Yellowstone National Park 2021 Trip Reports
Trip Report ~ Bear & Wolf Sightings ~ by Bill Hamblin
22 through 25 June 2021
Yellowstone National Park
~ June 2021 ~
Tuesday - June 22nd
44 degrees in Silver Gate warming up to a hot 90 degrees. At 5:30 a.m. Gary G found the Middle Ridge grizzly sow with two cubs of the year (coys) in a clearing west of A-Z Meadow. Only a short sighting and the family was not seen again today. At 6:35 a.m. Taylor B found two grizzlies in the Bowl from the Institute. It was the two 2 ½ year old sub adults. At 7:30 a.m. I found the Specimen Ridge grizzly sow with two coys low on Specimen Ridge. The way we identify and distinguish between the Specimen Ridge sow and the Middle Ridge sow is that the Middle Ridge sow has a Yellowstone stripe around her but the Specimen Ridge sow although light has no stripe. At 10:00 a.m. Gary G found a black bear in the tree line southwest of Footbridge Pullout. At 3:35 p.m. the two 3 ½ year old sub adults were in between Dorothy's and Coyote Pullouts to the north, today best viewed from Coyote Pullout. At 4:15 p.m. one gray and one black adult wolf and two gray and one black puppy were seen at the Slough Creek den. At 7:00 p.m. I found a new grizzly family high south of the #1 finger on Norris. Good viewing from the Confluence but better from Footbridge Pullout. That makes six sows with coys from Slough Creek to the Soda Butte Valley this year.
Wednesday - June 23rd
54 degrees this morning in Silver Gate warming up to 80 degrees. At 5:15 a.m. a black wolf south of Old Road Pullout in Lamar Valley. At 5:35 a.m. I found the Specimen Ridge grizzly sow with two coys low in Salad Bowl (Divide Ridge) viewed from Coyote Overlook. At 6:30 a.m. four black and one gray wolf who was 1228F on a new bison cow carcass southwest of the Institute this side of the Lamar River. At 6:35 a.m. a black bear was seen high in the Bowl viewed from the Institute. At 11:15 a.m. we had a black bear north of the Soda Butte Picnic area. At 5:45 p.m. a grizzly sow with one coy was on the #3 finger on Norris.
Thursday - June 24th
Thursday June 24th. 40 degrees this morning in Silver Gate warming up to 73 degrees. I had a THREE DOG DAY today. At 4:40 a.m. we noticed a large dark spot on the bison cow carcass southwest of the Institute. Soon we could tell it was a large grizzly. Just before first light the grizzly slowly moved south into the Amethyst Drainage. At 4:45 a.m. six black and one gray wolf rushed to the now abandoned bison calf carcass. By the end of the morning the carcass was pretty much gone. At 5:50 a.m. Evan S found the Specimen Ridge grizzly sow with two coys in the clearing just east of A-Z Meadow. Good viewing. They then moved into the Bowl best viewed from the Institute, then feeding though A-Z Meadow. And then through the Salad Bowl (Divide Ridge) at 1:30 p.m. and then in sight digging high in Salad Bowl. At 6:10 a.m. I found the grizzly with one coy in the same part of the #3 finger on Norris. Good viewing for an hour or so this morning. At 7:25 a.m. we had a large cinnamon black bear on the ridge behind the Slough Creek den viewed from Lamar Canyon West. At 3:30 p.m. the Middle Ridge grizzly sow with one coy was spotted high on Middle Ridge from the Pullout just below Bob's Knob in Slough Creek. At 3:45 p.m. a black wolf was seen at the eastern trees in the Slough Creek den area.
Friday - June 25th
43 degrees in Silver Gate this morning warming up to 73 degrees. I had a THREE DOG DAY today. At 5:00 a.m. I found a grizzly digging on Amethyst Bench. At 5:10 a.m. I noticed a second grizzly coming out of the tree line to dig. I moved to Coyote Pullout to glass for other things but looked back to see them wrestling each other. Apparently the two adult grizzlies knew each other and decided to wrestle for a while. They soon moved separately into the tree line and out of sight. At 5:10 a.m. we had a black wolf around the old cow bison carcass southwest of the Institute. At 6:20 a.m. I found the Specimen Ridge grizzly sow with two coys in the Salad Bowl (Divide Ridge) viewed from Lamar Canyon West, best viewing from the Slough Creek side. Later she crossed the Divide Ridge and was in view from Coyote Pullout until she recrossed by going over the ridge and back into sight from the Slough Creek side. At 6:50 a.m. two gray puppies seen at the Slough Creek den area. At 9:25 a.m. a black bear was seen low in the Bowl from Midpoint Pullout. At 11:20 a.m. I was searching for the new grizzly with one coy from the Confluence. Ed S and Kevin A had seen her earlier and told me they were in an oval clearing higher and more west that yesterday. Their directions were good as the first clearing I looked at was the right clearing. Good viewing from the Confluence but better from Footbridge as they were out of sight after fifteen minutes. At 4:00 p.m. they had moved to #2 finger on Norris. At 11:50 a.m. a medium black bear was just off the road 1/2 mile east of Pebble Creek Campground. At 7:00 p.m. Gary G found a small colorful grizzly on #2 finger on Norris (but no sow and coy tonight).
People Seen
Wolf Watchers: From Montana: Rick M, Jeremy S, Taylor B, Doug M, Reve and Susan C, Chloe F and Becky Cox, and Dan and Laurie L. From Mississippi: Gary G. From Ohio: Linda M. From North Carolina: Grant and Lena C. From Florida: Ray and Lynn M and Andy and Missy O. From California: Dorothy des L. From Washington: Larry and Linda R. From Indiana: David and Bena. Bear Watchers seen this report: From Colorado: Kim H. From Utah: Ed S and Kevin A. From Idaho: Sydney H. From Georgia: Sandi R. Others seen this report: From Montana: Evan S, Emil M, Grant J, MacNeil L, Claire L, Josh W, Nathan V, Audra C, and Carl S. From Idaho: Adam B. From Vermont: John K and Beth.
Yellowstone National Park
Lamar Valley Map - Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park Trip Reports | |||
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Yellowstone National Park Trip Reports | |
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Yellowstone Geyser and Thermal Videos | |
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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 |
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Links | |
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The Great Outdoors Net | Great Outdoor Recreational Places |
Gardiner, Montana | West Yellowstone, Montana |