Yellowstone National Park 2020 Trip Reports

Trip Report ~ Bear & Wolf Sightings ~ by Bill Hamblin

August 29th through September 3rd, 2020
Yellowstone National Park

~ August 2020 ~

Saturday - August 29th

It is still extremely slow on bear sightings, both black and grizzlies. The first day I camped at Colter Campground outside of the park and the rest of my days at Pebble Creek Campground inside the park. 40 degrees this morning warming up to a nice 80 degrees. At 6:35 a.m. I spotted a small grizzly digging in a clearing north of the Institute. Good viewing for twenty minutes or so, lots of people got to see the grizzly. At 8:40 a.m. I found a un-collared black wolf south of Midpoint Pullout. At 9:20 a.m. we had two black wolves at the Marge Simpson Tree, probably puppies but the grass is so long I was not sure. At 10:00 a.m. a total of nine black wolves were in view near the Marge Simpson Tree. The Marge Simpson Tree is the Junction Butte wolf pack's rendezvous area and were seen every day, best in the early morning. Dave's Hill gives the best view, but Bob's Knob is pretty good too.

Sunday - August 30th

41 degrees warming up to a nice 69 degrees. I had a fox in the road this morning and a unita ground squirrel, they should all in in their dens by now. At 7:00 a.m. six adult wolves including 1048M were seen south of the Institute moving east. At 8:30 a.m. a lone un-collared black wolf joined the six black adult wolves. At 9:00 a.m. I spotted a black bear high north of YES Pullout. At 2:40 p.m. two black puppies were viewed to the north of the pullout just east of Long Pullout in Little America.

Monday - August 31

33 degrees this morning with rain and low clouds making for poor visibility all day warming up to 47 degrees. At 6:45 a.m. we had four black wolves including 1229F and 996M south of Trash Can Pullout. Both 1229F and 996M have collars but the collars are not currently working. At 5:00 a.m. two black puppies were seen near the Marge Simpson Tree. Note: almost every morning almost all the puppies (18) are being seen. And in the late evening at least most of the puppies are being seen. I just do not stay around in the area in the morning and evenings.

~ September 2020 ~

Tuesday - September 1st

41 degrees this morning warming up to 70 degrees. This morning I walked up to Dave's Hill just before daylight and with help counting from Frank H I saw 11 black and six gray puppies (just missing one gray puppy), plus two black yearlings and 1048M a black adult wolf in the Junction Butte rendezvous area. At 10:15 a.m. 1229F was seen south of the Institute. At 7:50 p.m. we had a black wolf south and west of Footbridge Pullout.

Wednesday - September 2nd

Since I have not been seeing any bears, I again walked up Dave's Hill to watch wolves early. Over 30 wolves this morning with only one gray pup, 1229F, 1109F, and perhaps one black yearling missing. All seen in the Marge Simpson Tree area.

Thursday - September 3rd

40 degrees this morning warming up to 83 degrees. I viewed two vultures today. At 6:20 a.m. 1047M the black alpha male, six black adult wolves and one gray wolf were seen moving east under the Lion Meadow in Slough Creek (disappearing east of the Yellow Grass Meadow). Around 7:00 a.m. we had 3 black puppies and one gray puppy in the Marge Simpson rendezvous area.

Poeple Seen

Wolf Watchers: From Montana: Rick M, Doug M, Jeremy S, Ron and Linda, and Barb M. From Missouri: Frank H. From Mississippi: Gary G. From Arizona: Reve and Susan. From Utah: Pam and Denny D. From Virginia: Dusty. From Kansas: Calvin and Lynette J. From Idaho: Roger and Lynda S. From Washington: Steve and Cindy L. From Wyoming: Larry and Linda H. From New York: Wendy B. From Florida: Andy and Missy O. Bear Watchers seen this Report: From Ohio: Mike and Karen G. From Washington: Hank L. From Montana: Mike and Kathy W. From Wyoming: Terri W. Others seen this Report: From Montana: Emil M, Taylor B, Quinn H, MacNeil L, Steve B, Audra C, Carl S, Bob L, Evan S, and Cara M. From the Netherlands: Jort V.

Yellowstone National Park

Lamar Valley Map - Yellowstone National Park