Yellowstone National Park 2015 Trip Reports
Trip Report ~ Bear & Wolf Sightings ~ by Bill Hamblin
21 May through 10 June 2015
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~ May 2015 ~
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Thursday - 21 May
38 degrees this morning warming up to 58 degrees. I had a cow and a calf moose today, Jim B showed me the golden eagle nest down Slough Creek (very high in the rocks and can only see a part of the nest from the road). I hiked Yancey's Hole near Tower Junction today for about 3 miles round trip. At 5:35 a.m. 890M, 969F, and the un-collared gray yearling for the Junction Butte Pack were north of Coyote Overlook. At 5:40 a.m. I spotted a dark grizzly high north of Coyote Overlook. At 7:05 a.m. I found a cinnamon black bear North and East of Midpoint Pullout. At 7:50 a.m. the grizzly sow with three cubs of the year (coys) in the Slough Bowl, north and east of the Slough Creek bathroom. At 8:35 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coys in the # 3 finger of Norris and was out again at 5:25 p.m. At 8:45 a.m. we watched a courting pair of grizzlies in the K Meadow viewed from Footbridge Pullout. At 9:30 a.m. we had a black bear south and east of the Institute in the tree line. At 11:15 a.m. the black sow with the two brown coys were near the Curve Pullout east of Yellowstone Picnic area.
Friday - 22 May
34 degrees this morning warming up to 60 degrees. We had four pelicans fly down the Lamar River this morning, must have been lost as they almost never fly in the Lamar--they soon headed south probably for the Yellowstone River in Hayden Valley. At 6:15 a.m. we watched a courting pair of grizzlies again in K Meadow (they got really friendly for a time this morning). At 6:50 a.m. I found a large grizzly on the top of A-Z Meadow. At 7:30 a.m. the grizzly sow with three coy's were in the Slough Creek area north and east of the Slough Creek bathroom. At 9:20 a.m. I found a black bear below the A-Z Meadow. At 9:30 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coy's on the # 3 finger of Norris again from Footbridge Pullout, but better viewing to the east of the Soda Butte Cone. At 2:30 p.m. we had a black bear at Phantom Lake. At 4:00 p.m. we had a large colorful grizzly north of Coyote Overlook. At 4:15 p.m. I spotted two grizzlies both dark and one was smaller than the other north of Picnic Area. At 6:50 p.m. we had a cinnamon black bear south of the Institute. At 9:00 p.m. we watched a large cinnamon black bear near the Wyoming/Montana line near the Northeast Entrance.
Saturday - 23 May
38 degrees this morning warming up to 60 degrees. I had a large cow moose near Warm Springs this evening. At 6:00 a.m. a gray wolf was chasing an elk in the second sliver of Ski Slope viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 6:10 a.m. four black and one gay wolf of the Lamar Canyon Pack were north of Midpoint. At 6:30 a.m. I spotted a grizzly running in the A-Z Meadow. At 7:00 a.m. we had a grizzly in the bowl viewed from the Institute. At 7:15 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coy's were spotted in the # 3 finger of Norris. At 7:15 a.m. we watched the courting pair of grizzlies in the K Meadow. At 8:00 a.m. the grizzly sow with three coy's were down Slough Creek viewed from Bob's Knob. At 9:00 a.m. we had a cinnamon colored bear sleeping on a rock south and east of Dorothy's Knoll (moved a little, never enough to tell if a grizzly or more probably a cinnamon black bear). At 9:30 a.m. I found a brown grizzly south of Lamar River viewed from Midpoint and later from the Institute. At 10:00 a.m. I spotted a large dark grizzly south and east of the Institute. At 11:15 a.m. we watched a grizzly south of Picnic Area in the tree line. At 5:00 p.m. the black bear with two black yearling cubs was south of Long Pullout. At 5:15 p.m. we had a sleeping grizzly north of Long Pullout (about .5 mile from the road, a small grizzly). At 8:20 p.m. my last bear sighting for the day was a grizzly in the tree line south and west of the Confluence.
Sunday - 24 May
37 degrees warming up to 55 degrees today. I walked above and north of the Pebble Creek Campground today, lots of bear scat in the high clearings (black bear, all grazing no digging). At 5:20 a.m. I spotted a grizzly in the tree line south of the Institute. At 5:45 a.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies north of Coyote Overlook. At 6:10 a.m. I found a grizzly behind Jasper Bench near the half visible aspen forest. At 6:50 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coy's was spotted on the second finger of Norris. At 9:00 a.m. the grizzly sow with three coy's were high in the rocks above the Slough Bowl viewed from Long Pullout (were out again at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. At 11:00 a.m. wolves 926F, Twin, and one black yearling cross the road east of Footbridge going to the den. At 11:15 a.m. 965M and Mottled, male wolves originally for the Prospect Peak pack now with the Lamar Canyon pack were bedded south of the road. (This was typical of the pack.) Wolves 926F and Twin will cross anytime and are not afraid of the road. Mottled and 965M are afraid and refuse to cross the road. Dark black, another Prospect Peak male, recently joined the pack and is afraid to cross the road. Two black female yearlings, last years pups of 926F, have returned and sometimes they cross and sometimes they hang out with the ones who do now cross the road. At 6:15 p.m. I found a large grizzly in the bowl.
Monday - 25 May
35 degrees this morning warming up to a nice no wind 64 degrees. At 6:00 a.m. we had three black wolves north of Picnic Area (actually the wolf people had four black and 965M). At 7:00 a.m. I spotted a courting pair of grizzlies high above the aspen drainage at straight north of the Slough Creek bathroom. At 7:15 a.m. the grizzly sow with three coy's was in the Slough Creek Bowl. At 8:15 a.m. we had the grizzly sow with the two coy's in the # 2 finger of Norris. At 11:00 a.m. wolves 911M, the alpha male of the Junction Butte, swims the river and crosses the road near Fisherman's Pullout. At 7:00 p.m. I spotted a black bear in a high clearing east of Penny Lane. At 8:00 p.m. my last bear sighting for the day was a large black bear in Round Prairie.
Tuesday - 26 May
45 degrees and rain warming up to 56 degrees. I had a cow and a calf moose near Warm Creek near the Northeast Entrance tonight. At 5:25 a.m. I spotted a courting pair of grizzlies north of Coyote Overlook. At 5:35 a.m. I found a small grizzly above the snow on Ski Slope. At 6:20 a.m. we had a large black bear roadside north and west of Thunderer Pullout. At 7:35 a.m. we watched a grizzly digging in the bowl viewed from Midpoint Pullout. At 8:05 a.m. we had a black bear below the A-Z Meadow. At 8:45 a.m. the grizzly sow with three coy's were in the Slough Bowl. At 10:00 a.m. wolves 965M and Mottled were south of the Footbridge Pullout (afraid of the road, waiting for dark to attempt to cross). At 10:05 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coy's were on the # 1 finger of Norris. At 10:50 a.m. we had two sub adult grizzlies in the aspens south and east of Trash can Pullout. I saw my first bighorn sheep lamb at Calcite today. At 3:45 p.m. the black bear with the three black bear yearling cubs were between Roosevelt Junction and Rainy Lake. At 4:30 p.m. we had a large brown bear and a small black bear courting and mating near the Crystal Creek pen viewed from Slough Creek Bathroom. At 6:45 p.m. we watched a small grizzly in a clearing east of Ski Slope. At 7:15 p.m. I found a large cinnamon golden black bear south of Midpoint Pullout. At 8:20 p.m. I spotted a dark grizzly north and east of Footbridge Pullout. At 8:25 p.m. wolves Twin, the black alpha wolf of the Lamar Canyon pack, crosses the road and river to the east of Footbridge, and joins the two Prospect males waiting for darkness to cross the road. At 8:55 p.m. we had a large black bear at Upper Barronette.
Wednesday - 27 May
42 degrees this morning warming up to 56 degrees and stormy all day. Two moose at Warm Creek this morning, a moose near Wrath Falls, and a blue heron flying in Little America. At 5:40 a.m. I found a grizzly high north and west of Coyote Overlook. At 6:05 a.m. I spotted two small grizzlies above the snow on Ski Slope (the two sub adults back together for a while). At 6:55 a.m. wolves 926F, Twin, Mottled, 965M and the two black female yearlings were north of Picnic Area. At 7:20 a.m. the grizzly with the two coys' were spotted on the # 1 finger of Norris. At 8:15 a.m. we had a large grizzly north of Coyote from Long Pullout. At 8:30 a.m. the grizzly sow with three coy's were in the Slough Bowl viewed from Long Pullout. At 8:50 a.m. the black sow with the two black yearling cubs were south of Long Pullout. At 9:15 a.m. we watched a black bear in the clearing near the golden eagle nest viewed from Long Pullout. At 10:00 a.m. we watched a large black bear on Druid Peak from Lamar Canyon East. At 3:30 p.m. we had a black bear near the Yellowstone River Bridge (the three black yearlings were just out of sight when I drove by). At 5:40 p.m. wolves 755M and the female gray Canyon were in view from Grizzly Overlook in the Hayden Valley. At 7:20 p.m. my last bear sighting for the day was a black bear with one black yearling cub north and east in Swan Lake Flats.
People Seen
Wolf Watchers seen May 16th thru June 10th. From Montana: Rick M, Doug M, Melba, Kathie L, Amy T, Ilona P, Dan and Laurie L, and Bob and Elizabeth N. From Utah: Pam and Denny, and Jerry. From Colorado: Anne W, Mark and Carol R, and Jeremy S. From Germany: Thomas and Christine. From Iowa: Jim and Joellyn B. From Illinois: Sandy. From Oklahoma: Robert and Pam. From California: Nell and Bob. From Idaho: Kim and Joyce, Rick E, and Natalie and Warren. From Oregon: Bruce and Kelly. From Vermont: Don P and Katlin. From New York: Rick and Maureen B. From Arizona: Michael. From the United Kingdom: Abby. From Wyoming: Larry and Linda H. And from Ohio: Dan and Pam.
Thursday - 28 May
44 degrees and rain today warming up to 55 degrees. At 5:50 a.m. I spotted a large grizzly north of Coyote Overlook. At 6:00 a.m. I found two small grizzlies north of Coyote Overlook. The large grizzly was just digging on the skyline when it noticed the two smaller grizzlies. We guess that the two grizzlies found and killed an elk calf, and the large one took it away from them. The large grizzly was eating for over a half hour. At 9:00 a.m. wolves 911M, 890M, 970F and 907F were found on a carcass south and west of Dorothy's viewed from the Institute. At 9:05 a.m. we had a smaller grizzly moving away from the carcass but before the wolves could return to it a larger grizzly came to the carcass. Must not have been much left as the large grizzly moved off to the south crossing Jasper Bench. The small grizzly also moved away. Soon after the wolves moved off to the east, but spotted an abandoned bison calf which they promptly killed. About an hour later the wolves moved to the west over Jasper Bench. At 10:20 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coy's were on the # 2 finger of Norris and were out again at 7:40 p.m. At 6:45 p.m. Ralph N. found a courting pair of grizzlies in No Bear Meadow viewed from YES Pullout. At 8:50 p.m. the black bear sow with the three black yearling cubs were just off the road near the Yellowstone Picnic Area.
Friday - 29 May
39 degrees this morning warming up to 64 degrees. I ran to Gardiner for a shower today and spotted one adult and two great horned owl chicks at the Mammoth Visitor Center and a Pied-billed Grebe on Floating Island Lake. At 5:25 a.m. I spotted a courting pair of grizzlies just south of Fisherman's Pullout viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 5:35 a.m. I found a large dark grizzly hunting elk calves north of Coyote Overlook. At 5:45 a.m. we had a colorful grizzly south and west of Fisherman's Pullout quite close to the courting pair, but this grizzly was just digging. At 6:20 a.m. we had a grizzly low on Norris. At 6:55 a.m. the black bear sow with the two black yearling cubs were south of Straight-away Pullout in Little America. At 7:25 a.m. two grizzlies on Prospect Peak from Bob's Knob (Ralph N found these and we assume a sow and a large cub or a courting pair, but just too far to determine). At 7:45 a.m. we had a large cinnamon bear south of Straight-away. At 8:30 a.m. two black wolves cross at 21's crossing west of Hitching Post. At 8:32 a.m. wolf 965M was seen north of the road, refusing to cross the road to the south, he sat for a short time then moved north out of sight. At 9:00 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coy's were on the # 2 finger of Norris. Later, at 7:00 p.m. we had a small grizzly on A-Z Meadow and later on Salad Bowl (was one of the two sub adults). At 9:30 a.m. the two sub adult grizzlies in the bowl from Midpoint (together again this morning, but usually see one or the other, or the two far apart). At 10:00 a.m. a large light cinnamon black bear in Crystal Creek. At 3:00 p.m. a black bear sow with one black coy on Tower Hill. At 4:15 p.m. a small grizzly on the back side of Specimen Ridge viewed from Antelope Creek. At 5:00 p.m. we had a large black bear near the golden eagle nest down Slough Creek. At 6:30 p.m. we watched a large grizzly in the Bowl near little tree/big tree viewed from YES Pullout. At 7:00 p.m. I spotted a large cinnamon black bear south of Fisherman's Pullout. At 8:25 p.m. Ralph was at Antelope Creek and had four gray and two black Junction Butte wolves hunting bison calves. They soon moved over the hill and as predicted by Ralph came out on Specimen Ridge viewed from the Slough Creek bathroom.
Saturday - 30 May
42 degrees this morning warming up to 61 degrees. I hiked up with John G and Randi to the Rose Creek wolf den sight (most of the fencing and old houses still there to see). The coyotes near Dorothy's moved their pups to the flats out to the south. Eight puppies seen, 6 dark and two light. At 6:10 a.m. a black yearling wolf of the Lamar Canyon pack was south and east of Footbridge (afraid to cross the road). At 7:10 a.m. I spotted a large grizzly on # 4 finger of Norris. At 2:00 p.m. we had a cinnamon black bear on # 3 finger of Norris. At 4:45 p.m. we watched a back wolf near Dead Puppy Hill to the south of Footbridge Pullout. At 7:10 p.m. wolf 926F was hunting south of Trash Can and Picnic in a rain storm.
Sunday - 31 May
45 degrees this morning warming up to 64 degrees. The peregrine falcon still has two eggs on her nest. At 6:15 a.m. I spotted the grizzly sow with two coy's on the # 3 finger of Norris. At 6:20 a.m. I found a large cinnamon black bear and a small black black bear on the # 1 finger of Norris. At 8:45 a.m. we found a cinnamon black sow with one black and one cinnamon yearling cub in Blister Rust which is about three miles north of Dunraven Pass. At 9:20 a.m. wolf 755M killed an elk calf on an island in the Yellowstone River at Alum Creek. The gray female was also there at about 9:20 a.m. 755M took the small calf in his mouth and headed north back to the den site. At 10:00 a.m. we had a large light grizzly way west in Alum Creek. At 10:45 a.m. I found a dark large grizzly east of Trout Creek hunting elk calves, he moved north and was later in view from Grizzly Overlook. At 4:30 p.m. the black bear sow with the two brown coy's were east of the Yellowstone Picnic Area. At 6:10 p.m. Ralph N found a sow with one coy on the backside of Specimen Ridge viewed from Antelope Creek, near what's called Gunsight.
~ June 2015 ~
Monday - 01 June
46 degrees this morning with storms today warming up to 76 degrees. I hiked to North Butte today with Randi and John G. Surprisingly it only took 30 minutes to get to the top. We did have a turkey vulture in view on our hike. At 5:12 a.m. I spotted a medium sized colorful grizzly north of Coyote Overlook. At 6:10 a.m. wolves 969F, 911M and the un-collared gray female yearling from the Junction Butte pack killed a bison cow just south of Hubbard Hill. They were hunting bison calves when they found a cow bison who could not calf (stuck). A large young bull defended for a while, but lost interest, bedded and the wolves finished the cow. At 6:45 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coy's were at the east end of finger # 2 on Norris. At 7:15 a.m. we had two sub adult grizzlies in the Bowl from YES Pullout. At 7:30 a.m. we watched a grizzly sow with one coy high in Bear Meadow (same grizzly as yesterday, just moved over the hill to the east). At 10:00 a.m. we had a light sow grizzly and a dark yearling cub high in the aspen drainage straight south of the Slough Creek bathroom. At 10:05 a.m. we also had a large grizzly grazing above the sow and yearling. The family group ran off to the east, and the large grizzly moved downhill disappearing in the Diagonal Forest. At 11:15 a.m. Margaret and Jean foundwolf 890M with an antelope fawn in its mouth crossing the road near Long Pullout from north to south. At 7:00 p.m. the black yearling female wolf from the Lamar Canyon pack called Little T was found on Dead Puppy Hill and moved to the north and crossed the road heading to the den area.
Tuesday - 02 June
36 degrees warming up to 63 degrees today. I hiked with John G, Randi, and Rick and Maureen B up about three miles on the Slough Creek trail today. At 5:40 a.m. I found a grizzly sow with one coy on Bear Meadow viewed first from Coyote Overlook but later and better from YES Pullout. At 5:45 a.m. the two sub adult grizzlies were in the bowl viewed from YES. At 5:50 a.m. we also had a black bear in the tree line south of YES. At 6:25 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coy's were on the # 2 finger on Norris. At 7:45 a.m. wolf 911M was seen returning to the bison cow carcass south of Hubbard Hill. At 9:00 a.m. we had a black bear on the Divide Ridge viewed from the Slough Creek bathroom. At 4:45 p.m. the black bear with the two black coy's on the road just west of Upper Hellroaring (first time I saw these bears, they have been seen from Lower Hellroaring all the way to Phantom Lake and always create a large bear jam).
Wednesday - 03 June
33 degrees and foggy this morning warming up to a nice 65 degrees. At 6:15 a.m. we had a black wolf in the new growth forest south and west of Footbridge (I think the wolf people thought it was one of the two yearlings). At 8:20 a.m. wolf 926F was south of Hitching Post viewed from Footbridge (she had crossed near 21's crossing west of Footbridge and at 9:30 a.m. returned again crossing the road heading north). AT 8:30 a.m. I spotted a colorful grizzly high north of the large snow patch south and west from Footbridge (first grizzly I saw in that clearing this year). At 10:35 a.m. wolves 890M, 970F, 969F, 911M and the un-collared gray yearling from the Junction Butte pack return to the bison cow carcass south of Hubbard Hill. At 12:40 p.m. the grizzly sow with one coy moved across Amethyst Drainage and was found on the last clearing south of Ski Slope viewed from Dorothy's Pullout. At 5:40 p.m. we watched a grizzly sow with two (either huge coy's or two very small yearlings) in the rocks north of Footbridge (they moved west and I viewed them from Picnic Area later). They reappeared on June 4th, John and Randi guessed small yearlings, I guessed with Richard and Rita that they were huge coy's (never seen again for better looks). At 6:20 p.m. we had a black bear high north of Pebble Creek. At 6:30 p.m. my first mountain goat kid of the year. At 7:30 p.m. I found a large dark grizzly in the bowl from Midpoint Pullout. I did have a THREE DOG DAY today.
People Seen
Bear Watchers seen May 16th thru June 10th: From Montana: Sarah W and Family, Lauri D, Margaret L, Doug M, Ralph N, Joe and Jeanne L, Scott M, and Mike and Kathy W. From Washington: John G and Randi. From Kansas: Jean S. From South Carolina: Margaret P. From Ohio: Jim and Tywla E From Utah: Luke and Mayleea, Pam and Kevin, Mark and Dave, and Ed and Sara S, From Colorado: Ed A, and Don and Shirley M. From Idaho: Blake M, Sydney H, Carma and Jennings. From Nebraska/now Wyoming: Richard and Rita R. From Maryland: Tommy and Carol. From Illinois: Richard and Usula B and UPS Mike. From Missouri: Don and Carol.
Thursday - 04 June
39 degrees this morning warming up to 67 degrees. Hiked up Pebble Creek for about 1.25 miles one way, nice hike a little elevation gain. Really blue skies this morning, could see Venus to the northeast at 8:00 a.m. At 5:05 a.m. wolves 911M, 907F and 890M were on the bison carcass south of Hubbard Hill. At 5:45 a.m. I found two separate sub adults in the bowl from YES Pullout, they were a good .5 mile apart this morning. At 6:00 a.m. we had a large cinnamon black bear east of Footbridge. At 6:05 a.m. all six (five blacks and 965M the gray) of the Lamar Canyon wolves were south of Footbridge. Per the usual only 926F and Twin crossed to the den -- 926F not being bashful crossed the footbridge, while Twin swan the river and crossed to the east. The remaining four didn't cross right away, later the black yearlings made it across to the east, but Mottled and 965M stayed on the south side of the river and road. At 9:30 a.m. we watched a blond colorful grizzly south of the Institute on the Amethyst Bench. At 3:40 p.m. the grizzly sow with two huge coy's or two really small yearlings where north of Picnic area. At 4:15 p.m. we spotted a small dark brown grizzly on Square Meadow. At 5:00 p.m. we had a small brown grizzly near the sow with two cubs north of Picnic. At 6:30 p.m. I spotted a black bear south of # 1 finger on Norris. At 7:00 p.m. we had a cinnamon black bear east of Penny Lane to the south of Footbridge. At 7:15 p.m. a seventh Lamar Canyon wolf was south of Footbridge, apparently dark black, another Prospect Peak male has rejoined the Lamar Canyons (total now six blacks and 965M the gray). At 8:50 p.m. Richard and Rita R found a courting pair of grizzlies near the horizontal forest in Slough Creek.
Friday - 05 June
41 degrees this morning warming up to 62 degrees. Scarface was sighted today at Fox Creek campground, about six to eight miles east of Cooke City. At 5:25 a.m. I spotted a dark grizzly on Ski Slope viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 5:30 a.m. I found the grizzly sow with one coy on the first meadow behind Ski Slope (to the south and farther back of Ski Slope). At 6:30 a.m. we had a cinnamon black bear east of Penny Lane. At 6:40 a.m. we watched a blond black bear on # 3 finger of Norris, quite high. At 7:30 a.m. we had a dark grizzly north of Picnic Area. At 8:00 a.m. two separate sub adults were in the bowl viewed from Midpoint, quite a ways apart again today. At 8:40 a.m. we had a grizzly east of A-Z Meadow. At 9:00 a.m. wolves 890M and 911M kill an elk calf north of Coyote Overlook. At 9:15 a.m. we had a light grizzly above the snow on Ski Slope. At 9:45 a.m. we had three black bears walking thru the 2nd sliver of Ski Slope (one medium, a large and a medium sized all black black bears). At 10:30 a.m. we watched a black bear south of Dorothy's behind Jasper Bench. At 7:00 p.m. two black wolves were south of Footbridge Pullout. At 7:40 p.m. we had a black bear east of A-Z from Midpoint. At 8:30 p.m. we had a grizzly digging on the Divide Ridge viewed from Slough Creek.
Saturday - 06 June
37 degrees warming up to 73 degrees. I hiked the Lost Lake trail from Roosevelt Junction to the Petrified Tree and back today with John G and Randi, about five miles and a little elevation gain and loss. I saw a western tanager and a turkey vulture. Friends saw a group of Asians flying a drone near the Slough Creek Campground this afternoon. They reported it and I guess they caught them in Cooke City (outside the park). At 5:40 a.m. I spotted a small dark grizzly north and west of Picnic area hunting elk calves. At 6:10 a.m. I found a large dark grizzly in the K Meadow viewed from Soda Butte middle (no parking at Footbridge with the tourists looking for wolves). At 6:45 a.m. a sub adult grizzly was in the bowl viewed from Midpoint. At 7:20 a.m. the grizzly sow with one coy were on Ski Slope. Alan J. made a good spot to find her this morning. At 9:00 a.m. we had a small colorful grizzly low in the Salad Bowl. At 5:00 p.m. we watched a grizzly north of Picnic Area. At 5:30 p.m. I found two black bears courting in the tree line in the rendezvous area. At 6:20 p.m. the grizzly sow with the two coy's were on the # 1 finger of Norris. At 7:40 p.m. five black wolves including 926M and the gray 965M were north of the Institute (other friends had seen them try to cross the road between Picnic and Hubbard Hill, but failed with the traffic. Jennings S actually had a picture of one of them in the road before returning back to the north. At 8:30 p.m. Mottled the black wolf from the Lamar Canyon (the seventh wolf of the pack) was out by himself on a small bison carcass south of Fisherman's.
Sunday - 07 June
45 degrees this morning warming up to 77 degrees. The peregrine falcon now has one white chick and one orange egg on her nest. At 5:30 a.m. a gray wolf was chased by coyotes south and east of Coyote Overlook (wolf people thought a gray yearling of the Lamar Canyon pack who has NOT rejoined the pack). At 6:00 a.m. I spotted a large grizzly on the # 1 finger of Norris. He moved up hill and out of sight only to reappear and run back to the west. At 6:25 a.m. we had a cinnamon black bear on # 1 finger on Norris. At 7:15 a.m. Mottled wolf back on the small bison carcass south of Fisherman's. At 9:35 a.m. a grizzly sow with two coy's were in the Slough Bowl (it appears she has lost one of the three). At 10:00 a.m. we had a large black bear in the Slough Bowl. At 6:30 p.m. we watched a grizzly sow with one coy on the # 1 finger on Norris (it appears she lost one of two coys last night or this morning). At 8:00 p.m. we had three black wolves of the Lamar Canyon pack going south near the Cache Creek trail on Norris.
Monday - 08 June
45 degrees this morning warming to a warm 77 degrees. John G, Randi and I hiked the old Dunraven road from the Dunraven Picnic area to the new bathroom pullout just south of Dunraven Pass. At 5:15 a.m. three coyotes were chasing Mottled wolf from the carcass south of Fisherman's. At 6:00 a.m. the grizzly sow now with only one coy was spotted on the # 1 finger of Norris. At 6:30 a.m. I found a huge grizzly on Norris viewed from the Confluence. At 9:00 a.m. Blake M found a black bear low in Antelope Creek near the old animal salt lick below trash can # 57. At 7:45 p.m. thru 8:45 p.m. wolves 965M and a dark black male were spotted south of Footbridge moving basically west and trying to find a way to cross the road to the north. I left early, but they waited until after dark to cross.
Tuesday - 09 June
46 degrees warming up to 83 degrees. I had a fox today. Also Scarface reported at Crazy Creek today, that's a mile or two farther east than Fox Creek. At 6:00 a.m. I spotted a small grizzly high right in No Bear Meadow viewed from YES Pullout. At 2:30 p.m. we had a black bear at Calcite Curve (probably the black sow or one of the three black yearlings). At 3:00 p.m. the three black bears (medium sized, large and medium) walk thru a small clearing west of Ski Slope. At 5:00 p.m. we watched a small grizzly sky line east of A-Z Meadow. At 6:35 p.m. the grizzly sow with now one coy were on the # 3 finger on Norris. At 8:05 p.m. I found a tall young grizzly digging on the middle ridge of Crystal viewed from Coyote Overlook, but better at Lamar Canyon West.
Wednesday - 10 June
44 degrees this morning warming up to 73 degrees. I had a fox on the road near Tower Campground this morning. And John G and Randi showed me a red tailed hawk nest in the rocks at Lamar Canyon east with two large white chicks. At 5:10 a.m. I spotted a grizzly digging north of Coyote Overlook. At 5:20 a.m. I found a small grizzly just west of the Amethyst Drainage heading into it. At 5:25 a.m. we had a large grizzly just east of A-Z Meadow. At 6:25 a.m. just before the sun shined on Footbridge John G found the grizzly with now one coy high on # 2 finger on Norris. At 8:45 a.m. I found a small colorful grizzly on the west side of A-Z Meadow, brief sighting. At 9:15 a.m. we had a black bear south of Straight-away Pullout in Little America. At 9:30 a.m. we watched a cinnamon boar and a black sow courting south of Straight-away Pullout. At 10:00 a.m. we had a grizzly sow with one coy east of the Bell Clearing viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 4:00 p.m. we had a black bear at Calcite Curve (probably was not alone). At 6:45 p.m. I found a grizzly again on the Middle Ridge of Crystal viewed from Coyote Overlook, but better later from the Slough Creek Bathroom. At 7:45 p.m. we watched a large black bear west of Crystal Creek. At 8:15 p.m. we had a small black bear east of Crystal Creek. At 8:45 p.m. the black bear sow with two brown coy's off the road north of Yellowstone Picnic area. I took Thursday and Friday off and will return to Yellowstone on Saturday. Margaret L. texted me today the Scarface is back in Yellowstone (probably a good thing).
People Seen
May 16th thru June 10th. From the Midwest: Gary, Mark S, Debbie and Ed, Steve S, Bob A, and Steve B. From Vermont: John K. From Pennsylvania: Ray and Darlene R. From Texas: Keith. From Montana: Alan and Sue O, Jim H. Nathan V, Mike, Emily and Mavae, Marilyn, MacNeil L, Linda T, Dan and Cindy H, Ken T, Emile, Kevin and Tammy, Deby D, George B, Pete B and Carl S. From Utah: Josh S, and Bob B. From Oregon: Dale and Elva P. From Oklahoma: Paul S. From Florida: John. From Wyoming: Paul B and Kevin, and Jeff H. From Colorado: Vicky, and Jim and Bobbie F.
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Yellowstone National Park
Lamar Valley Map - Yellowstone National Park
| Yellowstone National Park Trip Reports | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2014 | 2010 |
| 2017 | 2013 | 2009 |
| 2016 | 2012 | 2008 |
| 2015 | 2011 | 2007 |
| Yellowstone National Park Trip Reports | |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2000 |
| 1996 | 2002 |
| 1997 | 2003 |
| 1998 | 2004 |
| 1999 | 2005 |
| Yellowstone Geyser and Thermal Videos | |
|---|---|
| Beehive Geyser Eruption | Old Faithful with Bison |
| Beehive Geyser Eruption Two | Pocket Basin |
| Fan and Mortar | Roaring Mountain |
| Grand Geyser | Rocket and Grotto |
| Old Faithful One | West Thumb |
| Yellowstone Waterfall Videos | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cave Falls | Mesa Falls | Undine Falls |
| Gibbon Falls | Rustic Falls | Upper Falls |
| Lower Falls | Tower Fall | Wraith Falls |
| Yellowstone National Park WebCams | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Faithful Live | All Old Faithful | Old Faithful Static | Old Faithful VC | North Entrance | Mt Washburn | Mammoth | YVO WebCam |
| Entrance Cities and Gateway Towns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardiner, Montana | Silver Gate, Montana | West Yellowstone, Montana | Cooke City, Montana |
| Livingston, Montana | Cody, Wyoming | Jackson Hole, Wyoming | Yellowstone National Park |
| Links | |
|---|---|
| The Great Outdoors Net | Great Outdoor Recreational Places |
| Gardiner, Montana | West Yellowstone, Montana |
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