Yellowstone National Park 2021 Trip Reports

Trip Report ~ Bear & Wolf Sightings ~ by Bill Hamblin

25th thru 28th September 2021
Yellowstone National Park

~ September 2021 ~

Saturday - September 25th

I stayed this entire trip at Colter Campground outside of Cooke City. 30 degrees this morning warming up to 74 degrees. At 7:00 a.m. Richard and Rita R found a grizzly digging on Amethyst Bench viewed from the Institute. At 7:35 a.m. I found a black and a gray wolf on the skyline south of Long Pullout, a brief sighting and the wolves were moving to the west. At 10:05 a.m. Richard and Rita found a small colorful grizzly eating berries south of Crystal Rock viewed from the Slough Creek restroom. At 6:35 p.m. Rick and Maureen B found a medium sized grizzly with the Yellowstone Stripe (a band of silver gray that forms a band around the grizzly's shoulders) east of Chalcedony Fan viewed from near Trashcan Pullout. At 6:40 p.m. I watched four black and one gray (probably mostly puppies in the old Druid Rendezvous area.

Sunday - September 26th

32 degrees this morning warming up to 73 degrees. At 6:40 a.m. I found a grizzly digging on Amethyst Bench viewed from the Institute that soon traveled along the tree line to the east. I saw this grizzly briefly in the tree line south of Trashcan Pullout a little later in the morning. Some confusion this morning as others viewed a grizzly that had a collar in the same area; but I only saw the un-collared grizzly. Maybe two grizzlies present this morning. At 6:55 a.m. Richard and Rita R found the Middle Ridge grizzly sow with two cubs of the year (we think this is the Middle Ridge family because the sow was lighter in color and had a Yellowstone Stripe. Whereas the Specimen Ridge sow with two cubs of the year who also frequented the area was all brown (with no Yellowstone Stripe) viewed from the Institute. This grizzly family provided good sightings for well over an hour. A bull bison was in the area and that probably hastened the grizzly families exit. At 6:15 p.m. two black and four gray wolves (mostly puppies) were in the old Druid Rendezvous area viewed from Trashcan Pullout.

Monday - September 27th

38 degrees at camp this morning but only 31 degrees in Lamar Valley warming up to a warm 78 degrees. Some smoke in the valley this morning. At 8:00 a.m. we had three wolves roaming around in the old Druid Rendezvous area. At 6:50 a.m. I found a large black bear in the tree line south of the road between Amethyst Bench and the old Druid Rendezvous area.

Tuesday - September 28th

34 degrees this morning with a little smoke in the valley warming up to 63 degrees with a cold wind in the afternoon that blew the smoke out of the area. At 7:15 a.m. Rick M called with wolves and a grizzly in the old Druid Rendezvous area. I moved down the road to Trashcan Hill to observe. I saw thirteen wolves bedded with little action and in with them was a small grizzly bear that was digging when I arrived. The grizzly soon bedded so not much to watch. I left to the east to spot for other bears but heard that eleven other wolves arriving from the east joined the group. After a little time meeting, they all marched to the east with the grizzly bear in line with them going out of sight. I have seen this behavior before, but it always involved a large grizzly who’s tagged along in case the wolves killed something so he could steal it.

Other Notes

The fall colors are the best I have ever seen in Yellowstone. Yellowstone trees are mainly conifers, but the few aspens and other hardwood trees are really bright this year. I have not seen a moose on this entire trip. The reason is that I go thru the area in the dark and return thru the area after dark. A few moose have been seen mainly near the NE Entrance, Lower Barronette Pullout and Round Prairie. I have talked to several people that got to see the new road from Tower Junction towards Canyon Junction. The road is finished and WILL open in the spring of 2022.

People Seen

Wolf Watchers: From Montana: Jeremy S, Dan and Laurie L, Doug M, Rick M, Wendy B, Taylor B, and Janice and Cindy H. From New York: Rick and Maureen B. From California: Bob H, Bill and Karen M, and Kathie L. From Utah: CD and Brenda C, and Paul H. From Pennsylvania: Dusty and Kathy. From Vermont: Don P. From Iowa: Jim and Joellyn B. From Texas: Carl L and Carol S. From Oregon: David and Stephanie O. Bear Watchers seen this report: From Louisiana: Bruce P. From Virginia: Big John. From Washington: John G. From Oklahoma: Shaun and Regina W. From Wyoming: Richard and Rita R. from Montana: Alan C, Doug M, and Mike and Kathy W. From Idaho: Ned and Theresa and Tanner P. And from Missouri: Fred and Linda. Others seen this report: From Montana: Evan S, Carl S, Audra C, Claire L, MacNeil L, and Cara M. From Vermont: Joann H. From Arizona: David and Phyllis. And from Massachusetts: Ed S.

Yellowstone National Park

Lamar Valley Map - Yellowstone National Park