The Thrill Of The Chase

*Critters we’ve seen on our 2013 trip so far:  bison, pronghorn, elk, white-tail deer, Uinta ground squirrel, coyote, snowshoe hare, grizzly bear, moose, wolf

*Birds we’ve seen on our 2013 trip so far: osprey, pheasant, magpie, raven, Canada geese, mountain bluebird, grouse, golden eagle, bald eagle, American avocet

 

[Click on any photo to enlarge.]
 

For right now there are only 2 sets of campground hosts, so we are working 3 days and then off 3 days, which still gives us time to venture out into the park.  On one of those off days we loaded Abby into the car and headed out towards Roaring Mountain where we had heard there was a grizzly sow (female) and her 3 cubs.  Sure

enough the pullout across from Roaring was full of cars, and just down the hill we could see a number of people with scopes.  As we joined them, we learned that about a mile down the valley the bears were grazing in the open meadow.  This is the best picture I could get with my camera all the way zoomed in and photo cropped, but you can at least make them out.

On our way back, we stopped at Rustic Falls, which is only about 5 miles from the campground, for a quick snapshot.  There was definitely more water flowing over than we've seen in the past, and what's amazing is the tiny stream from which it comes.  From there
     we decided to drive through the YCC housing area and there finally found several bison calves with their families.  They are so cute when they are little and look so much like baby cows!

 

   The next day we headed out to Lamar Valley, and along the way took the little side road towards the Petrified Tree.  We’ve had luck in the past seeing a grizzly or moose, and once again we were lucky enough to see this bull moose

      grazing on the hillside just below the road.  As we drove back to the main road, we had to stop not for any bear or bison jam, but for this one grouse that was very slowly making its way across.

 

   The snow melt had begun, and the rivers were beginning to roar, running high and fast.  There seemed to be lots of water everywhere as we made our way towards Tower Junction and the Lamar Valley even in Phantom Lake where usually none is seen (thus its name).  Along the way we saw something we had never seen before, a herd of bison actually in one of the ponds, and nearby a couple of young bulls were practicing their head butting skills.




 

 

As we continued our drive, once again we had to stop as a critter ran across the road in front of us.  At first we thought it was a wolf, but eventually based mainly on its coloring realized it was a coyote and though quite healthy, wasn't quite as big as a wolf.  We were able to pull over and watch as it scampered up and over the hill. 

We drove a little further to the next pullout and saw it continue across the meadow until it met up with a couple more near a large tree in the distance.  We were so busy watching it that we didn’t notice the rather large collared bison lying not far from our car!  We were within the safe viewing limit of 25 yards, but it did initially startle us.  Two young bison crossed the road and began nudging at her.  When

she finally stood up, we can see that there was something wrong with her hind legs, and we wondered if she had been hit by a car.  Suddenly one of the young started trying to nurse, which seemed odd because it seemed too old for that.  We’ve since found out that the collared bison has been that way for about 2 years, and the expert wasn’t sure why those “young adults” were trying to nurse.

 

Once we arrived in Lamar Valley, we saw a large number of cars and several spotting scopes which probably meant there was some action going on.  Out on a hill near the river was a bison carcass (dead from natural causes we were told) with a wolf gnawing at its hind-
       quarters.  In the photo above right you can see the wolf to the
right of the downed bison while several other bison were hanging nearby.  Also in the area were 3 coyotes (seen left) who were hoping to get in on the action. 
  Once the wolf had its fill, it chose a spot to lie down not far away, and the coyotes began to strategize a plan for getting some of that fresh meat.  However, the wolf was going to do its best not to let that happen and started chasing the
     coyotes (seen left).  But it was 3 against 1 and soon the coyotes were chasing the wolf (below right), and eventually even one of the bison joined in the chase (below left)!  Once the wolf was well out of the way, the coyotes
   headed back towards the carcass yowling and yipping as if celebrating their victory over the wolf.  They better watch out, though, because that wolf was probably going back to the den for reinforcements!  The coyotes ate
      on the carcass for only about 10 min. and then left.  Sure seemed like a lot of work and commotion for not eating much, but then maybe it was more the thrill of the chase.  It was definitely an exciting event for us to watch unfold.

 

Yellowstone Tidbits:

• Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872
• Moose: Bull (male) weighs close to 1,000 lbs., cow (female) weighs up to 900 lbs., standing 5-1/2 - 7-1/2 ft. at the shoulder, and newborns weigh 25-35 lbs.
• Coyote: Weigh 25-35 lbs., 16-20 in. high at the shoulder
• Wolf: Males weigh 100-130 lbs., females weigh 80-110 lbs., 26-36 in. at shoulder, 4-6 ft. long nose to tail tip