Friday - 10 July 2009

I left work at noon and made good time to Yellowstone. The Norris to Madison road construction only delayed me about 15 minutes. At 4:00 p.m. I found a large grizzly digging on par 5 at Antelope Creek. At 5:00 p.m. there was a bear jam and a black bear near Floating Island Lake. At 6:15 p.m. I spotted a grizzly low at Antelope Creek, and a small grizzly was out until dark, crossing the lower part of Honeymoon clearing in the process. At 7:30 p.m. I found a black bear out for 15 minutes on question mark. At 8:00 p.m. I saw a grizzly on the backside of Specimen Ridge. At 8:15 p.m. I found a grizzly way back in the gap. Weekend temperatures getting nicer. Lows in the 40's and highs near 70.

Saturday - 11 July 2009

Absolutely nothing in Lamar Valley, so headed for Antelope Creek. At 6:30 a.m. I finally found a grizzly just off the road between # 58 and Mae West, out for 45 minutes before it crossed the road and out of sight. This grizzly returned around 5:00 p.m. between Cittenton Road and the main highway for over 2 hours (finally being hazed by the rangers near dark). Meanwhile Ralph found a grizzly on the backside of Specimen Ridge and later I found a small grizzly heading towards Ralph's grizzly. The small grizzly detected the bigger one and ran away. At 8:00 p.m. I spotted a grizzly right below Gunsight on the backside of Specimen Ridge. And finally Ralph found a grizzly with one cub of the year (coy) way, way back south of Deep Creek, even dots at 60 power.

Suday - 12 July 2009

I spotted a cinnamon black bear in the rendezvous area. Just later at 6:15 a.m. there was a grizzly in the tree line at the rendezvous area. Next, I found a black bear just off the road near Junction Butte. We watched a cow moose grazing across the road from the bear. At 7:30 a.m. I spotted a black bear at the exit of the gut road. And finally, I found a nice sub adult grizzly on top of Dunraven Pass, just below the top on the north side, high above the new bathroom pullout there.

Other News

Not a wolf for the weekend. One fox at Rainly Lake before light on Saturday a.m. In addition to the hazing of the grizzly near Cittenton Road Saturday night, the rangers also hazed a black bear in the parking lot at Roosevelt Lodge. Wolf watching is dead. Most of the Druid's left Wednesday a.m. for Cache Creek and haven't returned. No puppies sighted since then. But a couple adults (by howling) still near the den site. Rick and others confused, I guess most left during one of the nights up Cache Creek to a new rendezvous area. But a few puppies stayed (multiple litters again this year) with a couple adults at the den site. A couple sightings of the Canyon Group in Hayden (usual place from the grizzly overlook). Sightings of adults and 6 pups (2 gray and 4 blacks) from the S curve just west of Frog Rock (Children's Fire Walk). The Agates down to 3 grays (one really light) and one black occasionally in Antelope Creek and once near Cascade Lake. The bald eagle nests (Madison and Coyote Overlook in Lamar still have one huge chick each in the nest). Big horns now at top of Washburn.