 a.m. the same grizzly was on the cow bison carcass on Jasper Bench viewed from Dorothy's Knoll. Strange, the carcass is about gone and only this one grizzly, a few coyotes and lots of ravens and bald eagles finished it all. At 6:45 a.m. we had wolf 926F in the road near Hitching Post. Ralph and I set down our scopes for a group of kids out this morning. The wolf eventually re-crossed the road and was good viewing for over an hour (note: 926F is now alone). The alpha male was killed by the Prospect Peak pack weeks ago. Three males joined 926F for a while, but that frightened the six Lamar Canyon pups (now almost yearlings) so they left the area. Now the last visiting male, Twin, was seen back with the Prospect Peak pack. It doesn't look good as 926F is due this week. At 7:15 a.m. I spotted a large grizzly south of the Soda Butte Cone in the same place Scarface was two days ago. This was a short sighting as it moved into the trees. It grabbed a large tree and licked off sap or something from the bark. At 9:45 a.m. we had a small colorful grizzly on Amethyst Bench viewed from Dorothy's (better from the Institute). We watched for about an hour when it began to run. Soon another grizzly appeared, but they must have recognized each other as they met and wrestled briefly before digging together for most of the afternoon. Ralph and I suspect they were 3 1/2 year old cubs, chased away from the sow last spring, Denning separately but meeting today. We suspect they they will not be together for long. At 10:30 a.m. I found a grizzly high north and west of Dorothy's Knoll, soon it was out of sight. Ralph went to Coyote Overlook and discovered it was a sow with a two year old cub.
Other News
Someone found the Tower black bear with all three of her now yearling cubs up at Rainy Lake today. Lots of snow removal equipment heading for Chief Joseph Highway and the Beartooth Highway. The park roads must be pretty much plowed. I heard Dunraven Pass is done already. Lots of road construction in Gardiner this spring, main road tore up and sidewalk closed on Park Street.
People Seen
Wolf Watchers: From Montana: Rick M, Doug M, Lizzie, and Dan and Laurie L. From Colorado: Don G. From Utah: Richard B and Marlene F. From Wyoming: Larry and Linda H and Richard B. From Virginia: Colleen C. From the United Kingdom: Sian J and Kirsty and Alan P. From Kansas: Calvin and Lynette J. Bear Watchers: From Montana: Ralph N and Doug M. From Illinois: Wayne K. From Colorado: Ed A. From Ohio: Jim and Twyla E Others: From Colorado: Jim and Bobbie F. From Idaho: Warren and Natalie. From Montana: Cliff B, Pete B, Bob L, and Deby D. From Oregon: Dale and Elva P. From Washington: Bob and Kathy (old Tower Falls campground hosts). From Utah: Bob B.
Yellowstone National Park
Lamar Valley Map - Yellowstone National Park
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