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Yellowstone National Park 2018 Trip Reports





Trip Report ~ Bear & Wolf Sightings ~ by Bill Hamblin

15 May through 11 June 2018 - Yellowstone National Park




Yellowstone Grizzly Bears ~ Taken on April 20th, 2018 © Copyright All Rights Reserved John William Uhler


~ May 2018 ~




Yellowstone Grizzly Bear by John William Uhler © Copyright All Rights Reserved

Friday - May 15th


Today was my moving day (moving from the nice room in Gardiner, Montana to camping), which involved a hasty trip home to regroup. I left before 5:00 a.m. from Gardiner going home to Idaho Falls and was back in the park by 6:00 p.m. It was 31 degrees going thru West Yellowstone on the way home but 58 degrees in Lamar Valley late this afternoon. I happened upon a cross fox (black legs) cross the road near Madison this morning. At 6:00 p.m. I spotted a large black bear in the bottom of Elk Creek. At 6:30 p.m. one adult black wolf and four black puppies were at the Slough Creek den. At 6:45 p.m. John G had a grizzly sow with a large yearling south and east of Footbridge Pullout in a low clearing. At 8:20 p.m. we had a grizzly sow with two yearling cubs on # 3 finger on Norris.


Wednesday - May 16th


37 degrees in Silver Gate but 33 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 65 degrees. I had a bull moose in Round Prairie today. At 5:30 a.m. John B found a grizzly sow with one cub of the year (coy) on the sky line above Bear Meadow viewed from Coyote Overlook and later the Institute (they were in view again by 3:45 p.m.). At 5:40 a.m. Randi M found a small grizzly in the old Druid Rendezvous area viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 6:15 a.m. Randi M found a brown grizzly north the Institute moving to the east. At 7:45 a.m. I spotted a small grizzly digging in the K Meadow viewed from Footbridge Pullout. At 7:55 a.m. we had a large grizzly high north and west of Soda Butte East Pullout. At 8:30 a.m. we watched a grizzly sow with two yearlings on # 3 finger on Norris (both the cubs climbed a small tree about 15 feet up today). At 9:25 a.m. we had a grizzly digging on the # 5 finger on Norris. At 9:40 a.m. John G found a second grizzly sleeping low on the # 5 clearing on Norris. After a while the first grizzly moved above the second grizzly looking downhill as it passed by the first grizzly. The first grizzly was just waking up and we soon were treated to her two yearling cubs who had bedded 30 yards or so out of our sight. For about a week we have had two grizzly sows with two yearlings each on the fingers (only a few times did we view them at the same time). At 2:25 p.m. we had a grizzly sow with one yearling on middle ridge in Crystal Drainage viewed from Slough Creek. At 6:30 p.m. two black wolves bedded east of the den area near the top of the Diagonal Forest. At 8:00 p.m. my last sighting of the day was a dark grizzly digging on K-2 Meadow viewed from Footbridge Pullout.


Thursday - May 17th

Yellowstone Grizzly Bears ~ Taken on April 20th, 2018 © Copyright All Rights Reserved John William Uhler

36 degrees in Silver Gate but 31 degrees in Lamar Valley warming up to 64 degrees. I viewed a moose in Round Prairie and two moose in the Soda Butte Valley today. At 5:50 a.m. Dean D made a good spot on a grizzly with one coy on No Bear Meadow viewed from Coyote Overlook; they were back in view at 2:00 p.m. At 7:05 a.m. we had a grizzly sow with two yearlings on the # 3 finger on Norris. At 8:00 a.m. I spotted a grizzly sow with two yearlings on Bear Meadow, they were in view again at 3:00 p.m. At 8:05 a.m. we watched a grizzly in the large clearing behind the east end of Jasper Bench. At 8:10 a.m. John G had a grizzly sow with three coys on the Divide Ridge viewed from Dorothy's Pullout (in sight for only a minute, I moved west to Slough Creek and John stayed to the east. Never saw them again this trip report). At 10:00 a.m. we had a grizzly bedded in the snow on Specimen Ridge viewed from Straight-away Pullout (at 5:00 p.m. in view again, but in a lower clearing). At 10:05 a.m. we watched a grizzly sow with one yearling in a clearing below Specimen Ridge viewed from Straight-away Pullout. At 10:40 a.m. the black female with four black pups and one gray pup were near the Slough Creek den. At 6:50 p.m. we had a small blond grizzly on the east end of Druid Peak (looked like the 2 1/2 year old cub probably just kicked out). At 7:35 p.m. we viewed a large dark grizzly in the clearing above Crystal Rock viewed from Slough Creek. At 8:30 p.m. my last sighting for the day was a grizzly sow with two yearlings on the # 4 finger on Norris (note the other grizzly sow with two yearlings was viewed on # 1 finger around 7:00 p.m.).


Friday - May 18th

Yellowstone Grizzly Bears ~ Taken on April 20th, 2018 © Copyright All Rights Reserved John William Uhler

39 degrees in Silver Gate but 37 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 60 degrees. The golden eagle nest east of the gravel pullout down Slough Creek road is active this year. The road over Dunraven Pass (Canyon to Tower Falls) opened a week early today. Wolf 1109F was back with the Junction Butte wolves at Slough Creek this morning (all eight adults were seen today). I viewed two moose in Soda Butte Valley today. At 5:30 a.m. John G found a courting pair of grizzlies north of Coyote Overlook. At 6:25 a.m. a small colorful grizzly on the west end of Druid Peak. At 6:40 a.m. a black bear north of Picnic Pullout. At 6:50 a.m. we had a grizzly sow with two yearlings on the # 1 finger of Norris, they were back in view at 7:00 p.m. tonight. At 6:50 a.m. a grizzly sow with two yearlings were on the # 4 finger on Norris, they were back in view at 8:15 p.m. At 8:45 a.m. we had a small colorful grizzly south of Long Pullout viewed from Lamar Canyon West at first then later to the west (probably the 2 1/2 year old Junction Butte cub that was recently thrown out). At 9:00 a.m. 907F Junction Butte wolf with four black and one gray puppy were seen at the Slough Creek den. At 10:45 a.m. we had a medium sized grizzly in the bowl viewed from the Institute soon traveled over the hill and out of sight. At 11:00 a.m. I spotted a grizzly sow with two yearlings in Bear Meadow viewed from Midpoint Pullout as well as the Institute. At 11:30 a.m. we watched a large dark grizzly high in the Salad Bowl viewed from Midpoint Pullout. At 4:00 p.m. we had a grizzly sow with one coy in the bowl high up to the south. At 6:25 p.m. 969F was seen nursing the pups at the Slough Creek Den.


Saturday - May 19th

Yellowstone Grizzly Bear ~ © Copyright All Rights Reserved John William Uhler

39 degrees in Lamar Valley warming up to 50 degrees. I watched two moose viewed from Soda Butte East today and another moose south of Footbridge this morning. We had Ruddy ducks on Floating Island Lake. We had rain showers off and on today making for some difficult glassing. At 6:35 a.m. I spotted a grizzly sow with two yearlings on the sky line south of the Institute. At 7:40 a.m. John G found a cinnamon black bear north and east of Footbridge Pullout. At 8:15 a.m. we had a grizzly sow with two yearlings on # 3 finger on Norris. At 8:40 a.m. Nathan V found a grizzly low south and east of Footbridge Pullout digging a large hole. At 9:30 a.m. acting on the advice of Adam B I went down the Slough Creek road and watched a grizzly with two coys from the Gravel Pullout. At 9:40 a.m. a gray wolf was seen bedded near the Slough Creek den. At 10:00 a.m. I got caught in a bison jam 300 yards west of Coyote Overlook. Sometimes things work out, I could not go anywhere so glassed to the north and found a large dark grizzly walking the sky line north and east of Coyote Overlook (would not have seen it from Coyote Overlook). From 5:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. two gray and one black unknown wolf were viewed moving east south of Picnic. At 7:00 p.m. we had a grizzly sow with one coy on Bear Meadow viewed from the Institute. At 8:10 p.m. we watched a cinnamon black bear south of the Soda Butte Middle Pullout. At 8:20 p.m. my last sighting for the day was a black bear south of the Soda Butte Cone.



Moose in Winter ~ © Copyright All Rights Reserved Gerry Hogston

Sunday - May 20th


34 degrees in Lamar Valley warming up to 66 degrees. I had a couple of Golden Eagles flying around today. A badger crossed the road near Boulder this afternoon. One moose at Soda Butte East and two moose in downtown Silver Gate near dark. At 5:45 a.m. John G found a large grizzly approaching the Lamar River from the north (must have just crossed the road north to south) near Lamar Canyon East. The river is really high and fast now so we were surprised that the current only took the grizzly down steam a little as he crossed. At 6:15 a.m. a courting pair of grizzlies were seen low in the bowl viewed from the Institute. The pair was out again at 1:45 p.m. and again near 7:15 p.m. as they were moving towards A-Z Meadow. At 7:30 a.m. Doug M (bear watcher) called with a grizzly sow and one coy on Specimen Ridge viewed from Lamar Canyon West. Doug M was going to hike Specimen Ridge this morning so was checking the area for large animals. At 8:00 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coys was again near the Gravel Pullout down the Slough Creek road. At 8:15 a.m. Rick H found a grizzly sow with one yearling on Specimen Ridge viewed from near the Gravel Pullout. This pair were out again at 7:00 p.m. At 8:20 a.m. 1047M, 969F, six black pups and one gray pup were seen near the Slough Creek den. At 10:30 a.m. a grizzly sow with two yearlings was seen on the # 2 finger on Norris. At 1:50 p.m. we watched a small colorful grizzly catch an elk calf north of Coyote Overlook (I hate seeing my first elk calf in the mouth of a predator). At 3:00 p.m. we had a black bear low east part of A-Z Meadow, and it was out again at 7:30 p.m. I did have a THREE DOG DAY today.


Yellowstone Grizzly Bear taken Spring 2014 ~ © Copyright All Rights Reserved John William Uhler

Monday - May 21st


38 degrees this morning warming up to 66 degrees. Two moose were seen south of the Soda Butte Cone this morning. A badger den has shown up across the road from Hitching Post. I did see the mother and one cub (they are suppose to be four young ones). At 5:35 a.m. John G found a courting pair in the A-Z Meadow (did not go far from last night). At 5:45 a.m. we had a small colorful grizzly hunting elk calves north of Coyote Overlook. At 6:20 a.m. a large grizzly high in Secret Passage looking north and west from Coyote Overlook. At 6:30 a.m. a black bear crossing the large meadow behind the east end of Jasper Bench viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 6:50 a.m. we watched a grizzly sow with two yearlings under the large snow cornice south and west of Footbridge Pullout. At 7:15 a.m. a grizzly sow with two yearlings were seen on the # 2 finger on Norris. At 7:50 a.m. we had a black bear low in the K Meadow viewed from Footbridge Pullout. At 8:55 a.m. we watched a grizzly sow with one coy running on Specimen Ridge. At 9:00 a.m. I found a small grizzly below Specimen Ridge viewed from Long Pullout. At 9:15 a.m. we had a grizzly sow with one yearling on Specimen Ridge running. At 10:00 a.m. 907F, 969F, and the uncollared black female were seen at the den with one gray and six black puppies. At 5:50 p.m. Kim and Joyce C found a black bear sow with one cinnamon yearling cub near # 9's old den viewed from the Peregrine Pullout in Little America. At 7:50 p.m. I spotted a black bear south of the Confluence in the tree line.


Tuesday - May 22nd


35 degrees this morning warming up to 63 degrees. One vulture was seen flying over Little America today. At 6:05 a.m. we had a black bear running in the large meadow behind the east end of Jasper Bench. At 6:15 a.m. a large dark grizzly was seen below Penny Lane viewed from Footbridge Pullout. At 6:25 a.m. the grizzly sow with two yearlings were spotted below the snow cornice south west of Footbridge Pullout. At 7:25 a.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies bedded in the snow on Specimen Ridge. Apparently there was a lot of breeding action before I arrived. The pair spent most of the day bedded in the snow on the top of Specimen Ridge. At 8:45 a.m. we had a nice sized light brown grizzly high on # 2 finger on Norris. At 8:50 a.m. a grizzly sow with two yearlings were on # 3 finger of Norris. At 9:20 a.m. we had a black sow with one black yearling in the tree line south of Hubbard Hill. At 9:20 a.m. we watched a grizzly sow with one coy on Ski Slope viewed from YES Pullout. At 9:30 a.m. I spotted a large black bear high behind Bear Meadow viewed from the Institute. At 10:45 a.m. the black sow with one yearling cinnamon cub were seen in the tree line south of Straight-away in Little America. At 11:30 a.m. the 2 1/2 now sub adult crossed the road south to north near Boulder Pullout. At 12:00 noon 907F, 969F, the uncolored black female with all the pups (8 blacks, 2 grays - first time I had all eight) were seen near the Slough Creek Den. At 4:45 p.m. we had a grizzly sow with one yearling on Bear Meadow from the Institute. At 5:10 p.m. Richard and Rita R found a large black bear in K Meadow from the Institute. At 7:50 p.m. we had a grizzly digging in the Salad Bowl from Coyote Overlook. At 8:05 p.m. we watched a dark grizzly west of Druid Peak on the flat top clearing west of Druid. At 8:10 p.m. I spotted a small colorful grizzly feeding across the same clearing in the opposite direction. I watched them both for fifteen minutes or so, they never knew the other grizzly was in the same clearing.


Yellowstone Grizzly Bear taken Spring 2014 ~ © Copyright All Rights Reserved John William Uhler

Wednesday - May 23rd


46 degrees this morning but a cold front with rain came thru today, it only warmed up to 47 degrees. I viewed a moose south of Soda Butte East this morning. The Lamar River is really high and fast now; the rock near Lamar Canyon East is completely under water now. At 6:30 a.m. we watched a black wolf north and east of Footbridge returning to the den area. At 6:40 a.m. a black wolf was seen southeast of Footbridge Pullout. At 7:20 a.m. we had a grizzly sow with two yearlings on the # 1 finger of Norris. At 8:40 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coys was seen near the Gravel Pullout down the Slough Creek Road. I owe this sighting to Kathie L. She texted me as I was heading by Slough Creek heading in for my shower day. At 4:00 p.m. a grizzly sow with two yearlings were spotted on # 2 finger on Norris (the other sow with two yearlings were still feeding on # 1 finger on Norris). At 5:10 p.m. a courting pair of grizzlies were on the sky line of Specimen Ridge viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 5:20 p.m. Mike F found a grizzly with one coy on the ridge east of Square Meadow and Ski Slope. At 6:40 p.m. 1047M, the uncolored black female and at least four black puppies were seen at the Slough Creek den. At 7:35 p.m. my last sighting for the day was a dark grizzly on Square Meadow and it did not upset the grizzly sow and coy just above it on Ski Slope.


People Seen - May 15th thru June 11th


Wolf Watchers seen this trip (May 15th thru June 11th). From Montana: Josh A, Lizzie C, Rick M, Doug M, Dan and Laurie L, Amy T, Melba C, Mark M, Kathie L, Alan and Sue O. and Bob and Elizabeth N. From Indiana: Jeff and Terri B. From California: Bob and Nell H, Bill and Karen M. From Colorado: Mark and Carol R, and Steve and Robin M. From Iowa: Jim and Joellyn B. From Wyoming: Larry and Linda H. From Texas: Carl L, Carol S, Charles and Judy E. From the Netherlands: Jort V. From Utah: Jerry and Julia C. From Idaho: Craig C, Natalie and Warren B. From New York: Rick and Maureen B. and Wendy B. From Florida: Ray and Lynn M. From Oregon: Bruce and Kelly H. and Richard and Linda Y. From Kansas: Calvin and Lynette J. From the UK: Abbie S, From Vermont: Don P. From Tennessee: Terry and Betty. From Mississippi: Chuck and Wynelle M. and From Arizona Reve and Susan, and Michael.


Thursday - May 24th

Yellowstone Grizzly Bear ~ © Copyright All Rights Reserved John William Uhler

46 degrees in Silver Gate this morning warming up to 60 degrees. I spotted a moose south of the Soda Butte Cone today. I saw a badger crossing the road near Boulder Pullout. I saw two pelicans flying around Lamar Valley which was a rare sighting. Near dark we had a moose way up on # 1 finger on Norris. At 5:35 a.m. we watched a grizzly sow with one yearling high on Ski Slope. At 5:45 a.m. I spotted a grizzly sow with one coy in the clearing east of Square Meadow from Coyote Overlook. At 6:00 a.m. John G found a courting pair of grizzlies on Specimen Ridge viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 7:00 a.m. wolf 926F crossed the road near 21's crossing at Hitching Post going north towards the den area. At 7:10 a.m. I spotted a small grizzly east end of Druid Peak from Picnic Pullout. At 8:15 a.m. four black and one gray adult wolves plus one black and one gray pup were in view at the Slough Creek Den. At 10:10 a.m. 1109F the black female from the Junction Butte pack were seen south of Fisherman's Pullout, and created quite the wolf jam. At 10:30 a.m. I found a grizzly sow with two yearlings on the # 1 finger on Norris. The sow nursed the cubs this morning and the family was in view again at 4:00 p.m. At 10:45 a.m. I spotted a black bear on # 4 finger of Norris. At 2:30 p.m. Richard and Rita found a small grizzly briefly in the meadow behind Crystal Rock from Slough Creek. At 3:50 p.m. a Richard and Rita found a grizzly in K Meadow moving fast from east to west. At 6:15 a.m. a small cinnamon black bear came to a small wolf killed carcass near the Horizontal Forest in Slough Creek. At 7:00 p.m. we had a large dark grizzly north of Coyote Overlook viewed from Long Pullout in Little America. At 8:30 p.m. my last sighting for the day was a black bear high on # 3 finger on Norris.


Friday - May 25th

Yellowstone Wolf and Buffalo ~ © Copyright All Rights Reserved Gerry Hogston

42 degrees in Silver Gate warming up to 75 degrees. The water is once again over the rock in the Lamar River near Lamar Canyon East. One flying pelican was seen in Lamar Valley today and two pelicans flying over the Slough Bowl today. At 5:35 a.m. I spotted a grizzly sow with one coy on the clearing east of Square Meadow. At 5:45 a.m. Randi M found a black bear on the # 2 sliver west of Ski Slope. At 5:55 a.m. I spotted a grizzly hunting elk calves on the Middle Ridge in Crystal viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 6:40 a.m. we had a grizzly sow with two yearlings under the snow cornice southwest of Footbridge Pullout. At 7:00 a.m. we watched a grizzly sow with two yearlings in a small clearing below the # 2 finger on Norris. At 7:00 a.m. Terri W found a black bear high on # 3 finger on Norris. At 7:15 a.m. I spotted a large black bear sighted on # 2 finger of Norris. I did have a THREE DOG DAY today. At 8:20 a.m. the small colorful grizzly was at the east end of Druid Peak viewed from Picnic Pullout. At 8:45 a.m. 1047M, 1048M, 996M, and 907F were south of the Institute moving to the east. At 11:15 a.m. we ahd a large grizzly on the east end of Druid Peak moving west. At 11:30 a.m. the smaller grizzly (not the small colorful grizzly) was spotted on the east end of Druid Peak moving west. At 7:00 p.m. a black bear sow with one cinnamon and one black yearling cub were viewed under the golden eagle nest down the Slough Creek Road. At 7:10 p.m. the black uncollared female with four black pups was seem near the Slough Creek Den. At 8:00 p.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies in a clearing below Druid Peak viewed from Picnic Area.


Saturday - May 26th

Yellowstone Grizzly Bear ~ © Copyright All Rights Reserved John William Uhler

43 degrees this morning warming up to 81 degrees. I had a porcupine on the road coming into the park from the Northeast Entrance today. The badger den is still active near Hitching Post and I saw two small ones with mom. The water is once again over the rock near Lamar Canyon East. I also saw a moose just off the road near the Northeast Entrance late today. At 5:20 a.m. John G found a large dark grizzly hunting elk calves north of Coyote Overlook. At 5:40 a.m. I spotted a grizzly sow with one coy in a clearing east of Square Meadow, the pair were in view most of the day. At 6:05 a.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies north of Picnic Pullout. At 6:25 a.m. Rita R found a black bear on the # 1 finger on Norris. At 6:30 a.m. Stacie from Pocatello, Idaho found a grizzly sow with two yearlings on 1/2 finger of Norris from Footbridge Pullout. This family was in sight again around 11:00 a.m. At 6:40 a.m. Rita R found a large grizzly in K Meadow. At 7:00 a.m. Stacie found a grizzly sow with two yearlings under the snow cornice south and west of Footbridge Pullout. Later at 10:45 a.m. this three bears moved over the sky line of the snow cornice. At 7:05 a.m. Stacie found a small grizzly running near the top of K Meadow who did briefly meet the large grizzly Rita R had earlier on the K Meadow. At 8:45 a.m. I spotted a black bear low on the west end of A-Z Meadow. At 9:15 a.m. we had a second black bear this one a dark cinnamon bear also on A-Z Meadow. At 11:15 a.m. we watched a grizzly sow with one yearling in a high clearing under the snow cornice south and west of Footbridge. At 1:15 p.m. we had a black sow with one cinnamon yearling cub south of Curve Pullout near Boulder Pullout in Little America. At 3:50 p.m. Richard and Rita found a small colorful grizzly traveling in the bowl from west to east from YES Pullout. At 5:30 p.m. the uncollared black female with four black and two gray pups was seen at the Slough Creek Den. At 6:10 p.m. I found a black bear on Prospect Peak viewed from Boulder Pullout.


Sunday - May 27th


Yellowstone Moose ~ © Copyright All Rights Reserved John William Uhler

41 degrees in Silver Gate warming up to 65 degrees. I saw a trumpeter swan today. I also saw two separate foxes today but I couldn't find a coyote anywhere. The badger mom had three little ones in view near Hitching Post. At 6:15 a.m. Richard and Rita R found a grizzly sow with one yearling on the east side of Ski Slope. At 6:50 a.m. we had a grizzly on A-Z Meadow. This grizzly was moving this morning, we found it across from the Institute and finally crossing the road from south to north near the Institute. At 7:15 a.m. the grizzly sow with one coy was seen on the clearing east of Square Meadow. Once again this pair was is view several more times during the day. At 8:00 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coys were viewed in the Slough Creek bowl which is northeast of the Slough Creek restroom. At 8:20 a.m. we had a grizzly sow with one large yearling near the Diagonal Forest in Slough Creek moving all the way to the east going thru the Yellow Glass Meadow. I did have a THREE DOG DAY today. At 1:25 p.m. we enjoyed a black bear jam near Undine Falls. At 2:00 p.m. we also had a black bear jam at Petrified Tree Road. At 2:55 p.m. we watched a small light grizzly on the east end of Druid Peak who bedded in a large crack in a rock for the longest time. At 4:30 p.m. the grizzly sow with two yearlings caught an elk calf on the first rise near the tree line south of Footbridge Pullout. They were in view for over an hour eating their kill. At 7:00 p.m. 907F and the uncollared black female with four black and two gray puppies were seen at the Slough Creek Den.


Monday - May 28th - Memorial Day

Lamar Valley ~ © Copyright All Rights Reserved John William Uhler

43 degrees this morning in Silver Gate warming up to 63 degrees. I saw my first antelope fawn northeast of YES Pullout this morning. The water was over the rock at Lamar Canyon East early, but dropped in the afternoon so the rock was visible again. I had a trumpeter swan (we had been seeing this lone swan for a couple of years, it has lost the collar it use to have) in Round Prairie today. Another vulture was seen near Slough Creek this morning. I saw a cow moose with a big calf near Warm Springs this evening. And the big news tonight is that the Junction Butte wolf pack moved the puppies west to a new and out of sight den. At 5:50 a.m. a grizzly sow with one yearling was seen on the sky line east of Ski Slope. We saw them again south of Trash Can later in the day. At 6:05 a.m. we had a small grizzly on the east end of Druid Peak and it was in view again at 2:30 p.m. At 6:15 a.m. we watched a large dark grizzly on Middle Ridge first viewed from Coyote Overlook but later better from Slough Creek. At 6:40 a.m. I found a large grizzly on Specimen Ridge, it moved over the top to the west. At 6:45 a.m. we had a black bear on Specimen Ridge. At 6:50 a.m. we spotted a small grizzly in a low clearing on Specimen Ridge, and it was out again lower at 4:30 p.m. At 7:15 a.m. John G and Randi M found a courting pair of grizzlies on Bear Meadow best watched from the Institute. At 7:15 a.m. John G and Randi M found the grizzly sow and one coy on Ski Slope. At 7:20 a.m. John G and Randi M found another grizzly in Bear Meadow, this one quite a ways lower than the courting pair. At 8:00 a.m. the grizzly sow with two yearlings were still in the area of the elk calf kill from yesterday south of Footbridge Pullout. At 10:30 a.m. Emil M had a grizzly hunting elk calves high north of Coyote Overlook. At 1:15 p.m. 907F, 969F, 1047M, and the uncollared black female with five black and two gray pups were in view (note: later tonight the wolves moved the pups west and out of sight). At 2:30 p.m. a black bear was in the tree line south of Trash Can. At 8:30 p.m. we had a black bear on # 3 finger of Norris. At 8:30 p.m. Mike F found a grizzly on the high side of # 1 finger on Norris.


Tuesday - May 29th

Yellowstone Wolves ~ © Copyright All Rights Reserved Gerry Hogston

41 degrees warming up to 62 degrees. The one trumpeter swan was seen in Lamar Valley today. Two vultures sunning themselves were seen in a tree at Adam's Knob near Slough Creek. At 4:55 a.m. I spotted a lone wolf on a new carcass in the river corridor east of Footbridge Pullout. At 5:45 a.m. we had a small grizzly on Specimen Ridge from Coyote Overlook. Later we watched this grizzly from Slough Creek and believe it to be the 2 1/2 year old now sub adult recently thrown out by the Junction Butte grizzly sow. At 5:50 a.m. we had a nice sized dark grizzly hunting elk calves north of Coyote Overlook. At 6:25 a.m. we watched a courting pair of grizzlies in the gully north and between Dorothy's and Coyote Overlooks. The best viewing spot was one hundred yards west of Dorothy's. At 6:50 a.m. Terri W found the grizzly with one coy in a clearing south of Trash Can. At 6:55 a.m. I spotted a grizzly sow with one yearling digging on K Meadow. At 8:30 a.m. the grizzly sow with two yearlings was seen on Norris viewed from Trash Can. At 10:30 a.m. we had a black bear at Calcite near Tower. At 6:45 p.m. the black bear sow with one black and one cinnamon cub were seen in the Slough Creek Bowl. At 7:35 p.m. we had a black bear south of Trash Can in the tree line. At 8:00 p.m. we watched a courting pair of grizzlies in the K Meadow digging.


Wednesday - May 30th


37 degrees in Silver Gate this morning warming up to 65 degrees. I had a moose near Warm Springs today. At 5:50 a.m. a large black bear in a high clearing south of Trash Can was found by Terri W. At 5:55 a.m. Randi M found a grizzly digging on Norris viewed from Trash Can. At 6:30 a.m. a medium light colored grizzly was seen in K Meadow. At 7:30 a.m. Jon E found the Slough Creek grizzly sow with two coys in the Slough Creek Bowl. The sow was sleeping on a rock for a long while, when she woke she took the cubs on a U shaped run and out of sight. At 7:40 a.m. we had a black bear in the Crystal Drainage. At 3:00 p.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies on Specimen Ridge. At 3:30 p.m. we had a cinnamon black bear near the Lamar Canyon Bridge. At 6:00 p.m. my last sighting of the day was a black bear on Penny Lane.


Thursday - May 31st


Coyote mousing at Nature Trail ~ © Copyright All Rights Reserved Gerry Hogston

45 degrees this morning warming up to 66 degrees with a lot of rain after dark. At 5:20 a.m. Richard and Rita R found a small black bear on the west side of A-Z Meadow. At 6:00 a.m. John G found a courting pair of grizzlies north of Coyote Overlook, and they were in sight again at 7:30 p.m. At 6:05 a.m. John G found a large grizzly northeast of Coyote Overlook. At 6:25 a.m. I spotted a black bear on the large meadow behind the east end of Jasper Bench viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 7:15 a.m. the Slough Creek grizzly sow with two coys were out hunting elk calves in the Slough Creek Bowl. At 7:30 a.m. Maureen B found 1048M of the Junction Butte wolf pack south of Long Pullout. At 8:30 a.m. Randi M found an uncollared and unknown male wolf south of Trash Can. At 8:35 a.m. we had a grizzly on the top of Norris viewed from Picnic. At 9:40 a.m. this grizzly reappeared on Penny Lane. At 9:15 a.m. Richard and Rita R found a sow grizzly with one coy under the snow cornice south west of Footbridge.



People Seen - May 15th thru June 11th


Bear Watchers seen this trip May 15th thru June 11th. From Montana: Jack G, David and Monty B, Mike and Kathy W, Doug and JoAnn M, Shari, Scott M, and Sarah W with family. From Missouri: Fred and Linda, Don and Carol L, and Bob and Linda J. From Washington: John G, Randi M, John B, Hank L, and Froame and Judy S. From Wisconsin: Don L. From Utah: Dean and Jeri D, Mark and Liz H, Maleea M, Ed S, Mark H, Dave H, and Brent with the grand kids. From South Carolina: Margaret P, and Jean S. From Illinois: Wayne K, Frank and Cole G. From Chicago Bob and Margaret, Mike G, Richard and Ursula B, From Louisiana: Bruce P. From the Midwest: Mark S, Bob A, and Steve S. From Wyoming: Terri W, Richard and Rita R, Rich W, and Dick P. From Ohio: Jim and Twyla E. From From Kansas: Richard and Sandy B. From Idaho: Emmet and Vicky, Kim and Joyce C, Frank and Lou B, Carma and Jennings S, Jon and Karen E, and Blake and Stacie (eagle eye). From Minnesota: Virgil and Marlene S. From Kentucky: Ron. From Colorado: Rick and Len H. From Tennessee: Mike and Danna F. From New Mexico: Bob and Lake H. From California: Bill W.


~ June 2018 ~


Friday - June 1st


Yellowstone Grizzly Bear taken by John William Uhler - Spring 2012 © Copyright All Rights Reserved

46 degrees in Silver Gate this morning warming up to 78 degrees with afternoon showers. I viewed a moose at Footbridge Pullout this morning and a moose at Round Prairie on my way out of the park tonight. At 5:30 a.m. John G found a grizzly northeast of Coyote Overlook. At 5:45 a.m. I found a grizzly in Bear Meadow viewed from Coyote Pullout. This grizzly was out again at 2:30 p.m. and again at 7:25 p.m. At 6:00 p.m. I spotted a black bear in a meadow west of A-Z Meadow. This black bear was back in view at 5:50 p.m. At 6:15 a.m. Rita R found a dark grizzly north of Hubbard Hill. At 6:35 a.m. we watched a grizzly sow with one coy under the snow cornice southwest of Footbridge Pullout. At 6:45 a.m. John G found a grizzly sow with two yearlings on skyline above the snow cornice southwest of Footbridge Pullout. At 7:25 a.m. small dot and 926F were seen northeast of Footbridge returning to the den area. At 12:00 noon we had a black bear at Rainy Lake. At 1:30 p.m. we watched a large dark grizzly high northeast of Coyote Overlook viewed from Long Pullout in Little America. At 1:35 p.m. I spotted two small black bears southwest of Long Pullout. At 5:30 p.m. a black bear sow with one cinnamon and one black yearling cub were seen in the Slough Bowl. At 6:45 p.m. the grizzly sow with two coys were seen in Secret Passage viewed from Dorothy's Pullout looking north and west. At 7:45 p.m. we had a grizzly running in the Calfee area viewed from the Confluence.


Saturday - June 2nd


29 degrees this morning warming up to 67 degrees. I watched the two owlets at the Mammoth Visitor Center and also watched one adult in a close by tree. At 5:20 a.m. John G found a courting pair of grizzlies north of Coyote Overlook. At 5:25 a.m. John G found a small grizzly northeast of Coyote Pullout. At 6:10 a.m. Richard and Rita R found a small light grizzly under the moose head northeast of Trash Can. At 6:15 a.m. Richard and Rita R found a small cinnamon black bear northwest of Trash Can. At 6:25 a.m. we watched the grizzly sow with two yearlings running and playing on a snow bank under the snow cornice southwest of Footbridge. At 6:35 a.m. Richard and Rita found a single grizzly in the clearing above the grizzly family. It was just passing thru the area and did not follow the grizzly family. At 7:30 a.m. we had a large brown grizzly on Penny Lane viewed from Footbridge Pullout. At 8:30 a.m. Terri W found a grizzly sow with one coy in a clearing south of Trash Can but viewed from Footbridge Pullout. At 11:00 a.m. Emil M found a courting pair of grizzlies in K Meadow. At 1:15 p.m. I spotted a black bear on Tower Hill.


Sunday - June 3rd

Yellowstone Grizzly Bear taken by John William Uhler - Spring 2012 © Copyright All Rights Reserved

35 degrees warming up to 76 degrees. I viewed a fox and a single trumpeter swan in the valley today. At 5:25 a.m. John G found a grizzly northeast of Coyote Overlook. At 6:50 a.m. Don P found a small light grizzly north of Trash Can Pullout (we think the 2 1/2 year old cub recently thrown out by its mother). At 6:05 a.m. I spotted a black bear on Penny Lane. At 6:40 a.m. the grizzly sow with one coy were seen near the east side of Ski Slope viewed from Footbridge Pullout. I had a THREE DOG DAY today. At 7:50 a.m. the black uncollared female of the Junction Butte pack was near the Marge Simpson Tree in Slough Creek. At 2:30 p.m. we watched a medium sized grizzly at the top snow on top of Ski Slope.






Monday - June 4th


37 degrees warming up to 79 degrees. I saw my first mountain goat kid of the year today on Barronette Peak. I also saw the single Trumpeter Swan today in Slough Creek. At 5:30 a.m. I found a medium sized grizzly above the snow on Ski Slope. At 5:40 a.m. I spotted a large dark grizzly in the last clearing south and behind Ski Slope. At 6:25 a.m. the grizzly sow and one coy were seen again in the clearing east of Square Meadow. At 6:45 a.m. Richard and Rita had a grizzly in the bowl viewed from Footbridge (I did go to YES to get a better view before it moved over the hill going west). At 7:00 p.m. my last sighting for the day was a cinnamon black bear in A-Z Clearing.


Tuesday - June 5th

Yellowstone Grizzly Bear taken by John William Uhler - Spring 2012 © Copyright All Rights Reserved

48 degrees this morning warming up to 79 degrees. My first new moose calf with mother was seen near Soda Butte Picnic Area today. I also viewed a fox today. I stopped at Floating Island Lake to view marmots, yellow wing black birds, coots and ruddy ducks today. At 5:25 a.m. Bob W found a small grizzly running in the A-Z Meadow, and we watched it again in the Bowl from the Institute. At 5:40 a.m. Scott M found the grizzly with one coy in a clearing east of Square Meadow. They were out again from 4:00 p.m. thru 7:30 p.m. At 5:55 a.m. a dark grizzly was seen above the snow on Ski Slope. At 6:10 a.m. I spotted a small light grizzly north of Picnic Area. At 6:15 a.m. I found a grizzly sow with two yearlings on Penny Lane. At 6:45 a.m. we had a large dark grizzly low on # 2 finger on Norris. At 6:30 p.m. we watched a grizzly sow with two yearlings in the wooded clearing behind Ski Slope moving south. At 7:15 a.m. I found a large black boar and a smaller cinnamon sow (courting pair) on A-Z Clearing. At 7:45 p.m. 1048M a black male from the Junction Butte pack was seen south of the Institute. At 8:40 p.m. we had a large black bear near the river corridor southwest of Picnic Pullout.


Wednesday - June 6th


37 degrees this morning warming into the high 70's. I had a moose in Soda Butte Valley today. At 5:17 a.m. John G found a grizzly hunting elk calves north of Coyote Overlook. At 5:20 a.m. John G found a second grizzly lower north of Coyote Overlook hunting elk calves in the opposite direction. At 5:30 a.m. we noticed a large herd of elk with fifteen plus calves northeast of Coyote Overlook all watching back to the north. Soon a third much smaller and lighter grizzly was running full out after the elk herd. The small grizzly went out of sight, then reappeared near the sky line still in hot pursuit. Bob H went to the Institute and looking back found the small grizzly tiring of the chase, all the elk calves survived his chase. At 6:10 a.m. the grizzly with two yearlings on Norris appearing to be hunting elk calves there. This family was out again at 7:00 p.m. At 7:40 a.m. a grizzly sow with one large yearling were seen above the Horizontal Forest in Slough Creek again as a few days ago moving east past the Yellow Grass Meadow. At 10:10 a.m. we had a black bear sow with two coys in a low clearing northeast of Upper Hellroaring. At 6:00 p.m. I spotted a black bear south of Hubbard Hill from Dorothy's Pullout.


Thursday - June 7th

Yellowstone Grizzly Bear taken by John William Uhler - Spring 2012 © Copyright All Rights Reserved

38 degrees this morning warming to 78 degrees. I stopped at the blue heron rookery on the Yellowstone River south of Hayden Valley and saw about a half dozen herons in the trees. At 6:15 a.m. Wendy B found a courting pair of grizzlies north of Coyote Overlook. At 6:40 a.m. I pulled into a crowded Footbridge Pullout. 926F the black former alpha female had been seen near the east end of Dead Puppy Hill. The grizzly sow with the two yearling cubs had been seen on the west end of Dead Puppy Hill. We heard a cry in the woods and saw the grizzly with two yearlings running fast after an elk cow to the east. Just then 926F appeared with an elk calf in her mouth. Soon the grizzly sow emerged and took the calf from 926F. But the two yearlings were still in the forest so she dropped the elk calf and returned to the west to find them. 926F reclaimed the elk calf but not for long. The sow now with the two yearling’s right behind her came out and claimed the elk calf. 926F stayed around being chased off by a cub or a cub and mom every few minutes. After a while I moved on. At 7:25 a.m. a medium sized grizzly was seen in the bowl viewed from YES Pullout. At 7:35 a.m. the grizzly sow with one coy was again seen on Ski Slope. At 6:15 p.m. we had a black bear on the east end of Phantom Lake.


Friday - June 8th


43 degrees this morning warming to 79 degrees. I saw a harlequin duck at the confluence today. I also watched a moose south of the Soda Butte Cone. I viewed a fox in Silver Gate today. I had a peregrine falcon fly over me down the Slough Creek road across from the Golden Eagle nest. At 5:10 a.m. I spotted a black bear on the east end of Jasper Bench viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 5:40 a.m. Bob W found the grizzly sow with one coy on Ski Slope. At 5:45 a.m. I found a grizzly digging on the top of A-Z Meadow. At 6:15 a.m. I spotted a large black bar on Penny Lane. At 6:40 a.m. we had a cinnamon black bear on the west end of Druid Peak. At 9:00 a.m. Chris H had the grizzly sow with two yearlings east of Footbridge Pullout in the river corridor. The family stayed out for almost an hour, she nursed the cubs once and came to the Soda Butte Creek once before moving off into the trees to the south. At 8:15 p.m. Wendy B had a small colorful grizzly north of Picnic Pullout. At 8:45 a.m. I had a large dark grizzly on the sky line in the first clearing east of Penny Lane.


Saturday - June 9th

Yellowstone Grizzly Bear taken by John William Uhler - Spring 2012 © Copyright All Rights Reserved

39 degrees this morning warming up to 84 degrees. The news from the south was that Raspberry had found a boar grizzly and thrown out Snow her 3 1/2 year old cub. I watched the golden eagle nest today down the Slough Creek Road. I hear they have two chicks, but all I saw was one adult on the nest. I also saw a cow moose in the Soda Butte Creek just east of the Soda Butte Picnic Area. At 5:25 a.m. I spotted a grizzly sow with one coy on the top of Ski Slope. At 5:40 a.m. I found a grizzly in the bowl viewed from the Institute. At 6:30 a.m. Doug M (bear watcher) found a single grizzly under the snow cornice southwest of Footbridge. At 7:30 a.m. Small Dot of the Lamar Canyon pack was south and east of Footbridge trying to cross the road to the north. He remained in sight for well over three hours.


Sunday - June 10th


53 degrees this morning but a cold front with high winds was moving thru today so the high was only 55 degrees. At 4:10 a.m. I had a large cinnamon black bear in the road about five miles into the park from the Northeast Entrance. At 5:40 a.m. Terri W found the grizzly with one coy in a clearing east of Square Meadow. At 6:40 a.m. Small Dot was south of the road at Footbridge trying to get across the road. Good viewing as lots of people and cars followed him up and down the valley preventing him from crossing the road. At 9:00 a.m. Nathan V had a grizzly with one large yearling cub high south of the Institute in a clearing called the Bell. At 9:40 a.m. Emil M had a large grizzly low in Penny Lane. At 4:50 p.m. the black bear sow with three coys was at Rainy Lake (I only saw two of the three cubs). At 5:00 p.m. we had a black bear at Calcite. At 8:25 p.m. we watched a large grizzly skyline in the clearing just east of Penny Lane.


Tuesday - June 11th

Black bear cubs by John William Uhler Copyright © All Rights Reserved

39 degrees in the morning. At 5:30 a.m. the grizzly sow with one coy were seen on Ski Slope. At 6:00 a.m. I found two grizzlies in a clearing just under Druid Peak from Trash Can. I think a courting pair however the boar was not much bigger than the sow. Definitely adult grizzlies, the larger dark and the smaller colorful. I made today a short day heading home. Snow was sticking on the road going over Dunraven Pass. In other news Quad Mom is still being seen over near Swan Lake Flats with her two two year old cubs. She is getting really old 27 years plus so may not have more cubs. I'm thinking she may keep these cubs an extra year; she did that once in the past that I know of.


Other People Seen - May 15th thru June 11th


From Montana: Adam B, Brad B, Bob L, George B with Jenny and little George, Jim G, Bonnie M, Carl S, Jim H, Nathan V, Evan S, Cara M, Cliff B, Leo L, MacNeil L, Emil M, Dan and Cindy H, Chris H, and Steve B. From Utah: Josh S. From Colorado: Vicky, and Jim and Bobbie F. From Arizona: David and Phyllis. From Idaho: Blake and Karen M. From PA: Ray and Darlene R. From Washington: Nick and Diane L. From Vermont: John K. From Massachusetts: Ed S. And not to forget from Utah: Bob B.






Yellowstone Black Bear Cubs ~ © Copyright All Rights Reserved John William Uhler



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