Yellowstone National Park 2020 Trip Reports
Trip Report ~ Bear & Wolf Sightings ~ by Bill Hamblin
September 16th through 23rd, 2020
Yellowstone National Park
~ September 2020 ~
Wednesday - September 16th
I camped the entire trip outside the NE Entrance near Silver Gate, Montana. Still really slow for bear watching in the park. 31 degrees this morning warming up to 82 degrees and lots of smoke. At 6:45 a.m. 1109F was seen eating on the old bison carcass south of the Institute. It is the first time she has been seen in several weeks. At 7:00 a.m. we had fourteen wolves in the old Druid rendezvous area. At 7:10 a.m. we had a grizzly was in the rendezvous area with the wolves, and out again late in the day. A few wolves followed it around, but each kept their distance. At 7:00 p.m. we had two adult wolves and all eighteen wolf puppies (11 black and 7 gray) in the old Druid rendezvous area.
Thursday - September 17th
33 degrees this morning warming up to 82 degrees with heavy smoke in the valley. I had a golden eagle today. At 7:15 a.m. 1047M limping badly on its right rear leg southwest of Fisherman's Pullout. It appears that he has been replaced by the black un-collared wolf as alpha male. But the alpha male now has a bad limp on his right front leg. By 9:30 a.m. we had twenty-one wolves in the old Druid rendezvous area; eighteen came into view near darkness in the evening. At 10:00 a.m. Richard R found a large dark grizzly on the skyline north of Picnic Pullout, a brief view. At 7:15 p.m. we had a grizzly wandered thru the old Druid rendezvous area.
Friday - September 18th
34 degrees this morning warming up to 80 degrees. At 6:40 a.m. Dusty found a dark grizzly running to the west south of Dorothy's Pullout. This grizzly swam the river near Fisherman Pullout and ran until he got to the hills where he slowed to a walk. At 7:00 a.m. we had seven black wolves west of the old Druid rendezvous area. At 4:00 p.m. I spotted a black bear across the river from Lamar Canyon West Pullout. At 7:00 p.m. seven black and four gray puppies were seen in the old Druid rendezvous area.
Saturday - September 19th
49 degrees this morning warming up to 55 degrees. I had a fox on the road near the Soda Butte Cone this morning. I also had a golden eagle near Footbridge Pullout is morning. At 7:00 a.m. we had seven black wolves southeast of the Institute including 1229F, 1109F was a ways away from the other wolves. At 8:40 a.m. Rita R found a grizzly digging north of Coyote Overlook. It was in sight for about 45 minutes before going over the hill to the north. Between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. twenty wolves were in sight in the old Druid rendezvous area.
Sunday - September 20th
44 degrees this morning warming up to 59 degrees. I had a golden eagle near Hitching Post this morning. At 6:40 a.m. I spotted a black wolf southeast of the Institute. At 6:30 p.m. we had twelve black and seven gray wolves in the old Druid rendezvous area.
Monday - September 21st
28 degrees this morning warming up to 72 degrees. I had a bright shooting star light up the morning sky at 5:37 a.m. on my way into the park. I had a fox near the Confluence this morning. At 7:40 a.m. Richard R had a brief sighting of a grizzly digging low on Druid Peak from Picnic Pullout. At 8:30 a.m. twelve wolves were seen in the old Druid rendezvous area. And at 6:30 p.m. fifteen wolves visible in the same area.
Tuesday - September 22nd
31 degrees this morning warming up to 78 degrees. I had a golden eagle today near Footbridge Pullout. At 7:00 a.m. Rick B called with a grizzly in the old Druid rendezvous area. I watched with Doug M (wolf watcher) as it went to the east. Doug told the crowd watching to watch when the grizzly passed the large tree. The crowd did not think much about the comment, but when the grizzly stopped and rubbed its back against the tree, they realized Doug knew a little about the grizzlies and that tree. By 7:15 a.m. we had counted 27 wolves in the old Druid rendezvous area. At 7:00 p.m. the wolf watching had been slow with only one or two; then 32 came out and headed west. The adults took them on a little trip tonight. It has been a long time since I watched 32 wolves all in view at the same time..
Wednesday - September 23rd
29 degrees this morning warming up to 77 degrees. At 6:35 a.m. Reve and Susan called with a wolf crossing the road just east of the Institute. I watched it at 30 yards heading west. At 6:45 a.m. we had a black wolf on Amethyst Bench and three south of Fisherman Pullout viewed from the Institute. At 8:30 a.m. Laurie L found a large collared grizzly on the east end of the old Druid rendezvous area. It slowly moved west as the wolves constantly bit its rear end. After 45 minutes or so the grizzly moved west and by 11:30 a.m. found a small carcass south of Fisherman Pullout. The grizzly was on it all day today. Around 8:30 a.m. we counted twenty two wolves in the old Druid rendezvous area. At 7:00 p.m. we had thirteen wolves, mainly puppies in the old Druid rendezvous area.
People Seen
Wolf Watchers: From Montana: Rick M, Doug M, Dan and Laurie L, Jeremy S, Janice and Cindy H, Wendy B, Ilona P, and Melba C. From Wyoming: Larry and Linda H. From Missouri: Frank H. From Utah: Paul H. From PA: Dusty and Kathy. From Canada: Jeff A. From Texas: Carl L and Carol S. From Oregon: Bruce and Kelly H and David and Stephanie O. From Colorado: Kriztina G. From New York: Rick and Maureen B. From Vermont: Joann. Bear Watchers seen this report: From Wyoming: Terri W, and Richard and Rita R. From Colorado: Rick and Len H. From Washington: Larry and Linda R. From Louisiana: Bruce P. From Utah: CD and Brenda C. Others seen this report: From Montana: Cara M, Audra C, Taylor B, Dan and Cindy H, Emil M, Chris H, Jim H, MacNeil L, Bob L, and Quinn H. From Idaho: Adam B. From Wyoming: Paul B. And from Florida: Rick and Vicky K.
Yellowstone National Park
Lamar Valley Map - Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park Trip Reports | ||
---|---|---|
2021 | 2016 | 2011 |
2020 | 2015 | 2010 |
2019 | 2014 | 2009 |
2018 | 2013 | 2008 |
2017 | 2012 | 2007 |
Yellowstone National Park Trip Reports | |
---|---|
1995 | 2000 |
1996 | 2002 |
1997 | 2003 |
1998 | 2004 |
1999 | 2005 |
Yellowstone Geyser and Thermal Videos | |
---|---|
Beehive Geyser Eruption | Old Faithful with Bison |
Beehive Geyser Eruption Two | Pocket Basin |
Fan and Mortar | Roaring Mountain |
Grand Geyser | Rocket and Grotto |
Old Faithful One | West Thumb |
Yellowstone Waterfall Videos | ||
---|---|---|
Cave Falls | Mesa Falls | Undine Falls |
Gibbon Falls | Rustic Falls | Upper Falls |
Lower Falls | Tower Fall | Wraith Falls |
Yellowstone National Park WebCams | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Old Faithful Live | All Old Faithful | Old Faithful Static | Old Faithful VC | North Entrance | Mt Washburn | Mammoth | YVO WebCam |
Entrance Cities and Gateway Towns | |||
---|---|---|---|
Gardiner, Montana | Silver Gate, Montana | West Yellowstone, Montana | Cooke City, Montana |
Livingston, Montana | Cody, Wyoming | Jackson Hole, Wyoming | Yellowstone National Park |
Links | |
---|---|
The Great Outdoors Net | Great Outdoor Recreational Places |
Gardiner, Montana | West Yellowstone, Montana |