Yellowstone National Park 2024 Trip Reports
Trip Report ~ Bear & Wolf Sightings ~ by Bill Hamblin
16 through 20 September 2024
Yellowstone National Park
Beautiful Mountain Lion ~ Lamar Valley ~ April 10th, 2023 ~ Photo by Linda Rudge Carney © All Rights Reserved
Mountain Lion ~ also known as the Cougar, Puma, Panther, or Catamount ~ Puma concolor
~ September 2024 ~
September 16th - Monday
46 degrees at my campsite north of Gardiner this morning warming up to 75 degrees out in Lamar Valley this afternoon. The limping coyote was still around today in a regular place near Trashcan Pullout in Lamar Valley. I got to Slough Creek around 10:30 a.m. and noticed two wolf watching friends spotting from Dave's Hill. I walked up and found Paul H and Bob P watching wolves off and on near the Marge Simpson Tree across the bottoms of Slough Creek. Over the next hour and one half they showed me six black and one gray wolf of the Junction Butte wolfpack milling around or bedded. I left around noon with all wolves out of sight. The Junction Butte wolf pack has sixteen members, eleven adults and five this year's pups. The color breakdown is eleven black and five grays. I camped this trip near Silver Gate. I rained all night long.
September 17th - Tuesday
37 degrees this morning in Silver Gate warming up to 55 degrees with afternoon and evening rain showers. At 10:30 a.m. the wolves were in view again near the Marge Simpson Tree. Today eight wolves were seen (all were black wolves). Around noon they moved north up and over Junction Pass and out of sight
September 18th - Wednesday
34 degrees in Silver Gate this morning warming up to 50 degrees. Gary G pointed out two golden eagles flying over Lamar Valley today. I found nothing special to report today despite Gary G and I spotting every clearing we could think of to look for grizzlies.
September 19th - Thursday
40 degrees this morning in Silver Gate warming up to 66 degrees out in Lamar Valley. At 9:30 a.m. Gary G and I spotted three black wolves from Lamar Canyon West Pullout in the same place as the last few days, around the Marge Simpson Tree. Paul H and other wolf watchers had a total of four black and two gray wolves today, one of which was 907F. This area is probably their temporary rendezvous site. Wolves generally pick a spot where they can leave the pups in safety until they are fit enough to travel with the pack. I would guess that in a week or two the pups will just follow the pack wherever they go.
September 20th - Friday
46 degrees this morning warming up to a windy 64 degrees out in the valley. Thirteen big horn ewes and lambs bedded on Ski Slope this morning. We watched a pair of golden eagles and a bald eagle flying north of the Institute this morning. At 7:20 a.m. the wolf watchers found eleven black and two gray wolves near the Marge Simpson Tree, again milling around, and bedded. I walked up to Dave's Hill and the viewing was pretty good with the pups running around more that the adults. We had a big cow moose later tonight at Warm Creek. Note: Grizzlies have been seen in other parts of the park (east of Fishing Bridge, Hayden Valley and near Gardiner) but nothing seen or reported by others in the Northern Range since I have been here.
People Seen
Wolf Watchers: From Montana: Rick M, Kristina G, Reggie and Linda C, Carolyn G, and Wendy B. From Utah: Paul H, and Celia L. From Colorado: Bob P. From California: Kathie L. From Washington: Larry and Linda R. From New York: Rick and Maureen B. From South Dakota: Sam and Ginny G. And from British Columbia: John and Mary T, and daughter. Bear Watchers: From Mississippi: Gary G. From Wyoming: Tom H. And from Montana: Debbie M. Others seen this report: From Montana: Andrea B, Alexander M, Kate J, Grant J, Hunter G, Chris H, Bob L, Mike S, Michael S, and Cara M. From Virginia: Big John B. From Washington: Arron M. From New Mexica: Lori U. From Wisconsin: John and Marie E. From Wyoming: Sandi R. From Vermont: John K. And from Pennsylvania: Dusty, Kathy, and son Jason.
Beautiful Mountain Lion ~ Lamar Valley ~ April 10th, 2023 ~ Photo by Linda Rudge Carney © All Rights Reserved
Mountain Lion ~ also known as the Cougar, Puma, Panther, or Catamount ~ Puma concolor
Yellowstone National Park
Lamar Valley Map - Yellowstone National Park
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