Yellowstone National Park 2019 Trip Reports
Trip Report ~ Bear & Wolf Sightings ~ by Bill Hamblin
15 May through 9 June 2019 - Yellowstone National Park
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~ May 2019 ~
Wednesday - May 15th
A nice day in the park as I went back to Idaho Falls and unloaded my hotel supplies and loaded the car with camping supplies. I left at 5:00 a.m. and got back to the northern range about 5:00 p.m. At 5:20 p.m. the sub-adult grizzly was on the carcass on the pond near Boulder Pullout in Little America. At 5:50 p.m. I found the Slough Creek grizzly sow with her two yearlings high on the skyline north of Coyote Overlook heading to the east. At 6:15 p.m. we had a large grizzly on K Meadow viewed from Fisherman's Pullout. At 6:35 p.m.we watched a small light grizzly on the # 2 finger on Norris. At 7:05 p.m. the Druid grizzly sow with her two cubs of the year (coys) were on the east end of Druid Peak viewed from Trashcan Pullout. At 7:20 p.m. the grizzly sow with two cubs of the year (coys) was on Ski Slope viewed from Coyote Overlook.
Thursday - May 16th
37 degrees in Silver Gate and 43 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 64 degrees with late afternoon showers. At 5:50 a.m. John G found a large grizzly on the west end of Jasper Bench. The grizzly visited the old carcass south of Fisherman's Pullout until it moved south and over the hill. At 7:00 a.m. we had a small light colored grizzly on the # 2 finger on Norris; it was still out around noon but had moved to the # 1 finger on Norris. At 7:20 a.m. I spotted a grizzly on the skyline north of the Institute. At 7:25 a.m. Carma and Jennings S. found the grizzly sow with one yearling on the Middle Ridge in Crystal Drainage moving west. At 7:50 a.m. the sub-adult grizzly was bedded on a rock above the carcass near the pond at Boulder Pullout. At 7:50 a.m. people pointed out that 1048M from the Junction Butte wolf pack was on the carcass. The wolf left a little later and the sub-adult went back to the carcass. At 8:30 a.m. Carma and Jennings S found a grizzly on the second sliver near Ski Slope viewed from Coyote Overlook At 8:40 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coys were seen on Ski Slope viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 9:00 a.m. two black wolves were seen on the skyline north of Coyote Overlook. At 9:05 a.m. a John G found a grizzly walking down the right wing of Ski Slope also viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 9:30 a.m. the Druid Peak sow was back on Druid Peak with her two coys viewed from Picnic Pullout. At 4:15 p.m. a medium sized light grizzly was also seen below the west end of Druid Peak. At 5:45 p.m. a black bear was seen near the mixed conifer aspen forest in Slough Creek viewed from Bob's Knob. At 5:55 p.m. the Slough Creek grizzly sow with two yearlings was spotted in a high clearing north of Coyote Overlook viewed from Straight-away Pullout in Little America. I also had a THREE DOG DAY today.
Friday - May 17th
35 degrees in Silver Gate and 41 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 49 degrees. I viewed a badger near the Specimen Trailhead near the Lamar River Bridge today. They had put up wolf closure signs from the confluence to the Soda Butte Cone north of Hitching Post (they think the Lamar Canyon wolves may have a den there this year). I viewed a bull moose south of the Soda Butte East Pullout tonight. At 6:25 a.m. the sub-adult grizzly was back on the carcass near the pond at Boulder Pullout (its lucky to have a carcass at his age, may be ten to twelve years before he gets one by itself again). At 7:20 a.m. four black wolves (1047M, 1048M, 996M, and the un-collared black female and one gray wolf 907F were south of the Picnic Area moving to the west. At 7:40 a.m. we had a cinnamon black bear in the tree line south of the Institute. At 9:45 a.m. we had a grizzly courting pair on the top of Norris viewed from Trashcan (they were back in sight at 2:45 p.m. also). At 10:05 a.m. John G found a medium sized grizzly on the # 3 finger on Norris. At 10:45 a.m. we found two adult grizzlies bedded on a snowbank north and west of the Picnic Area (not sure, maybe a courting pair). At 11:40 a.m. Evan S found a large grizzly on K Meadow digging, it was in view again at 2:45 p.m. and again at 5:40 p.m. At 1:00 p.m. the grizzly sow with one yearling was in view on the Middle Ridge in Crystal Drainage best viewed from Lamar Canyon West Pullout. At 3:45 p.m. we had a small light grizzly on the # 3 finger on Norris. At 6:30 p.m. we watched a black bear in the tree line on Amethyst Bench. At 7:35 p.m. we had two black bears, probably a courting pair in the Salad Bowl viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 7:40 p.m. the Slough Creek grizzly sow with two yearlings surprisingly showed up 500 yards north of Coyote Overlook.
Saturday - May 18th
34 degrees in Silver Gate and 37 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 54 degrees. I viewed a bull moose at Warm Creek late this evening. There is a sandhill crane nest in the pond across from the Gravel Pullout down the Slough Creek Road. At 6:05 a.m. I spotted a black bear on Amethyst Bench. At 6:25 a.m. the Slough Creek grizzly sow with two yearlings were north of Fisherman's Pullout in Lamar Valley. At 6:40 a.m. the sub-adult grizzly on the elk carcass near the pond at Boulder Pullout, back on it at 4:30 p.m. At 7:25 a.m. we had a courting pair of black bears on the backside of Jasper Bench viewed from Dorothy's Pullout. At 7:40 a.m. Evan S found a large grizzly low on Norris near the Cache Creek trail. At 7:40 a.m. an unusual looking dark cinnamon black bear was spotted grazing in the tree line south of Picnic Pullout. At 8:20 a.m. Evan S found a dark grizzly west of the Lamar River Corridor viewed from Footbridge Pullout. At 9:00 a.m. we watched a grizzly with a Yellowstone Stripe walks east to west thru the old Druid Rendezvous Area. At 10:30 a.m. we had a grizzly low on Ski Slope viewed from Coyote Overlook, it was still in view at 1:30 p.m. At 1:00 p.m. Richard and Rita found a grizzly sow with one yearling cub on the Middle Creek in Crystal Drainage viewed from the Slough Creek Restroom. At 1:55 p.m. Don L found the Druid Sow with two coys under the Moosehead viewed from Trashcan Pullout. At 2:30 p.m. Rita R found a small light grizzly on the # 3 finger on Norris. At 3:25 p.m. we watched a small black bear on A-Z Meadow viewed from YES Pullout. At 4:10 p.m. John G found the grizzly sow with a two-year-old cub high above the Diagonal Forest viewed from the Slough Creek Restroom (the cub looked like a smaller version of the sow). At 4:45 p.m. we had a black bear high northwest of Slough Creek.
Sunday - May 19th
33 degrees in Silver Gate and 38 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 51 degrees. I viewed a moose from Footbridge Pullout this morning. At 5:30 a.m. I spotted a grizzly was on A-Z Meadow moving north. A small herd of bison briefly ran from the grizzly. At 6:30 a.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies on Specimen Ridge viewed from Coyote Overlook in Lamar Valley. The pair were in view again at 9:55 a.m. At 8:25 a.m. we had a small light grizzly on the # 3 finger on Norris. At 2:00 p.m. the sub-adult grizzly was bedded on Junction Butte viewed from the Specimen Ridge Trailhead east of the Yellowstone River Picnic Area. At 4:20 p.m. we watched a large grizzly on the skyline east of the Moosehead viewed from Footbridge Pullout. At 6:30 p.m. I spotted a lone grizzly in a clearing above the meadow at Hellroaring viewed from Upper Hellroaring. At 7:10 p.m. we had a small grizzly on the Middle Ridge viewed from Crystal Creek Pullout (the courting pair of grizzlies were also in view lower in the same clearing). At 7:30 p.m. the grizzly sow with the two-year-old cub were digging in the Yellow Grass Meadow viewed south from the Slough Creek Restroom. At 8:15 p.m. I spotted a dark grizzly on Calfee viewed from Trashcan Pullout. At 8:55 p.m. we had a large cinnamon black bear in Ice Box Canyon.
Monday - May 20th
34 degrees in Silver Gate and 38 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 47 degrees with snow flurries in the morning. I viewed a moose south of the Soda Butte Cone this morning. Two moose were in the campground at Pebble Creek late this evening. At 5:55 a.m. I spotted a dark grizzly north of Trashcan Pullout fairly low on the hillside. At 6:45 a.m. a black un-collared Junction Butte wolf was seen south of Hubbard Hill on some type of small carcass. At 7:50 a.m. the sub-adult grizzly was northeast of Boulder Pond. At 7:55 a.m. Ashea T found the grizzly sow with two-year-old cub above the west end of the old Slough Creek den. At 8:35 a.m. a grizzly was viewed northeast of Footbridge Pullout digging a large hole. At 10:00 a.m. Gabriel M found a small grizzly on Specimen Ridge moving northwest. At 1:35 p.m. the Druid Peak sow with two coys were east of Druid Peak on the skyline. At 2:20 p.m. a large black bear was seen on the second sliver of Ski Slope At 3:45 p.m. we had a black bear with three yearling cubs near Rainy Lake. At 4:10 p.m. we had a small black bear at the Yellowstone River Bridge. At 5:25 p.m. we watched a courting pair of black bears in the large clearing behind the east end of Jasper Bench. At 6:10 p.m. Kim and Joyce C found a grizzly on the backside of Ski Slope. At 6:50 p.m. we had a black bear high on Amethyst Bench. At 6:25 p.m. Wayne K found a courting pair of grizzlies on the A-Z Meadow. At 8:20 p.m. we watched a cinnamon black bear in Ice Box Canyon.
Tuesday - May 21st
28 degrees in Silver Gate and 33 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 45 degrees. I watched two golden eagles today and one vulture in the valley. One moose sighted south of Soda Butte East tonight on the way back to camp. At 7:30 a.m. we had a light grizzly on Mom's Ridge going north viewed from near Boulder Pullout in Little America. At 7:40 a.m. Gabriel M found a large dark grizzly following the light grizzly on Mom's Ridge (the beginnings of a courting pair we think, as the light grizzly kept just ahead of the large dark grizzly). At 8:10 a.m. the grizzly sow with one two-year-old cub were digging near the mixed conifer aspen forest viewed from Bob's Knob at Slough Creek. At 8:50 a.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies again in the A-Z Meadow viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 9:05 a.m. we had a black bear low on the A-Z Meadow. At 9:10 a.m. Rita R found a tall brown grizzly crossing the large clearing behind Jasper Bench going to the east, later at 3:30 p.m. the same grizzly moved across the second sliver on Ski Slope. At 9:50 a.m. three black wolves south of Picnic Area moving to west. At 10:00 a.m. we watched a cinnamon black bear north of Picnic Pullout. At 11:40 a.m. John G found a colorful grizzly on the ridge east of Ski Slope. At 12:00 noon we found a colorful grizzly north of the Institute. At 1:35 p.m. a dark grizzly sighted on Druid Peak moving east to west. At 3:10 p.m. we had a sub-adult grizzly northeast of Long Pullout. At 7:20 p.m. I spotted a black bear off road in Ice Box Canyon.
Wednesday - May 22nd
35 degrees at Silver Gate and Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 50 degrees. I found two moose south of Soda Butte East today. At 5:50 a.m. I spotted a small grizzly in the A-Z Meadow on the west end of the meadow. At 5:50 a.m. we also had a dark grizzly on the A-Z Meadow. At 6:00 a.m. a black wolf yearling from the Junction Butte wolf pack was on the east end of Jasper Bench. At 6:30 a.m. the Slough Creek sow with two yearlings in the Slough Creek Bowl, good viewing. At 7:50 a.m. we had a colorful grizzly north of Picnic Area. At 9:30 a.m. we had a light grizzly digging a hole north of Coyote Overlook. At 10:05 a.m. we watched a black bear southeast of Midpoint in the tree line. At 10:10 a.m. I spotted a cinnamon black bear on the east end of Amethyst Bench. At 10:30 a.m. we had a black bear with one yearling cub on the # 1 finger on Norris. At 11:30 a.m. we watched a lanky black bear southwest of the confluence in the tree line. At 11:45 a.m. we had a large dark grizzly on the east end of Druid Peak. At 12:10 p.m. we had two separate colorful grizzlies north of Coyote Overlook. I did also have a THREE DOG DAY today. At 3:45 p.m. the black bear sow with three black yearlings were at Rainy Lake. At 4:30 p.m. we had two small black bears playing south of Long Pullout. At 6:25 p.m. a gray un-collared wolf crossed the road at Midpoint Pullout from north to south going to the new carcass in the Lamar River. At 7:05 p.m. I spotted a cinnamon black bear near Junction Butte.
Thursday - May 23rd
33 degrees in Silver Gate and 37 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 57 degrees. At 5:30 a.m. John G found two black wolves southwest of Coyote Overlook moving to the east. At 5:40 a.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies on Ski Slope spread out hunting elk calves up and over the top of Ski Slope. At 6:10 a.m. we watched a dark grizzly on the skyline south and west of Fisherman's Pullout from Coyote Overlook. At 9:15 a.m. we had a grizzly in the Bowl viewed from YES Pullout and it was walking to the south. At 10:25 a.m. the Hellroaring Sow with two yearlings were on the slopes of Hellroaring viewed from Upper Hellroaring. At 2:30 p.m. we had a grizzly in a clearing above the large meadow viewed from Upper Hellroaring. At 3:45 P.M. Randi M. found a new family for us in the northern range, a grizzly sow with two cubs of the year on # 6 finger on Norris. At 4:55 p.m. John G found a small light grizzly on the bald knob east of Druid Peak viewed from Trashcan Pullout. At 5:15 p.m. we had a grizzly on the lower meadow east of Ski Slope viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 5:30 p.m. we watched a black bear in the large clearing behind the eastern end of Jasper Bench viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 6:15 p.m. I spotted a cinnamon black bear south of the Peregrine Pullout in Little America. At 7:25 p.m. we had a small grizzly in a clearing east of A-Z Meadow. At 8:10 p.m. we watched a small light grizzly on the # 1 finger on Norris. At 8:25 p.m. we had a cinnamon black bear near Ice Box Canyon. At 8:30 p.m. I spotted a cinnamon black bear near Ice Box Canyon.
Friday - May 24th
34 degrees and snowing in Silver Gate but 36 degrees with rain in Lamar Valley warming up to 51 degrees. Two bull moose seen southeast of Footbridge Pullout this morning. Also, a moose south of Soda Butte East Pullout today. At 6:40 a.m. John G found the Slough Creek sow with two yearlings north of Coyote Overlook. At 7:30 a.m. two black Junction Butte wolves one was 996M on new carcass south of Footbridge Pullout viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 7:55 a.m. a small brown grizzly was on the # 1 finger on Norris and it was still in view at noon (I think this was the two-year-old cub that had been seen earlier for a couple of weeks from the fingers to the carcass north of Old Road Pullout). At 11:00 p.m. a large dark grizzly on # 4 finger on Norris. By 12:30 p.m. it had moved to # 3 finger on Norris by 2:30 p.m. it was seen again on the # 1 finger on Norris. At 11:35 p.m. I spotted a large black bear south of the Soda Butte East Pullout. At 12:35 p.m. I spotted a large brown grizzly walking south side of the Soda Butte Creek east of Dead Puppy Hill. This grizzly did cross the road later from south to north. At 2:30 p.m. Randi M. found a grizzly on Square Meadow viewed from Midpoint Pullout. At 3:20 p.m. we had a large grizzly north of Picnic Pullout traveling east. At 3:40 p.m. the grizzly sow with two coys were on the # 5 finger on Norris. At 6:15 p.m. the Hellroaring sow with two yearlings on the slopes of Hellroaring viewed from Upper Hellroaring. At 7:20 p.m. we watched a black bear by the tree line south of YES Pullout. At 7:25 p.m. my last sighting for the day was a black bear north of Picnic Pullout.
Saturday - May 25th
38 degrees in Silver Gate and 40 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 57 degrees. I had a moose north of Round Prairie this morning, a moose south of Soda Butte East Pullout tonight, and a moose high south of Soda Butte East Pullout also tonight. Late tonight I had a yearling moose cross the road in front of me in downtown Silver Gate. At 5:35 a.m. John G found a large grizzly on the skyline of Middle Ridge of Crystal Drainage viewed from Coyote Overlook in Lamar Valley. At 6:35 a.m. I spotted a sub-adult grizzly on the # 2 finger on Norris. By 10:20 a.m. the grizzly moved to # 1 finger on Norris but tonight at 7:30 p.m. it was back digging on # 2 finger on Norris. At 6:45 a.m. Bruce P found a large brown grizzly north of Trashcan Pullout moving to the west. At 7:30 a.m. a grizzly was digging in Round Prairie slowly moving to the east. At 8:20 a.m. John G found a dark grizzly on a carcass near the mixed conifer aspen forest in Slough Creek (a bison carcass we think). At 8:30 a.m. Richard R found a small grizzly on the Middle Ridge in Crystal Drainage viewed from the Slough Creek Restroom. At 8:45 a.m. John B found a large grizzly (this turned out to be the large grizzly following the small grizzly both seen earlier on the Middle Ridge) moving into the Salad Bowl going east from Coyote Overlook. At 10:05 a.m. we had a black bear north of Picnic Area hunting elk calves. At 10:35 a.m. Mark M found a small grizzly (a sow) near the bison carcass near the mixed conifer aspen forest (it later hooked up with the large grizzly seen on the carcass earlier this morning, and they mated for twenty-five minutes). Strange couple, we watched them today and a day or two later, and the boar never let the sow eat on the carcass. At 10:40 a.m. Mark R found a grizzly near the Slough Creek Den. At 10:05 a.m. 996M a black wolf, the gray yearling and one of the two black yearling wolves of the Junction Butte pack were seen south of Picnic Area. At 11:45 a.m. Terri S found a black wolf on the skyline of the Slough Bowl viewed from the Slough Creek Restroom. At 12:05 p.m. we had a black bear with yearling cub on the # 3 finger on Norris. At 2:45 p.m. we watched a cinnamon black bear south of Straight-away Pullout in Little America. At 5:15 p.m. the Junction Butte grizzly sow with two coys seen for the first time by me south of Straight-away Pullout. At 6:30 p.m. the Hellroaring sow with two yearlings were on the slopes of Hellroaring viewed from Upper Hellroaring. At 7:40 p.m. we had a black bear with two black cubs of the year on Tower Hill. At 7:35 p.m. Richard and Rita found a young grizzly south of Picnic Pullout in the river corridor, close viewing. At 7:50 p.m. we watched a second small light grizzly on the # 3 finger on Norris (the other small light grizzly was in views on # 2 finger). We had suspected that there were two small light grizzlies on the fingers, but this was the first time we small both at once. At 8:05 p.m. my last sighting for the day was a black bear with two black coys south west of Soda Butte Middle Pullout.
Sunday - May 26th
38 degrees in Silver Gate and 41 degrees at Slough Creek this morning warming up to 61 degrees today. I viewed moose today south of Soda Butte East Pullout, at Pebble Creek and tonight at Warm Springs. At 5:30 a.m. I spotted a dark grizzly on bison carcass near the mixed conifer aspen forest in Slough Creek. At 6:35 a.m. Richard and Rita R found a small light grizzly on the # 1 finger on Norris. At 6:35 a.m. Richard and Rita R also found a small light grizzly on the # 3 finger on Norris. At 7:00 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coys were on the # 5 finger on Norris. At 7:35 a.m. two wolves both un-collared, one black and one gray just off the road at 21's crossing near Hitching Post Pullout. They were howling and were probably yearlings from the Junction Butte pack. At 7:40 a.m. Richard and Rita R had a grizzly digging near the Moose Head from Trashcan Pullout. This grizzly was back in view around 2:30 p.m. in the same spot. At 8:40 a.m. John G found a small light grizzly high south and west of the Institute viewed from Midpoint Pullout. At 9:30 a.m. Randi M found either a courting pair of grizzlies or a grizzly sow with a yearling cub on the southern end of Specimen Ridge. They were in and out of the trees so not sure what grizzlies we had there. At 11:00 a.m. we had a large cinnamon black bear in the Slough Creek Bowl. At 2:50 p.m. we watched a courting pair of grizzlies on Middle Ridge in Crystal Drainage. These were the courting pair that we had seen in earlier days, with the sow about two thirds the size of the boar. At 3:00 p.m. a large cinnamon bear escorting a smaller black bear (courting pair) in the large meadow behind the east end of Jasper Bench viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 3:15 p.m. Brett found a small grizzly digging in A-Z Meadow. At 3:25 p.m. we had a small grizzly on the top of Ski Slope, it was out again at 7:20 p.m. running through snow heading east.
Monday - May 27th
34 degrees in Silver Gate and 38 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 53 degrees with afternoon showers. The great horned owl nest at Calcite has at least one chick in the nest. I watched two moose south of Soda Butte East Pullout this evening. At 5:35 a.m. I spotted a black bear in the tree line south of Picnic Pullout. At 6:00 a.m. we had a black bear south of Soda Butte East Pullout. At 6:35 a.m. we watched a black bear in the large meadow behind the east part of Jasper Bench viewed from the Institute. At 6:55 a.m. the Slough Creek sow with two yearlings were in the ravine north and between the pullouts of Dorothy's and Coyote Overlook. They were still in sight at 8:45 a.m. At 7:15 a.m. I spotted a black bear low in Salad Bowl just above the west end of Jasper Bench. At 7:45 a.m. John G found a grizzly hunting elk calves above the mixed conifer aspen forest in Slough Creek. At 8:10 a.m. we had a large black bear high above the Diagonal Forest in Slough Creek. At 8:55 a.m. Chuck and Wynelle M found a courting pair of grizzlies above the large meadow behind the eastern end of Jasper Bench. By 7:00 p.m. they had moved into the bowl and were best viewed from the Institute. At 9:40 a.m. an un-collared black Junction Butte wolf was seen south of Picnic Area moving to the west. At 5:55 p.m. I spotted a large brown grizzly above the Diagonal Forest in Slough Creek moving to the west. At 6:45 p.m. we had a small light grizzly on the # 3 finger on Norris. At 7:10 p.m. two black wolves were spotted in the river corridor south and west of the Institute. At 7:30 p.m. we had the Junction Butte grizzly sow with two coys on Junction Butte. At 7:35 p.m. we watched a courting pair of grizzlies around the bison carcass at the mixed conifer aspen forest in Slough Creek (one of the grizzlies was the elk hunter seen there this morning). At 8:15 p.m. my last sighting for the day was a small light grizzly high on # 1 finger on Norris.
Tuesday - May 28th
32 degrees in Silver Gate and 37 degrees in Slough Creek this morning warming up to 61 degrees. I viewed a moose at Elk Creek today and a moose south of Soda Butte East Pullout this evening. At 5:35 a.m. we watched the grizzly sow with one two-year-old cub near the mixed conifer aspen forest in Slough Creek. At 5:45 a.m. Rick and Len H found the Slough Creek grizzly sow with two yearlings in the Slough Bowl. This morning they were hunting elk calves and around 6:40 a.m. found and killed a calf near Adam's Knob viewed from the Slough Creek Restroom (this was the first elk calf I had seen this year). At 6:00 a.m. two black wolves were south of Picnic Pullout viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 6:45 a.m. the Junction Butte grizzly sow with two coys were back on Junction Butte viewed from the east side of the Butte today. At 6:50 a.m. John G found a black bear above the mixed conifer aspen forest in Slough Creek. At 8:10 a.m. a cinnamon black bear was seen west of the Chalcedony Fan viewed from Picnic Pullout. At 8:25 a.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies in the Bowl viewed from the Institute. They were back in view at 10:20 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. today still in the Bowl. At 8:40 p.m. two black bears, probably a courting pair in the large meadow behind the eastern end of Jasper Bench. At 9:15 a.m. one black and one gray wolf were near the bison carcass near the mixed conifer aspen forest. At 9:15 a.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies around the bison carcass near the mixed conifer aspen forest at Slough Creek. At 10:40 a.m. we watched a small light grizzly on the # 3 finger on Norris. At 1:45 p.m. I spotted a small light grizzly on Specimen Ridge best viewed from the Lamar Canyon West Pullout. At 7:30 p.m. we had a black bear at Calcite Springs just off the road. At 8:30 p.m. Mike and Donna F found a small colorful grizzly near the Moose Head from Trashcan Pullout. At 8:35 p.m. we watched a dark grizzly north of Trashcan Pullout. At 8:45 p.m. we had two black bears on the # 1 finger on Norris. At 9:25 p.m. I found a small black bear on road just east of Silver Gate.
Wednesday - May 29th
35 degrees at Silver Gate and 27 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 69 degrees. I viewed a vulture today and a moose south of Trout Lake today. At 5:40 a.m. John B found the Junction Butte grizzly sow with two coys on top of Junction Butte viewed from the east side today. At 5:45 p.m. Terri W found the Slough Creek grizzly sow with two yearlings hunting elk calves around Adam's Knob. At 5:50 p.m. we had a black bear hunting elk calves on Specimen Ridge. At 6:10 a.m. Richard and Rita R found a small light grizzly north of Picnic Pullout. At 6:15 a.m. a cinnamon black bear north of Trashcan Pullout. At 6:25 a.m. Richard and Rita R found a large grizzly on Penny Lane viewed from the Confluence. At 7:30 a.m. Richard and Rita R found a small grizzly in the meadow behind the east end of Jasper Bench. At 7:45 a.m. Rick M found a courting pair of grizzlies around the bison carcass near the mixed conifer aspen forest in Slough Creek. At 8:55 a.m. we had a lanky grizzly high north and west of the YES Pullout. At 9:10 a.m. I had a brief sighting of a grizzly in a high clearing south of Bear Meadow viewed from YES Pullout. At 3:30 pm. we had a large cinnamon black bear on # 2 finger on Norris. At 3:50 p.m. I spotted a cinnamon black bear in the meadow behind the eastern end of Jasper Bench. At 3:55 p.m. we watched two black bears together in the meadow behind the eastern end of Jasper Bench. At 6:50 p.m. we had a dark grizzly digging just west of Druid Peak. At 7:10 p.m. I found a large black bear on K Meadow. At 7:20 p.m. we watched a black bear on the # 2 Sliver on Ski Slope viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 7:55 p.m. I spotted a large black bear high in the Salad Bowl (Divide Ridge) viewed from Coyote Overlook.
Thursday - May 30th
32 degrees in Silver Gate and 35 degrees at Slough Creek this morning warming up to 66 degrees. The sandhill crane nest near the gravel pullout down the Slough Creek road has two young colts in the nest now. At 5:35 a.m. Richard and Rita R had a grizzly on the west end of Jasper Bench going to the south. At 5:45 a.m. I spotted a black bear in the large meadow behind the eastern end of Jasper Bench. At 6:00 a.m. 1048M the black wolf of the Junction Butte wolf pack were seen on Jasper Bench moving to the west. At 6:05 a.m. John G had a dark grizzly high northeast of Coyote Overlook. At 6:50 a.m. Emil M found a grizzly in the Salad Bowl where I viewed it from Hubbard Hill. At 7:30 a.m. a second black wolf south of YES Pullout also heading west. At 7:40 a.m. 996M a black wolf with the gray and black yearling wolves on Amethyst Bench also heading to the west. At 7:40 a.m. we had a small grizzly in the bowl viewed from YES Pullout. At 8:00 a.m. Terri W found a black bear high in the Bowl viewed from YES Pullout. I had a THREE DOG DAY today. At 9:45 a.m. 907F, 969F, 1047M, and two black wolves were seen north of Coyote Overlook heading to the east. That meant we viewed ten of the eleven Junction Butte wolves today, only 1109F was not seen, supposedly in a den on the backside of Specimen Ridge (probably where the five wolves going west were heading today). At 10:15 a.m. we had a black bear east of Yellowstone Picnic Area. At 1:30 p.m. I found a large black bear at Rainy Lake, he was out again at 3:10 p.m. At 2:00 p.m. the Junction Butte sow with two coys as on the west side of Junction Butte viewed from Ricks Pullout. This was a brief sighting but as 5:00 p.m. I watched them again this time from Elk Creek. At 3:10 p.m. we had a small black bear north of Rainy Lake. At 4:00 p.m. Richard and Rita R had a black bear on Prospect Peak with coy. I watched for a while but could only see the black bear. At 5:45 p.m. we had a black bear on Ski Slope. At 6:15 p.m. we watched a black bear east of the A-Z Meadow. At 6:30 pm. we had a small grizzly on the ridge behind Ski Slope. At 7:20 p.m. we watched a cinnamon black bear north of Picnic Pullout.
Friday - May 31st
46 degrees in Silver Gate and 42 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 66 degrees. I viewed a badger north of YES Pullout this morning. The bald eagle nest south of Coyote Overlook has at least one chick in the nest and its turning dark already. At 6:35 a.m. a large grizzly was hunting elk calves near the mixed conifer aspen forest in Slough Creek. This grizzly visited the old bison carcass around 7:00 a.m. At 6:20 a.m. I spotted a cinnamon and an equal sized black bear together on the A-Z Meadow (perhaps two sub-adults). At 6:25 a.m. we had a large cinnamon black bear on the # 2 Sliver of Ski Slope. At 6:50 a.m. Mike F found a grizzly low on Ski Slope moving to the east. At 7:30 a.m. the Junction Butte grizzly sow with two coys were on the top of Junction Butte viewed from Rick's Pullout. At 7:45 a.m. Richard and Rita R found the grizzly sow with one two-year-old cub moving east from the mixed conifer aspen forest. They moved a little quicker when the large grizzly from 6:35 a.m. decided to follow them but at a long distance. At 10:00 a.m. a dark grizzly with a Yellowstone Stripe was in deadfall east of the A-Z Meadow. At 10:40 a.m. we had a black bear in Round Prairie. At 10:50 a.m. we watched a cinnamon black bear just off the road near Thunderer Pullout, it was out in view again at 2:00 p.m. At 4:55 p.m. we watched a small light grizzly north of Picnic Pullout. At 7:50 p.m. I spotted a black bear on # 3 finger on Norris. At 8:35 p.m. I spotted a large light brown black bear near Warm Creek.
~ June 2019 ~
Saturday - June 1st
35 degrees in Silver Gate this morning and 36 degrees in Lamar Valley warming up to a warm 70 degrees. I viewed a fox and a moose just off the road before daylight at Thunderer Pullout. I saw my first mountain goat kid today on the cliffs across from Pebble Creek Campground. I had a bull moose south of the Soda Butte East Pullout today. At 6:30 a.m. I spotted a black bear north of the Institute. At 6:45 a.m. Randi M found a colorful grizzly in a high clearing south of the Old Road Pullout. At 7:15 a.m. we had a small grizzly skyline south of the Institute digging. At 8:15 a.m. we watched a large cinnamon black bear north of Round Prairie. At 8:45 a.m. a black bear was seen north of Picnic Pullout. At 8:45 a.m. I found a light cinnamon black bear northwest of YES Pullout. At 10:40 a.m. the Junction Butte grizzly sow with two coys were on the south end of Junction Butte. At 3:45 p.m. two black wolves, probably the Lamar Canyon pack, were in Round Prairie chasing an elk. They later killed an elk in the Soda Butte Creek. At 5:00 p.m. I spotted a cinnamon black bear on # 4 finger on Norris. At 5:00 p.m. we had a cinnamon black bear and a black bear (courting pair) southwest of Coyote Overlook. I had a THREE DOG DAY today. At 7:40 p.m. we watched a small dark grizzly on Druid Peak. At 8:20 p.m. I spotted a large black bear just off the road at Ice Box Canyon.
Sunday - June 2nd
44 degrees in Silver Gate and 36 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 72 degrees. I watched a golden eagle sitting north of the road near Footbridge Pullout this morning. I viewed a moose at Lower Barronette Pullout tonight. A large cow moose died giving birth 110 yards north of Warm Creek today. At 5:30 a.m. Randi M found a black bear on the # 2 Sliver of Ski Slope. At 5:50 a.m. Richard and Rita found a small light grizzly near the Moosehead from Trashcan Pullout (at 9:30 a.m. it had moved quite a ways to the west, but good viewing from Picnic Pullout). At 6:20 a.m. John G found a grizzly in the Bowl moving to the south. At 6:30 a.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies in Bear Meadow viewed from YES Pullout. At 7:30 a.m. a gray wolf came to a new elk carcass near the Marge Simpson Tree at Slough Creek. At 8:00 a.m. the Junction Butte grizzly sow with two coys were on the Junction Butte again, viewed from the east side today. At 8:40 a.m. a large black bear on the north end of the Salad Bowl viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 3:10 p.m. a black bear at a roadside bear jam near Roosevelt Junction. At 3:45 p.m. the Slough Creek grizzly sow with two yearlings were north of Fisherman's Pullout viewed from Straight-away Pullout (were way high north of Fisherman's). At 8:05 p.m. my last sighting for the day was a medium dark grizzly near the Moosehead viewed from Trashcan Pullout.
Monday - June 3rd
36 degrees at Silver Gate and 37 degrees at Lamar Valley this morning warming up to a nice 74 degrees. At 5:20 a.m. 1047M and 1048M of the Junction Butte wolf pack were south of Picnic Area moving to the west. At 6:25 a.m. we had another collared black wolf south of Trashcan also heading to the west. It appears that a lot of mornings we caught a wolf or two moving west to the south in Lamar Valley in the morning. The thinking is that a few of the wolves have been hunting for 1109F who supposedly has a den somewhere on the backside of Specimen Ridge. Often, like this morning the wolves disappear into the Amethyst Drainage heading south and west. At 6:45 a.m. I spotted a black bear low in the A-Z Meadow. At 7:00 a.m. two gray wolves and two black wolves going east north of Picnic Area. At 8:10 a.m. John G found a grizzly digging northwest of Trashcan Pullout. At 9:50 a.m. Richard and Rita R found a small brown grizzly on Ski Slope. This grizzly was back in sight at 5:30 p.m. this evening. At 10:15 a.m. the Junction Butte grizzly sow with two coys were northeast of Long Pullout. They did cross the road north to south just east of Long Pullout soon after this right in front of Kathie L. This grizzly family was quite close to the road several times before they finally got across going to the south. At 3:45 p.m. we had a large tall grizzly in the last clearing behind Ski Slope viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 4:50 p.m. we watched a courting pair of grizzlies east of the Bell high near the skyline south of the Institute viewed from YES Pullout. At 5:00 p.m. Richard and Rita R found a large grizzly west of the Bell near the skyline. At 5:30 p.m. we had a large grizzly with a light Yellowstone Stripe northeast of Coyote Overlook. At 8:00 p.m. we had a small light grizzly with a white patch on its left neck on the # 5 finger on Norris. At 8:30 p.m. we had a cinnamon black bear on the moose carcass north of Warm Creek.
Tuesday - June 4th
37 degrees this morning in both Silver Gate and Lamar Valley warming up to 74 degrees. I had a moose just outside of Silver Gate this evening. At 5:45 a.m. I spotted a grizzly near moose head digging viewed from Picnic Pullout. This grizzly was in view again at 7:30 p.m. this evening in the same area. At 7:15 a.m. we had a black bear low on the east side of A-Z Meadow. At 7:30 a.m. we watched a cinnamon black bear in the large meadow behind the eastern end of Jasper Bench. At 8:10 a.m. we had a lanky grizzly in the Bowl moving to the south. At 8:30 a.m. Carl S found the Junction Butte grizzly sow with two coys on Specimen Ridge viewed from Coyote Overlook. This family was back on Specimen Ridge at 7:00 p.m. this evening. At 8:45 a.m. I found a small light brown grizzly on Ski Slope above the snow viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 10:00 a.m. we had a courting pair of black bears, large cinnamon and small black bear on the # 2 finger on Norris. At 2:10 p.m. a small light grizzly with a white patch of the left neck was on the # 4 finger on Norris. At 3:15 p.m. an un-collared black wolf was bedded in Slough Creek west of the Lion Meadow. At 4:45 p.m. we had a black bear near a small herd of elk in the Salad Bowl viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 4:50 p.m. we watched a black bear on the low east end of A-Z Meadow. At 7:05 p.m. we had a grizzly on the skyline above Bear Meadow viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 7:20 p.m. Tanner found a black bear below the A-Z Meadow. At 8:25 p.m. my last sighting was a large light cinnamon black bear west of the first Soda Butte Creek Bridge.
Wednesday - June 5th
53 degrees in Silver Gate and 47 degrees in Lamar Valley warming up to a warm 77 degrees. I viewed a moose at Thunderer today. I also had a moose at the east bridge of Soda Butte Creek tonight. At 5:35 a.m. John G had a grizzly at skyline above Bear Meadow viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 6:20 a.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies north of Hobart Hill. At 6:30 a.m. I spotted a grizzly on the skyline north of Picnic Area. At 6:35 a.m. John G found a grizzly northwest of Trashcan Pullout, this grizzly was in view again at 2:00 p.m. At 7:10 a.m. a cinnamon black bear on # 2 finger on Norris and was back in view at 5:45 p.m. this evening. At 7:30 a.m. a small grizzly was behind Bear Meadow viewed from Midpoint Pullout. At 8:10 a.m. we had a large grizzly moving west above the Diagonal Forest viewed from Slough Creek. At 8:25 a.m. the Junction Butte grizzly sow with two coys was on Specimen Ridge viewed from east of Long Pullout in Little America. At 9:30 a.m. we had a black bear near Rainy Lake. At 3:30 p.m. we had a large cinnamon and a small black bear courting in the Salad Bowl. From 3:35 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. I watched a grizzly sow with two coys in a high meadow way south of Ski Slope viewed from Coyote Pullout but better at Fisherman's Pullout. I think this was the Ski Slope grizzly sow with two coys we had watched for days about two weeks ago. At 7:50 p.m. we had a courting pair of grizzlies on Penny Lane viewed from Trashcan Pullout but better from Hitching Post Pullout. At 7:55 p.m. a small light grizzly ran into the Penny Lane clearing and quickly discovered the courting pair of grizzlies. The small grizzly exited Penny Lane at an all-out run. At 8:45 p.m. we had a cinnamon black bear on the moose carcass north of Warm Creek.
Thursday - June 6th
38 degrees in Silver Gate and Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 76 degrees with rain in the evening. A nice bull moose with dark antlers bedded in downtown Silver Gate tonight. At 5:10 a.m. John G found a courting pair of grizzlies north of Coyote Overlook. They were in view again at 6:00 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. tonight. At 5:40 a.m. the Junction Butte grizzly sow with two coys were on Middle Ridge viewed from Coyote Overlook, but better from Lamar Canyon West and from Slough Creek. This family was in view again at 7:00 p.m. tonight. At 6:00 a.m. a grizzly on Penny Lane which looked like the sow of the courting pair from last evening; this grizzly was out in view again at 3:30 p.m. At 7:45 a.m. Terri S found a gray wolf north of Coyote Pullout (brief sighting). At 8:05 a.m. we had a black wolf south of Picnic Pullout viewed from Coyote Pullout. At 8:50 a.m. Randi M found a black yearling wolf of the Junction Butte wolf pack south of Fisherman's Pullout. At 9:15 a.m. Randi M found a small grizzly on Specimen Ridge viewed from Coyote Pullout. At 9:50 a.m. we had a black wolf in Crystal Drainage viewed from Bob's Knob. At 10:10 a.m. we watched a small black bear behind Crystal rock from Slough Creek. At 10:25 a.m. we had a small black bear at the Yellowstone River Bridge. At 10:50 a.m. we watched a colorful grizzly north of Coyote from Straight-away, this grizzly was in view again at 5:00 p.m. At 11:45 a.m. we had a cinnamon black bear # 4 finger on Norris. At 3:35 p.m. Kevin and Pam found a cinnamon black bear above the # 1 finger on Norris viewed from the Confluence. From 4:40 p.m. to 5:10 p.m. I watched a grizzly sow with one yearling high in a clearing north of the Institute viewed from Straight-away Pullout. A new family for me, I had not seen or heard of a sow with a yearling anywhere north in Lamar Valley. At 7:00 p.m. we had another medium grizzly on Middle Ridge (note the grizzly sow and two coys above this grizzly in the same clearing). At 7:15 p.m. we had a black bear on the skyline of Salad Bowl. At 7:15 p.m. one gray and two black wolves chased the black bear to the top of Salad Bowl and then move to the A-Z Meadow.
Friday - June 7th
44 degrees in Silver Gate and 46 degrees in Lamar Valley this morning warming up to 51 degrees with afternoon rain showers. At 5:40 a.m. 1048M was on the east end of Jasper Bench moving to the east. At 6:00 a.m. I spotted a small black bear low on A-Z Meadow. At 6:30 a.m. the Junction Butte grizzly sow with two coys were on the Middle Ridge viewed from Coyote Overlook, but better viewed at Lamar Canyon West. At 6:45 a.m. the courting pair of grizzles were north and between Coyote and Dorothy's Pullouts. At 7:10 a.m. we had a brown grizzly near the moose head from Picnic Pullout. At 7:55 a.m. we watched a grizzly on the east end of Dead Puppy Hill low from Footbridge Pullout. At 8:30 a.m. the grizzly sow with two coys were on Ski Slope, and were back in view at 10:30 a.m. At 9:15 a.m. Randi M found a black bear low on the Middle Ridge. At 10:00 a.m. we had a light cinnamon black bear in Lamar Canyon to the north. At 10:20 a.m. we watched a cinnamon and a black bear separately in the clearing behind the east end of the Jasper Bench. At 10:35 a.m. we had a courting pair of black bears, with a large cinnamon and small black bear behind the east end of Jasper Bench. At 8:10 p.m. my last sighting was a black bear on the moose carcass north of Warm Creek.
Saturday - June 8th
35 degrees with snow on the ground in Silver Gate and 37 degrees in Lamar Valley with rain and low visibility this morning warming up to 47 degrees. I viewed a fox today and a bull moose at Lower Barronette tonight. At 5:40 a.m. Bob W found a courting pair of grizzlies north of Coyote Pullout. At 6:10 a.m. Carma and Jennings found a grizzly leaving the carcass at the mixed conifer aspen forest. At 9:15 a.m. I found the Slough Creek grizzly sow with two yearlings in Secret Passage north and west of Fisherman's Pullout viewed from Dorothy's Pullout. This family came out just north of Coyote Overlook at 7:40 p.m. for good viewing. At 10:00 a.m. the Junction butte grizzly sow with two coys was in view from Coyote Pullout above the river corridor to the west and south. At 6:45 p.m. we had a black bear at the entrance at the 6-mile Blacktail Road. At 7:00 p.m. we had a light cinnamon black bear at Phantom Lake. At 7:20 p.m. we had a cinnamon black bear on Wrecker Hill. At 8:10 p.m. a grizzly tried to cross the road south to north in the Soda Butte Valley near the Middle Pullout.
Sunday - June 9th
I have been limping around for weeks with a bad left hip and at 1:30 p.m. after getting no sleep at all I decided to head home to Idaho Falls. The highlight was a pine marten in the road near Crittenden Road around 2:30 p.m.
People Seen
Wolf Watchers seen this entire trip May 15th thru June 9th: From Montana: Rick M, Melba C, Doug M, Amy T, Bob and Elizabeth N, Lizzie C, Ilona P, Dan and Laurie L, Audra C and Marlene and Ted F. From Mississippi: Chuck and Wynelle M. From Idaho: Craig C. From California: Kathie L, Bob and Nell H, Bill and Karen M, and Sylvia and Sophie. From Vermont: Don P. From Colorado: Karol B, Mark and Carol R, Jeremy S, Dale and Faye B, and Steve and Robin M. From Washington: David and Stephanie O. From Utah: Jerry and Julia C, Denny and Pam D, and Chris C. From Texas: Carl L and Carol S. From Arizona: Reve and Susan. From Oklahoma: Robert and Pam W. From Oregon: Bruce and Kelly H, and Richard and Linda Y. From Ohio: Dan and Pam M. From Minnesota: Scott W. From Missouri: Sandra H. From Wyoming: Larry and Linda H. From New York: Rick and Maureen B.
Bear Watchers seen this trip May 15th thru June 9th: From Montana: Jack G, David B and Monty, Sarah W, Mike and Kathy W, Doug M, Peter M, Margaret L, and Lauri D. From Wyoming: Richard and Rita R, and Terri and Bill W. From Colorado: Rick and Len H, Terri S, and Larry and Jessie. From Washington: John G, Randi M, and John B. From Illinois: Wayne K, Frank and Cole G, Mike G, Richard and Ursula B, and Chicago Bob and Margaret P. From South Carolina: Jean S and Margaret P. From Louisiana: Bruce P. From Wisconsin: Don L and Tyler B. From Florida/Georgia: Ken and Chris. From Ohio: Jim and Twyla E. From Idaho: Jennings and Carma S, Emmet and Vicky W, Kim and Joyce C, Blake and Stacie (eagle eye), and Sydney H. From the Midwest: Steve S and Bob A. From Kansas: Richard and Sandy B. From Minnesota: Virgil S. From Missouri: Bob and Linda T, and Don and Carol L. From Virginia: Gabriel, David and Mary M. From Ireland: Alwyn S. From Utah: Mark and Liz H, Kevin and Rosie W, Maleea M, Ed and Sara S, Mark H, Dave H, Larry M and Steve, Kevin and Pam, and Hayden and Autumn. From Tennessee: Mike and Donna F. From New Mexico: Bob and Lake W. From California: Bill. From Georgia: Sandi R.
Other people seen this entire trip May 15th thru June 9th: From Montana: Evan S, Email M, Bob L, Nathan V, Cara M, Carl S, Jim H, Ken S, Steve B, Dennis R, Audra C, Chris H, Tonya M, Kevin and Tammy, Cliff B, MacNeil L, Allen K and Ashea T From Washington: Nick and Diane L. From the Netherlands: Jort V. From Idaho: Ray T and Adam B. From Wyoming: Paul B, Dick P, and Pete B. From Texas: Keith W. From Utah: Bob B, and Julie A. From Arizona: David and Phyllis. From the UK: Abbie S. From Vermont: John K. From Massachusetts: Ed S. From Florida: Rick and Vicky K. And from Colorado: Jim and Bobbie F.
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Yellowstone National Park
Lamar Valley Map - Yellowstone National Park
| Yellowstone National Park Trip Reports | ||
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| Yellowstone Geyser and Thermal Videos | |
|---|---|
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