April 16, 2008
Course: Suffield High School custom program
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
These high school students learned much about wolf social dynamics today. The light gray male wolf, often seen around the Druid pack over the winter, was found dead. The number one cause of death for wolves inside the park is other wolves. Competition for mates, territory, and other factors add up to a dangerous world, especially for a lone wolf. It is likely that the Druid wolves killed the light gray male. He had been hanging around the pack since November and is thought to have mated with one or more of the females. With the onset of denning season he was apparently no longer tolerated.

April 15, 2008
Course: Suffield High School custom program
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
Even though winter is still hanging on, we are beginning to see signs of spring. Out on the snow in Lamar Valley we spotted a Uinta ground squirrel. The Slough Creek wolves were in and out of their denning area. During our day we also found some new bison calves, a yellow-bellied marmot out of hibernation, and some bluebirds eating insects hatching from the river.

March 16, 2008
Course: Day Off
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
On a midday ski toward Slough Creek campground, I noticed two golden eagles perched in a huge, dead, yet still standing, Douglas fir tree. As I pulled out my binoculars to take a closer look, the male eagle hopped up to mount the female, while still poised on the high branch. Now that’s a balancing act! Incubation time for golden eagles is estimated to be about 45 days, which means there might be eaglets by early May!

March 16, 2008
Course: Fang and Flesh: Hunter and Hunted in Yellowstone
Observer: Ben Shelkowsky, volunteer
In the early morning a beaver appeared for about five seconds, ducking underwater when we stopped to watch. A couple days earlier we had seen two river otters in a canyon just west of Lamar. They popped out from a hole, sliding along the ice in the creek.

March 16, 2008
Course: Fang and Flesh: Hunter and Hunted in Yellowstone
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
Our morning field trip found several instances of predator-prey interactions. We watched several magpies picking ticks off a bison and a coyote eating something out of the snow. Two golden eagles circled over the Lamar River causing the Canada geese there to start calling, then take off and fly away. The Druid wolves played in the deep snow. We watched the Slough wolf pack test elk; a group of six or so fending the wolves off by standing their ground. Later on we discovered an older kill with wolves and ravens eating the remains.

March 12, 2008
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
A quiet walk up the Pebble Creek drainage led us to some wild shapes and forms in the melting ice. We called them “ice volcanoes,” fast and cold water moving below holes in the ice which had been pushed up and had cracked around the edges. We stayed awhile, mesmerized by the thawing creek.

March 07, 2008
Course: Winter Rendezvous
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
We spotted three bighorn rams near the Yellowstone and Lamar Rivers confluence grazing on lichen. We also heard a single wolf howling in the same area. The Agate pack responded from the east. We were able to see them near a kill site/carcass, traveling along a sunny ridge.

March 06, 2008
Course: Winter Rendezvous
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
A sad fact of brucellosis is that cows abort their first calves. On our drive back from the Lamar Valley area, we came across a mixed herd of cow and calf bison. One cow was walking the road with some afterbirth material hanging. Since it is still very early in the season, she may have recently aborted her calf. This led me to believe that she might have brucellosis.

March 06, 2008
Course: Winter Rendezvous
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
Along a trail in Little America, we came across some animal tracks, possibly fisher. The fisher is a medium-sized weasel almost never seen or tracked in Yellowstone. Actual population numbers are uncertain. The animal was using a snowshoe trail to avoid the deeper snow. The tracks could also have been made by a smaller weasel and distorted from the effects of weather.

March 06, 2008
Course: Winter Rendezvous
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
Around the Blacktail ponds we discovered two cow elk carcasses which appeared to be freshly killed. After waiting awhile, about seven Leopold wolves appeared, a couple of which came into feed for a short time. Sometimes wolves do kill more than one animal in a hunt, as single wolves may pick out different elk to test. Most hunts are actually unsuccessful but sometimes the opposite is true.

March 05, 2008
Course: Winter Rendezvous
Observer: Barbara O'Grady, instructor
As we returned from a snowshoe hike to Trout Lake, we observed two kills at Blacktail Deer Plateau. One had two bald eagles and a golden eagle on it. The other, a bald eagle. We watched as ravens and magpies tried to share in the feast.

March 05, 2008
Course: Winter Rendezvous
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
Four bighorn rams grazed and lay on the hill at the trailhead for the confluence of the Yellowstone and Lamar Rivers. We parked the bus, got out quietly to gear up for our snowshoe hike going out of our way to avoid the rams, then regained the trail and continued along the rim above the river. We looked back to see the rams following us down the trail! We decided to move ahead to get out of their way. Luckily they made their way down to the river’s edge, leaving us to our hike.

March 05, 2008
Course: Winter Rendezvous
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
We had a close-up look at more than fifty pronghorn along the Old Yellowstone Trail.  Many bucks were obviously building back their horns made out of compressed hair. Near the base, all around their horns there was loose hair. The hair begins to compact from the top, angling downward. They are about halfway through finalizing their horn growth. The bucks are the only North American horned animal that sheds its sheath once a year.

March 03, 2008
Course: Yellowstone's Winter Explorers
Observer: Anita Edington, volunteer
This morning we watched some ravens harass a golden eagle. We also saw a Slough wolf, three eagles, and numerous ravens on a carcass, just above the Slough Creek pullout. On our afternoon snowshoe hike to the Rose Creek acclimation pen we encountered a group of territorial bison, causing us to detour around them.

March 02, 2008
Course: Yellowstone's Winter Explorers
Observer: Anita Edington, volunteer
At first light we watched the Druid pack travel eastward from a carcass about one mile east of the Lamar Buffalo Ranch. About a half hour later we spotted a muskrat in Soda Butte Creek just above the confluence with the Lamar River, as well as some American dippers and Barrow’s goldeneyes. Above the confluence, across from “Hitching Post” pullout, we observed some bighorn sheep. In the afternoon we found a beaver on the bank of Soda Butte Creek less than a mile west of the cone. All in all a good variety of “critters” in a fairly small area.

March 01, 2008
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
We spotted a young bison in Little America which still had the chestnut brown color of calves only a few months old. Most calves are born in late April and May, turning dark brown by August. This calf was starting to change color, meaning he was probably born as late as November, but somehow has managed to survive the deep snow and cold of a Yellowstone winter. He was also moving well with the herd. We saw him two days in a row and the group had covered at least five miles over the snowy landscape in a few hours.

March 01, 2008
Course: Winter in Wonderland
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
Today Yellowstone National Park celebrated its 136th birthday! As Yellowstone was originally set aside for its unique geological wonders, our group felt honored to be the only ones at a late winter eruption of Fountain Geyser at Fountain Paint Pots, part of the Lower Geyser Basin. Wildlife also makes Yellowstone special, and this week we spotted five bald eagles in one spot, moose and grouse tracks along the snowy trail to Lone Star Geyser, and sightings of multiple wolf packs.

February 28, 2008
Course: Honing the Vague Verb
Observer: Don MacDougall, volunteer
A white-tailed doe and yearling stood by the road near the Yellowstone River and “Wrecker” pullout.

February 24, 2008
Course: Watching Winter Wildlife
Observer: Ben Shelkowsky, volunteer
We saw one red fox near Soda Butte searching for food on the flats close to the creek bed. On the way to Cooke City before exiting the Northeast Entrance, we saw two moose, probably adult females. They were standing apart on either side of the road, browsing in a forested area.

February 24, 2008
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
The group observed the Agate wolf pack take interest in a small group of elk near Pleasant Valley, Tower Junction. They quickly lost interest and traveled a short distance west to nap on a ridge together. On another day we saw a moose cross the road near Barronette Peak. Also, the Druid wolf pack was bedded on top of Specimen Ridge only 30-40 feet from a large 6 point bull elk who remained standing, looking alert, most of the hour we observed him.

February 23, 2008
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
Today we observed eleven Druid wolves, one coyote, and one red fox, all at the same time in Lamar Valley. Only a small number of foxes have been seen this winter but we saw two this week. Some crusty snow has developed during the warmer weather, perhaps allowing the lightweight fox to come out in the open and be able to avoid getting caught by the heavier coyote.

February 22, 2008
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
As the chill set into our fingers and toes, the sun greeted us from east of Lamar Valley with a temperature of 3°F. We watched eleven Druid wolves move up a snow-covered hill along Specimen Ridge, scent marking and sniffing as they went, to indicate their territory. They seemed oblivious to us as we watched them interact with some bison.

February 19, 2008
Course: Winter Wildlife Expedition
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
The entire Druid wolf pack was seen east of Lamar Buffalo Ranch, traveling east along ridge tops north of the valley road. A dark gray male from outside the pack led the “bar” sisters into a group of aspen trees below and slightly east of the pack. The two females, “bright bar” and “dull bar” made themselves available to mate with the lone male. He mounted and “tied” with one of the sisters for five to ten minutes at about 10:30 a.m. We heard some howling during the one-and-a-half hour process, then most of the wolves laid down for a midday nap.

February 18, 2008
Course: Family Winter Holiday
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor
We watched the Druid wolf pack on an elk carcass. Even though we were first on the scene, we were still a bit late to see actual event. There were plenty of eagles, ravens, and magpies waiting to grab a bite. We also saw a fox sleeping curled up in the snow. It kept opening its eyes every time the wildlife watchers made too much noise, but continued to sleep regardless of the disruptions.

February 15, 2008
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Barbara O'Grady, instructor
We snowshoed out to 9F’s old den, discussing the incredible opportunity we had to watch the collaring of one of the Druids in Lamar Valley. It was a crystal clear day. The head of the Yellowstone Wolf Project had also collared some Agate pack wolves. One of them howled below Specimen Ridge. It made a perfect backdrop to the story of #9F, since the howling wolf could have been one of her descendants.

February 13, 2008
Course: Trinity Lutheran School custom program
Observer: Don MacDougal, volunteer
We saw a cougar cross the road between Ice Box Canyon and Round Prairie around 8:45 in the evening. We also saw a fox on the road near Round Prairie right after the cougar crossing.

February 13, 2008
Course: Winter in Wonderland
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
On our ski day to Tower Waterfall, some of us saw a cow moose near Calcite Springs overlook…a first for this instructor during winter! After lunch we spotted a bull moose browsing willow near the Tower General Store! We thought we couldn’t top that but on our snow coach ride to Old Faithful the next day, an uncollared gray female wolf watched us for a few minutes near the Mount Holmes trailhead. She might have been the lone adult female from the Hayden pack. We concluded our tour with a beautiful view of a red fox at Artist Point on the south rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

February 13, 2008
Course: Yellowstone on Skis
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
At Canyon we spotted a red fox walking in the road. It trotted ahead then turned off the road onto the ski trail. When later on we stopped at the Chittenden Bridge to look at the Yellowstone River, we were able to watch four otters play at a hole in the ice. We saw them slide in the snow, scent mark, and roll over each other.

February 09, 2008
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Barbara O'Grady, instructor
There was a good deal of commotion in Lamar Valley today caused by a stuck snowplow. Above the traffic jam, on the hills north of the road and east of the Buffalo Ranch, one of the gray Druid pups had a stick or piece of ice to toss overhead, watch slide down the slope, then pounce on again and again. The wolf pup seemed oblivious to the other members of the pack and certainly unconcerned with the human activity below.

February 08, 2008
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Barbara O'Grady, instructor
Despite the wind, it was a beautiful morning in Lamar Valley. We arrived at about 8:30 Friday morning to find the Druids on a recently killed elk calf. The wolves busily helped themselves--a group of fifteen, plus two interlopers which are still attempting to join the pack. We watched as they finished up and began to move off in different groups, tails wagging, running, pups playing enthusiastically en route, bellies full. Two bald eagles soared overhead, and one very brave coyote sat patiently by the roadside watching, awaiting their turns at the carcass. The coyote was disappointed by one of the gray interlopers who stole the chance to feed.

February 07, 2008
Course: Winter in Wonderland
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
We were blessed with the closest encounter we could ask for with wild trumpeter swans. Along the Madison River, about ten swans moved up and down the free flowing water right next to us! As we watched, a bald eagle flew past, searching for an afternoon snack of a duck below. Luckily for the duck’s sake, the eagle just did a fly by without making contact.

February 06, 2008
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
The day was mostly cloudy with sun breaks. While we searched for mountain goats on Barronette Peak, we observed a golden eagle soaring among the snowy cliffs and frozen waterfalls, eventually landing inside a small dark cave. A very large avalanche of cold light snow plummeted from the summit, billowing along its steep rapid descent and covering the rocky cliffs, dark green conifers, and multi-colored icefalls to the bottom of a large run-out shoot between two thickly forested slopes.

February 06, 2008
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
A northern Pygmy owl hurled out of the spruce/fir forest near the Northeast Entrance to crash land on the road next to us. We could see the two eye patterns on the back of the nape of its neck as the tiny owl swiveled its head 180 degrees several times to reorient itself. They appeared and disappeared as it looked into the forest then back at us. The Pygmy owl took flight, revealing a mouse crushed in its tiny sharp talons, and carried its prey back into the densely forested habitat it had appeared from.

February 05, 2008
Course: Winter Wildlife Expedition
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
Part of the Druid pack was north of the Lamar Buffalo Ranch. They howled and were answered by other pack members south of the road. The howling spanned several minutes. We could hear a very low tone weaving through the other sounds.

February 05, 2008
Course: Winter Wildlife Expedition
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
We observed a dark gray interloper longingly watch the Druids. A light gray interloper came up over the ridge to join the darker wolf. A black Druid female also came up the ridge to greet the lighter one. She was joined by a gray female. While the three wolves greeted and danced around each other, the dark gray male tucked his tail and slunk away.

February 04, 2008
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
At 10 a.m. we observed two wolves near Elk Creek howling often and meeting along a deeply snow-covered ridge among the old burned forest, a bison and an eagle perched high in a snag nearby. The two wolves, one black and one gray, then walked away from each other, soon joined by another wolf each of their similar color. The grays were the Agate Creek alpha pair with two other black wolves. Later on, around 3 p.m., we watched 302M, the “Casanova” black wolf of the Druids, lope thru deep snow out of Lamar Valley onto the road. He was all by himself, probably searching for females to mate on his return to the rest of the pack.

January 30, 2008
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
The whole bus watched the Druid Peak pack chase and test, and chase and test, then strategize, regroup, and chase and test again, many small herds and individual elk on a nearby south facing slope in Lamar Valley near “Picnic” pullout. Several times we believed the pack had certainly surrounded an elk to prey on. The elk, however, somehow evaded the wolves. Eventually two cows from a group of six elk attacked and challenged one wolf, then several wolves. The elk stood their ground, stopping the predators from making a kill, and survived another encounter with the infamous Druid Peak pack.

January 28, 2008
Course: Boulder Creek Academy custom program
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor
We watched the alpha female of the Druids approach the alpha male. She pawed at him, encouraging him to get up. She was in estrus, blatantly flirting with her mate by climbing on him and acting very playful.

January 28, 2008
Course: Boulder Creek Academy custom program
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor
We watched the alpha female of the Druids approach the alpha male. She pawed at him, encouraging him to get up. She was in estrus, blatantly flirting with her mate by climbing on him and acting very playful.

January 28, 2008
Course: Yellowstone on Skis
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
Yellowstone showed us true winter weather with white-out conditions through the park. On Swan Lake flats, our snow coach driver Tyrene held the wheel with both hands, leaning forward to peer ahead. She drove from snow pole to snow pole, sometimes having go stop and wait until the blowing snow cleared enough to allow us to find the next pole!

January 23, 2008
Course: Winter in Wonderland
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
On a cold day, with temperatures as low as -45°F in Lamar Valley, our group was treated to some great wolf interactions! Some of the Druid Peak pack had killed a bull elk. A single wolf not associated with the pack was nearby, trying to gain the attention of some of the females. His tactics annoyed the Druid beta male but, after a short chase, two black colored wolves left with the lone male. Set in an aspen stand with deep snow and cold temperatures, this made for a wonderful winter scene.

January 21, 2008
Course: Winter Wildlife Expedition
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
East of Soda Butte Cone, we saw ten of the sixteen Druid Peak wolves feeding on a bull elk carcass. One gray wolf lay under a lone pine tree, separate from the pack. A black wolf walked up to displace the gray, then down to the kill. It was followed by the gray, which, after some barking and growling, was allowed to feed.

January 17, 2008
Course: The Wolves of Yellowstone
Observer: Ben Shelkowsky, volunteer
The group watched a solitary red fox for about thirty minutes at the first pullout east of the Buffalo Ranch. Meandering in the flat of the Lamar creek bed, it seemed to be searching for food.

January 15, 2008
Course: Yellowstone on Skis
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
We were the first people this morning to ski the trail to Lone Star Geyser Basin. We skied quietly, coming around the corner to surprise a pine marten crossing the trail about twenty feet in front of us. It stopped to look at us before bounding on its way. The cream of its chin and chest, and the red-brown of its body, showed up well against the monochromatic black and white of the trees and snow.

January 12, 2008
Course: The Buffalo Story
Observer: Rick Wallen, instructor
The busload of students and I observed a female white-tailed deer along the road near the east side of the Yellowstone River bridge. The deer looked at the bus as we approached her and immediately ran off to the south, uphill into the forest.

January 12, 2008
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
We had a great day of watching the Agate Creek wolf pack. The highlight was watching as the Agates chased elk twice and almost caught them. Unlike what many times is shown on videos and television, most chases are actually failures. As is also the case that females and younger wolves led both chases. The big males and older individuals may not participate as much in the early “chase” stage of the hunt.

January 12, 2008
Course: Winter in Wonderland
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor
We watched an otter come up under a goldeneye, lift the duck out of the water, then kill it. This was rare because otters usually hunt fish.

January 04, 2008
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
Druid male wolf #302 walked in front of us to go retrieve some of the pack’s pups who were with a gray male of unknown origin. This is one of two males perhaps trying to join the Druids. The older animals, especially #302, are not allowing it. Interestingly, the Druid pups are readily accepting the stranger. When the pups rejoined #302, he pinned them to the ground and they were very submissive. The unknown gray male did not approach #302, tucked his tail, and ran away. This series of events has been common lately. The two unknown males are hanging around the Druids, unaccepted, and perhaps perceived as competition by the other adult males.

January 02, 2008
Course:
Observer: Meriwether Anderson Sale, volunteer
On the Mammoth-Tower road, about 200 yards east of the Blacktail Plateau parking area, we sighted a bobcat loping west on the road as we approached by car. Noting our presence, he turned quickly south, jumping over a roadside snow bank, gaining cover in the roadside timber.

January 01, 2008
Course: Winter in Wonderland
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
During our Northern Range snowshoe hike, we happened upon very fresh mountain lion tracks—so fresh the snow kicked out from each track had not solidified on the surface. Finding the tracks of a solitary animal is not unusual for this species. The next day on the groomed cross-country ski trail to Tower Falls, we passed bobcat tracks and scat, most likely from the night before. On the day after that, during our snow coach ride to Old Faithful, we observed for fifteen minutes a bobcat feeding on a bull bison carcass. The cat was sitting inside the chest cavity of the bison—completely inside—feeding on remnants along the rib cage and upper chest. We crossed our fingers in hopes of seeing a lynx on the way out but, alas, no lynx.

December 29, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
A badger sat on top of a mound just before Hitching Post turn out at the confluence of the Lamar and Soda Butte rivers. He watched us for a moment before diving back into his burrow. Further down the road, east of Floating Island Lake, we spotted a dead elk. Over thirty ravens and a number of magpies roosted in the trees. Two coyotes fed, looking up warily at the magpies coated in red blood.

December 29, 2007
Course: Family Winter Holiday
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor
A dozen ravens teased four wolf pups. They hovered just out of reach above the wolves’ heads while the pups jumped up in the air, trying to reach the birds. There was no food nearby to attract the two species together, which made this a wonderful example of play between them.

December 28, 2007
Course: Winter Wolf Discovery
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
As a rare event, we witnessed a red fox being chased by a wolf! Wolves readily chase and kill coyotes—near carcasses especially—but it is rare to see a wolf chase a fox. The wolf may have been a younger wolf “experiment.” The chase lasted several minutes and covered perhaps a mile or more over snow-covered ground. The wily fox, light on his feet in the snow, was able to outmaneuver the heavier wolf.

December 25, 2007
Course: Winter in Wonderland
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
Christmas day gave us a view into the real Yellowstone. We watched eight of the Druid Peak wolves feeding on a bison carcass. On our snow coach ride to Old Faithful the next day, we counted near sixty trumpeter swans! There are only a few resident swans in Yellowstone but winter attracts larger numbers to the open (unfrozen) water. On another day, below Fishing Bridge, we watched six coyotes, one of which was feasting on a signet trumpeter swan. Two of the coyotes conspired to take it away from a single dominant coyote. The scheming coyotes made their move, tag-teaming the one…their plan worked!

December 08, 2007
Course: Food for the Masses, Session Three
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
A coyote was eating on a carcass when fifteen Druid wolves approached at a dead run. They were out of the distracted coyote’s line-of-sight until the last second, at which time the coyote ran off, tailed tucked as when threatened. Wolves have been known to kill coyotes on carcasses, but this one was able to get out in time to run down the road, where often will not follow.

December 07, 2007
Course: Food for the Masses, Session Three
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
We watched the Druid wolves feed close to the road on a carcass killed by another pack. Only a few wolves would come this close to human presence. People at the pull-out, though at a legal distance, created a disturbance for the wolves. Instead of eating at the carcass, a few wolves carried pieces away to the rest of the pack. Wolves are adaptable enough to change their behavior to get by. It would be more usual for wolves to feed on the carcass until there is little left.

December 05, 2007
Course: Food for the Masses, Session Two
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
The Druid wolves displayed several greeting behaviors. As they gathered up, we watched them greet, howl, tail-wag, lick, and show other signs of recognition.

December 04, 2007
Course: Food for the Masses, Session Two
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
On this day we saw a small, red bison calf feed at its mother’s side. It is unusually late in the season to see red calves. Elsewhere, we heard a pack of coyotes howl, then bed down. We also watched some ravens bathe in Slough Creek.

December 03, 2007
Course: Food for the Masses, Session Two
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
Two coyotes chased and attacked another one at a carcass. They grabbed and bit it, but it was able to jump up and escape.

December 03, 2007
Course: Food for the Masses, Session Three
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
On this day, while we watched a wolf pup eating, we counted 30-40 ravens on and around the carcass with the pup. Immediately after the wolf left, a coyote appeared within 50 yards. Amazingly we hadn’t seen him in the sage, hidden well by his camouflage coloring. As the coyote came up to the carcass, he harassed a few of the other ravens, which vocalized, circled the carcass, and then all flew off together. Though ravens will eat with coyotes, wolves and ravens seem to tolerate one another better.

November 30, 2007
Course: Food for the Masses, Session Two
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
Druid Peak wolves trailed behind a fleeing elk herd in Little America. A few elk struggled to keep up but the wolves never could catch up to the stragglers.

November 29, 2007
Course: Food for the Masses, Session Two
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
On Amethyst Bench, bighorn rams moved through a herd of 35 sheep, checking the ewes for receptiveness.

November 28, 2007
Course: Food for the Masses, Session Two
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
We found an unknown gray wolf attempting to join the Druid pack. It was jumpy and nervous, then submissive, when it ran from the adult wolves.

November 24, 2007
Course: Food for the Masses, Session One
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
The Druid wolves chased a bull elk, then gave up and headed south. As we drove to Lamar Valley, we again discovered wolves, this time heading toward the road. Lead by “road-tolerant” #302, all of the pack but two crossed to the other side. The other two stayed behind and howled. One of these, a black pup, has many times refused to cross a road to stay with the pack. Soon after, the two became three as an unknown gray wolf—one of two recently in Lamar Valley—joined the pups. This wolf led the two younger ones across the road to the rest of the pack on Jasper Bench. The pack greeted the pups while the unknown gray remained at a distance. He watched from there and has been seen on an off since, perhaps trying to join the Druid pack.

November 23, 2007
Course: Food for the Masses, Session One
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
At the end of the day we observed the adults of the Oxbow pack approach and chase a bison up Hellroaring Canyon. This pack has not been known to kill bison in the past but proceeded to attack and grab at a bison calf. The action only lasted a few seconds however, because a big bull bison ran down to chase away the wolves. Bison are very formidable prey, and defend one another from predators. It is no wonder very few Yellowstone packs prey on bison especially, in this case, when a large bull helps out in defense of the herd.

November 21, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
This afternoon we spotted a decent-sized grizzly bear walking slowly and sniffing around the sagebrush flats of Little America. Considering recent cold weather and snowfall, most grizzlies in Yellowstone are normally hibernating by this time.

November 11, 2007
Course: Hunter, Hunted
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
The class hiked out to Number 9’s old den site in Little America. Upon our return to the bus, we spotted a large grizzly bear (probably a boar) on the north side of the road. The grizzled hairs rippled as the bear moved slowly across the grass/sage flats, grazing and smelling for food. We watched for 15 minutes until he slowly wandered off to the north.

November 10, 2007
Course: Hunter, Hunted
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
We went out into Lamar Valley early to watch wildlife. We spotted the Druid Peak Pack in the eastern end of the valley. The wolves had been on the carcass of a bull elk they had taken down a few days earlier. We watched as they traveled west. They spotted a small herd of bull elk. They grouped up, trotted up hill toward the elk. The elk saw the wolves and ran. The wolves singled out a single bull and surrounded it. He stood his ground, once kicking a wolf which went flying. This was a perfect example of what we had been discussing in class: that if an elk stands its ground, it usually will survive and that wolves can’t just take down any animal they want. The wolves quickly gave up on the elk and continued west, finding another elk to test. This bull also passed. Suddenly the pack looked west and began to run. They ran up on the Slough Creek Pack who had ‘trespassed’ onto the thin line between pack territories. The Sloughs had taken down an elk in the night. Most of them spotted the Druids coming and took off, though a few pups seemed to be unaware of the Druids coming on. The chase was on! The Druids chased the Sloughs and then returned to the kill where they had their morning meal.

November 08, 2007
Course: Jefferson High School group program
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
While looking for wolves in Lamar Valley, we spotted the Druid Peak pack chasing a bull elk. As we looked on, the pack captured and killed the bull. Shortly thereafter, an unknown pack of six wolves approached the Druids, upon which they chased the intruders out of the area. The unknown group, split in half by the chase, howled to find one another. After one to two hours, the pack reunited up near Specimen Ridge. As the elk move into the area, packs are becoming increasingly territorial. This new pack is probably trying to find a place to fit in but the famous Druids are becoming once again a large, dominant presence in Lamar Valley.

November 07, 2007
Course: Jefferson High School group program
Observer: Mary Beth Phelan, volunteer
As the last hint of light touched the skyline above Jasper Bench with hues of red and orange, we watched the Slough Creek pack fly down the slopes chasing bull elk. It was almost haunting in its beauty. The wolves, with tails flying high, scattered the elk in all directions. We watched until the cloak of darkness covered their hunt, but it is a hunt with an alpenglow backdrop that will always be remembered.

November 01, 2007
Course: Food for the Masses, Session Two
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
We watched a large group of eagles, both bald and golden, fight over access to a carcass.

October 19, 2007
Course: Greater Yellowstone Coalition - Women in Wilderness Retreat
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
On the way to the B-Bar Ranch to pick up the group, I noticed a lone gray wolf along the dirt road, not a typical sight outside the park boundaries. As the bus approached, the wolf moved away from the road. After picking up the group the next morning, on the way back to the park, a sow grizzly and one cub-of-the-year ran across the road illuminated by our headlights. As the whitebark pine nut crop has not been great this year, there has been an increase in bears at lower elevations, closer to human activity. Before we entered the park boundary, two red foxes crossed our path as well.

October 16, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
The highlight of this day was five wolves on Swan Lake Flats! We counted three black and two gray wolves of this pack that has yet to be named. We watched a grizzly bear walk right through these wolves. Both watched each other warily without much interaction. We were able to get a photograph of the scene by putting the lens of a digital camera up to a spotting scope (digiscoping).

October 16, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
The highlight of this day was five wolves on Swan Lake Flats! We counted three black and two gray wolves of this pack that has yet to be named. We watched a grizzly bear walk right through these wolves. Both watched each other warily without much interaction. We were able to get a photograph of the scene by putting the lens of a digital camera up to a spotting scope (digiscoping).

October 10, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
Today we heard elk bugling all around us! Away from the roadside and the main trails we watched a group of elk with two bulls, each trying to dominate the scene. They were sizing each other up, bugling, and charging, but no serious fighting. Another sign of the season was a bear den we located, dug out of the side of a mountain. It was well-camouflaged by tall grass and on an angled slope, not easily found.

October 07, 2007
Course: Old Times on the Grand Tour
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
On the banks of the Yellowstone River in Hayden Valley, we watched a grizzly bear digging at something with its front paws, and then eating it. We couldn’t tell from our distance what the food source was.

October 06, 2007
Course: Master Artist Seminar: Our National Parks
Observer: Lisa Whitwell & Bill Mahoney, volunteers
Mammoth Hot Springs was sugar coated in this season’s first real snow, surrounding a smoldering Orange Mound.

October 05, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
We toured Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin, then north to the Norris Geyser Basin. On a short hike to the Pocket basin area we came across a large bull bison. He stood by another dead bison lying in the steam of a nearby hot spring. This newly dead bison had been recently scavenged. We speculated about how it died, injury sustained during the rut? Old age? Thermal burns? We don’t know the full story but the thermal area is where the bison chose to lie down, a connection between two of Yellowstone’s natural resources.

October 04, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
Hiking along the south side of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, we had to maneuver around a group of bison who had left Hayden Valley. Since the mating season has ended, dispersing bison can pop up just about anywhere! We made it safely around the group without disturbing them.

October 01, 2007
Course: Autumn in Wonderland
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor
We watched a bald eagle digging in a muskrat den. In the background a coyote dug up rodents on the shoreline of the Yellowstone River. Later on we viewed a turkey vulture, fairly rare for Yellowstone, flying over Canyon Lodge.

September 30, 2007
Course: Watching Wolves in Autumn
Observer: Lisa Whitwell, volunteer
The full Druid pack of seventeen wolves had become separated by the road and started howling. Eventually they reunited on the Lamar side of the road which was touching for us to watch.

September 29, 2007
Course: Fall Wolf & Elk Discovery
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
While checking out some scat on a trail in Little America, we encountered a badger. It poked its head out of a hole, and then went back to digging. Dirt was flying out behind the badger as it dug for hibernating Uinta ground squirrels. Some sources say a badger can out dig five adults with shovels, and many of our group now believe that!

September 29, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
The participants wanted to see pronghorn, moose, wolves, and bears – whew – and they got them all! As this is the pronghorn mating season, we saw a group in Lamar Valley with the buck taking full charge of his small harem. We spotted a bull moose in Soda Butte Creek feeding on willow. In Hayden Valley five of the Hayden Valley wolves were close by, but we had to let some visitors know not to run after them. This activity led to the wolves’ quick departure. By the end of the day we were able to find a black bear and cub feeding on rosehips. In addition, we viewed bighorn ewes and lambs foraging near Calcite Springs. They are at lower elevations at this time of year.

September 29, 2007
Course: Old Times on the Grand Tour
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
While traveling along the East Entrance road, the group spotted a grizzly. The bear was blond in color. It voraciously ate the clover along the roadside, slowly moving along. We stopped there to watch for about 30 minutes.

September 27, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
Each day of this program we had incredible sightings of wildlife, but on our trip down the Delacy Creek trail some of our group had chance sightings of great gray owl fledglings. These young owls stay near their next for a few months once they’ve fledged. They are the largest, though not the heaviest, owls in North America. Upon our arrival at Shoshone Lake we were greeted and circled by a mature bald eagle. It took numerous passes over our group.

September 23, 2007
Course: Fall Wolf and Elk Discovery
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
Our group observed several Oxbow pack wolves, both gray and black, testing a group of nine elk. There were seven cows, one yearling, and a large bull near the confluence of the Lamar and Yellowstone rivers. The elk, which were running from the wolves, grouped tightly and were very wary. Once the wolves moved on, the elk became more relaxed and resumed moving around and grazing.

September 18, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
While walking near a beaver pond, we observed a tiger salamander. It was apparently heading from the wettest pond area to the wooded lot nearby. Tiger salamanders are the only salamanders known to occur in Yellowstone and, although probably common, are rarely seen. At this time of year they are possibly traveling to a spot to spend the winter.

September 18, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
Above the Yellowstone River, on the Yellowstone Picnic Trail, on our way to Specimen Ridge, we saw eleven pronghorn. The buck scent marked his territory and ran around, rounding up his harem. After we got back from Specimen Ridge, we drove to the Slough Creek road to watch three black Slough pack wolves. They were lying on rocks above an elk their pack had killed earlier in the day. One pup walked down to the kill, scattered the ravens, and began to chew on the carcass.

September 18, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor
We watched a young bull moose moving across the ridgeline in Lamar Valley. He was moving back and forth and looking very nervous. We then saw a grizzly bear down below him. Perhaps he knew the bear was there and was trying to find another way around.

September 18, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: Ashea Mills, instructor
Fall is the time when ungulates are mating, bears are in hyperphagia, and everyone seems to be getting ready for winter. Knowing that, we were still surprised at the amount of wildlife we found in less than two hours between Phantom Lake and Lamar Valley. We counted two black bears, one grizzly bear, dozens of bison and elk, many pronghorn, a coyote, and the Slough Creek wolf pack feeding on a carcass.

September 16, 2007
Course: Fall Wolf & Elk Discovery
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
We observed 21 Slough Creek wolves together on western Jasper Bench. The adults regurgitated to feed the pups. They engaged in a variety of wolf activities: traveling and group howling, playing, greeting each other, bowing, Alpha male, and subordinate behaviors. Later on we found a grizzly bear foraging in Lamar Valley near a large herd of bison. The herd was made up of a few small cow groups and a couple bulls attempting to move the grizzly away. The bear sent one group running with a short lunge in their direction.

September 16, 2007
Course: Fall Wolf & Elk Discovery
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
At noon, an osprey soared over Little America with trout in its talons held aerodynamically upside down.

September 14, 2007
Course: Autumn Wolf & Elk Backpack
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
Over the course of our three days in the backcountry we came across two cows and one bull moose bedded along a streamside, two elk herds—each with a bull, cows and calves, another cow moose eating willow and Canada thistle, two different grizzly bears grazing by a stream, and 13 bighorn sheep—mainly rams—crossing in front of us.

September 14, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor
We saw a black bear saw with a single cub eating grasses in a meadow. She headed up a cliff, leaving the cub behind. Suddenly the cub realized it was alone and tried to climb up the hill with no success. Mom came back down to save the day and showed the cub an easier way up the hill.

September 14, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
Hiking up on a steep section of Specimen Ridge I looked down to find an out of place rock. Among the grass and bits of petrified wood there was a worked piece of chalcedony. Angled, and about three and a half inches long, the worked chalcedony was used to crack into animal bone to access the marrow. Early aboriginal people called this tool a hand axe. One of our program participants, familiar with artifacts, estimated the piece to date back to 1000 or more years old. We took pictures and left the awesome piece of early human tool right where we found it.

September 14, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
While looking for animal sign in Lamar Valley, we discovered raccoon tracks. The tracks were along the river in wetland habitat, where raccoons love to be. This is an extremely rare find in Yellowstone. Raccoon numbers in the park are probably rather low but we don’t know for sure how many may be here.

September 13, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: Barbara O'Grady, instructor
On the trail to Clear Lake we observed a great horned owl and two ravens harassing a great gray owl which had prey and was not interested in sharing.

September 12, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
Taking a short jaunt up the Glen Creek drainage away from Swan Lake flats, we happened upon not one, but three adult moose, two cows and one bull! The most interesting thing we noticed about the group, aside from them foraging solely on willow bunches, was that the bull’s antlers were not palmated. They looked like elk antlers, narrow with tines, but not flattened.

September 12, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
At the northern end of Swan Lake flats, two merlins flew over the treetops, calling as they went by the Glen Creek trail. In the meadow along Glen Creek we came upon three moose, one bull with interesting, elk-like antlers and two cows. Later on we counted nine spruce grouse foraging together near the trail.

September 12, 2007
Course: The Autumn Wildlife Show
Observer: Lisa Whitwell, volunteer
Two yearling wolves chased a bull elk in the Lamar Valley close to the Buffalo Ranch. Their lack of experience resulted in a failed mission but proved amusing for those of us watching.

September 10, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
Along the base of Specimen Ridge a pronghorn buck ran out across the meadow ahead of us. Other pronghorn lay on a hill nearby. The buck rubbed his horns on sagebrush, then scraped earth with his hooves, then urinated and defecated on the scraping to let us know this is his “territory.” When satisfied, he walked on and we also continued, giving his area a wide berth while he returned to his group.

September 09, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor
We watched an injured wolf called “Slant” trying to make her way up a very steep hill to the rest of the pack. The pups were ahead of her and waited for her to catch up, howling to her every time she was out of sight. When she finally caught up to the pups, they approached her with their tails wagging to lick her face.

September 09, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
While hiking down the Chittenden Trail on Mount Washburn, we saw three bighorn ewes at a hairpin turn. While we waited for the rest of our group to catch up, two sheep trotted toward us. We bunched up as one put her head down and kept coming in our direction. We bunched up more, and then left the road to give them space. They followed us watchfully as we climbed down the mountain to the lower switchback and continued on our way.

September 09, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
We started our morning with a melee of wolves! Seven total! The Agate pack met up in an open meadow in the Antelope Creek drainage with howling, wagging tails, and general greetings all around. Wolves were a wonderful way to begin our day. We also spotted a large grizzly bear rooting around in the high country on Mount Washburn.

September 09, 2007
Course: Fall Wolf & Elk Discovery
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
In the morning hours we saw an adult Agate wolf come back to the rendezvous site (the area the pups hang out in during later summer), and possibly regurgitate food. The whole pack soon reunited, with the adults leading the pups toward a carcass site off to the north. This was preceded by lots of tail wagging and awesome howling—a fairly common event when pup are this age and are rejoined by the adults.

September 09, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
This morning we saw the entire Agate wolf pack gather together for a group howl at their rendezvous site in the Antelope Creek drainage. In Hayden Valley we watched the alpha male of the Hayden pack return to their rendezvous site to feed the pups waiting there with the alpha female.

September 08, 2007
Course: Pelican Valley Grizzly Bear Basecamp
Observer: Kerry Gunther, instructor
We watched a sow grizzly bear with two cubs, three single adult grizzly bears, and five wolves interacting and scavenging at a bison carcass. We also noticed most of the rest of the wolf pack a few miles away. This was a good opportunity to further our understanding and appreciation of large carnivore ecology and interspecific interactions.

September 08, 2007
Course: Raptors on the Wing
Observer: Lisa Whitwell, volunteer
A huge golden eagle flew directly over the Yellowstone Association bus and soared the winds of the incoming front north of Wilsau, MT, at the northern part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

September 08, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
While visiting the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, we watched an osprey on a nest eating a large fish starting with the head.

September 08, 2007
Course: Roosevelt Rendezvous
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
On the Howard Eaton Trail near Mammoth Hot Springs we watched a Steller’s jay break into a land snail’s shell for the tasty treat inside.

September 04, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: Ashea Mills, instructor
There was a great variety of bird life on the Yellowstone River this morning. We spotted common mergansers, lesser scaups, and other waterfowl, along with a raft of pelicans, the morning light shining through their translucent large beaks. This may be among the last we see of them this season, as most have already migrated south. A flash of brilliant yellow caught our eyes as we followed a migrating Townsend’s warbler working through the riparian willow. An American dipper delighted our group with its incredibly stable footing in LeHardy’s Rapids while it fed on aquatic invertebrates.

September 03, 2007
Course: Fall Wolf & Elk Discovery
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
We watched two young wolves, one black and one gray, interacting with coyotes, ravens, and magpies at a carcass near the Lamar River this morning.

September 03, 2007
Course: Unraveling the Canyon
Observer: Bill Mahoney, volunteer
On a geology course, not even focusing on wildlife viewing, over the course of a few hours on the same day we had very close sightings of a grizzly bear crossing the road near Antelope Creek, a bighorn sheep browsing just inches off the road near Tower, and a bull moose grazing inside the trees near Canyon.

September 02, 2007
Course: From the Ground Up: Botanical Illustration
Observer: Dave Syfert, volunteer
From our established area for plant specimen work we were able to observe a grizzly bear next to the Lamar River throughout the day. In the evening, a great blue heron flew over the bunkhouse.

September 01, 2007
Course: Grizzlies: From Dumps to Recovery?
Observer: Peg Erickson, volunteer
We went out both mornings of the course to Mount Washburn, Hayden Valley, and Antelope Creek. The only grizzly bear we saw was across from the Buffalo Ranch near the Lamar River each morning after we returned from the outings. It was a large bear, eating something in the grass, visible via spotting scope or binoculars from the ranch.

September 01, 2007
Course: FRom the Ground Up: Botanical Illustration
Observer: Dave Syfert, volunteer
We found several bear tracks imprinted in the mud of the Rose Creek trail after a night’s rain.

August 30, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
While hiking to Clear Lake, we saw a brown creeper looking for insects on the trunk of a tree. Later on, we watched a coyote eating something near the road. He would grab a bite in his mouth, tilt his head back, and gulp the morsel. We watched for ten minutes as he finished his meal then trotted away.

August 29, 2007
Course: The Wolves of Yellowstone
Observer: John Scarlett, volunteer
The class observed the Agate Creek pack for five hours, and saw an incredible variety of behaviors. All agreed, however, that the most awesome sight of the morning involved wolf #113, the oldest wolf in the park (about 10 ½ years), and the founder and former alpha male of the Agate Creek pack. A puppy approached the resting “Alpha Emeritus” and literally prostrated himself in a gesture of respect.

August 29, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
At the Norris Geyser Basin we were lucky to see a sagebrush lizard, the only lizard species in the park.

August 26, 2007
Course: South Dakota State University custom program
Observer: Brad Bulin and Ashea Mills, instructors
We arrived at Amphitheatre Valley just in time to see nine pups and two adult wolves harassing a sow grizzly with one cub of the year. One pup got a good face slap from the cub, and a few pups got some nips in at the cub’s back end, but no one seemed intent on hurting one another. The Agate wolves, however, were serious about getting the bears moving.

August 26, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
We observed a female grizzly bear with her cub of the year traveling through the Antelope Creek drainage. The Agate wolves and pups were also there, testing the bears as they moved through.

August 21, 2007
Course: Day Hiking the Wild Yellowstone: Northern Range Area
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
While hiking off trail along the Yellowstone River, we heard wolves howling and saw two elk standing at attention across the river. A few minutes later we spotted a wolf sitting in the trees. Ravens were flying low in and out of an area, so there may have been a kill nearby.

August 21, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: Ashea Mills, instructor
On Antelope Creek we were treated to a view of a bull moose chewing his cud in the morning shade, the Agate pack wolves howling in the background. Some higher notes came from the pups, while the rich, discordant, melodious tones of the adults filled Amphitheatre Valley.

August 20, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: Ashea Mills, instructor
To the misfortune of a cow bison and calf, we had a wonderful opportunity to observe several of the Slough pack wolves on these carcasses in Lamar Valley. At the same time we also counted up to seven coyotes, some pups, also taking their chances for a meal. As there was only one wolf at a time feeding, the braver coyotes were able to get a bite to eat.

August 20, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Janice Drout, instructor
From Lookout Point in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, we saw three osprey nests. Two of the nests each had two chicks in them. The third had a chick standing on a fish, and then a parent landed after flying so close to us that we could have touched it.

August 20, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor
We watched a coyote walk very close to a bighorn sheep ewe sleeping with her lambs. The ewe stood up quickly to chase the coyote away. She continued until the coyote was well out of view, a wonderful display of a mother protecting her young.

August 18, 2007
Course: Writing Retreat
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
The deer and pelican return to our camp near the lake. We spot a downy woodpecker pecking wood.

August 17, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
Through the rain we watched the alpha female of the Hayden Valley wolf pack. Her very light color made her easy to spot in the green grass. As we watched, she moved out of the rain and into the cover of some lodgepole pines. Earlier in the day we had seen the Agate wolf pack chasing elk in the Antelope Creek area. We saw one uncollared and one collared black wolf come out of the thick tree cover. They might have been successful in their chase.

August 17, 2007
Course: Flying Pig Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
The Agate Creek wolf pack fed pups in the area of the Antelope Creek drainage by traveling between the kill site and the rendezvous site.

August 17, 2007
Course: Writing Retreat
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
Some more pelicans fly over camp, one comes back to circle us. We see yellow-rumped, Wilson’s, MacGillivray’s, orange-crowned, Townshend’s, and yellow warblers, all from the same spot, foraging in trees and shrubs by the lakeshore.

August 16, 2007
Course: Writing Retreat
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
We watch an osprey feed on a fish at the end of a limb. A mule deer doe with twin fawns orbit the campsite. At Plover Point, a flight of eight to twelve American white pelicans soar overhead.

August 16, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
Our group watched a grizzly sow with four cubs of the year digging into the side of the mountain below Dunraven Pass while some of the cubs slept.

August 15, 2007
Course: Writing Retreat
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
Our lakeside camp is a good spot for birds. A bald eagle flies over us, five spotted sandpipers forage off shore, and a brood of Barrow’s goldeneyes float in the bay.

August 15, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
We spotted three wolf pups and all the adults of the Hayden pack from a distance. It was a treat to see them – their stomachs looked distended from a recent feeding. We watched them through the thick haze of smoke from nearby wildfires. (Columbine and Promontory Fires near Yellowstone Lake)

August 14, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
This morning we saw a coyote at Blacktail Ponds. It walked slowly with ears perked, stopped for a moment in a listening posture, then suddenly pounced nose first into the sage. It tugged at something, and then came up with a ground squirrel in its jaws. It sat on its haunches and gulped the squirrel. After a big swallow, it stood up and continued hunting – an empty stomach on four legs!

August 14, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
The bison mating season in Hayden Valley is spectacular! Bison are all over the place with dust flying, grunts and fighting. It made for an exciting start to our day! We also caught glimpses of the Hayden wolf pack. We watched three pups with two adults far away on the east side of the valley.

August 13, 2007
Course: Flying Pig Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
We watched a sow grizzly with a few cubs of the year foraging near white bark pine trees on the north side of Dunraven Pass. The cubs were “bawling” with some ravens very close by.

August 13, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil, instructor
We saw a sow grizzly bear with four cubs of the year, an unusually large litter, frequenting the road near Dunraven Pass. This is another example of a healthy bear population possibly stemming from the good white bark pine nut crop last fall...many female bears went into their dens healthy, and many came out with young.

August 11, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
We watched a grizzly sow with four cubs of the year foraging on a mountain meadow, and then walking, running, and scampering into the spruce/fir forest on the south side of Mount Washburn. We saw another large dark grizzly feeing on a bison carcass in the Lamar River along with many ravens and several black-billed magpies too.

August 10, 2007
Course: Flying Pig Ed-Venture
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor
We watched a grizzly feeding on a carcass. When it was done it walked into the river. We thought it would cross, but it proceeded to “take a bath,” feet up in the air. It stayed in the water for fifteen minutes, floating and watching an osprey flying overhead. The bear had moved to the shore by the time the osprey dove. The bear seemed startled when the fish dropped back into the river. It took the osprey three tries to finally keep a fish.

August 10, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Kathie Lynch, instructor
Our group watched a grizzly bear at a new bison carcass in Lamar Valley near the old picnic area. It turned the carcass over, and then it went to the river to soak.

August 09, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Sharon Baron, instructor
We watched a sow grizzly with one cub feeding on a bison carcass with an adult female wolf. The eight month old cub did not like sharing its food with a wolf, and kept chasing her away. Surprisingly the wolf would run away with her tail between her legs, and then return to feed again. Finally a compromise was reached; the bears fed at one end of the carcass, the wolf at the other. We also spotted three adult ospreys on a nest with two young. We wondered if the third adult was an offspring from last year, therefore tolerated.

August 08, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
As bear sightings are few and far between this time of year, we were very fortunate to see a grizzly sow with two cubs feeding on a bison carcass in Hayden Valley. Also, it is the mating season for bison, so occasionally one bull can be gored by a rival male...one death does mean a lot of food for many (bears, eagles, ravens, wolves, coyotes, etc.)

August 07, 2007
Course: Yellowstone's Northern Roadside History
Observer: Lisa Whitwell, volunteer
Down the trail at “Wrecker” pullout, a beautiful red-colored gray fox unconcernedly looked at us, and then settled into the sage to chew on his fleas. Seeing it sparked the discussion about whether most foxes in Yellowstone are actually gray foxes, regardless of their color, per a prior discussion with Dr. James Halfpenny during Lesser Known Carnivores.

August 07, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
In Hayden Valley we witnessed the “pecking order” amongst grizzly bears at a carcass. First a sow with one cub was chased off by a sow with two cubs, although the first sow was allowed to stay nearby. Soon after, a boar (male) came in and chased both sows and cubs away. Sows will not risk their cubs around these males. Then another, larger boar chased that bear away. We also watched a young bull elk chase a bison calf. Soon after, the bull elk was chased out of the area by an aggressive cow bison. Mommy to the rescue!

August 07, 2007
Course: The Bison of Yellowstone
Observer: John Scarlett, volunteer
There were so many bison grunting and rumbling and snorting their way through the campus at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch that students in The Bison of Yellowstone Field Seminar had trouble getting to class!

August 05, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Ashea Mills, instructor
Even though we got to watch a grizzly and a black wolf in Lamar Valley for an hour, the highlight of our wildlife day was watching two coyotes harass a large gray wolf. The wolf seemed confused as to where to go, while the coyotes kept barking and howling, rushing at him occasionally. They followed him from near the road where we found them, all the way to the river. We think the wolf may have been injured. We also laughed as the bull bison were ignored by the cows who seemed more interested in eating grass than mating.

August 05, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Janice Drout, instructor
While in Hayden Valley we saw a coyote search out, pounce on, and swallow a small rodent (probably a pocket gopher) in three bites! It was all over in 15 seconds.

August 03, 2007
Course: Alpine Wildlife: Basecamp in the High Country
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
We sighted 13 bighorn sheep near a snow patch, either grazing or resting, near Wolverine Peak in the Beartooth Mountains. They became a little friskier and started to play after awhile. Perched high on a very narrow rocky ledge were a female mountain goat, a yearling, and a kid. On the Daisy Pass Trail we spotted a peregrine falcon soaring directly overhead. We speculated that it was hunting. Also on this trail we found grizzly scat less than 48 hours old.

August 03, 2007
Course: Introduction to Mammal Tracking
Observer: Lisa Whitwell, volunteer
At Beaver Pond, while making plaster casts of various fauna footprints, it was lovely to see an elk browsing close by, making fresh tracks.

August 01, 2007
Course: Tracking the Heat: Yellowstone's Hot Spot and Calderas
Observer: Bill Mahoney, volunteer
We watched a grizzly sow with two cubs turning over rocks and climbing on a steep slope near the Mount Washburn trailhead. The bears were visible from the road for about 30 minutes.

August 01, 2007
Course: Searching for Yellowstone's Most Elusive Carnivores
Observer: Peg Erickson, volunteer
We saw a large grizzly bear in front of the Lamar Buffalo Ranch across the highway foraging in a grassy area. He had an unusual looking second hump on his rump.

August 01, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
At the height of summer visitation we were able to have a spectacular and safe moment of pure wildness! This was the first time in Yellowstone for all of the participants in this program. We watched an untagged and uncollared adult grizzly bear parallel to the road in Lamar Valley – all within 150 yards – from the safety of our bus.

August 01, 2007
Course: True to Life: the Art & Science of Drawing Animals
Observer: Anita Edington, volunteer
At the east end of the Lamar field campus, the class sketched a variety of raptors. We watched adult and immature red-tailed hawks, including one that attempted to catch a chipmunk but missed. We also spotted an immature bald eagle, a golden eagle, and an osprey.

July 29, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Ashea Mills, instructor
Even though the summer temperatures have driven much of the wildlife high into the mountains, in the Lamar Valley we were treated to the sight of a grizzly bear sleeping on a carcass with four Slough Creek pack wolves nearby. We talked about how these predators interact around food, and that the bear usually wins. We also observed some bison in rut. The bulls bellowed, stuck out their tongues, closely followed the females, and waited for a chance to mate. We were also fortunate to be among the last people to view osprey chicks on their nest before they fledged.

July 28, 2007
Course: Backpacking the Trail of the Nez Perce
Observer: Angela Patnode, instructor
In the Hoodoo Basin we came across two bull elk at about 300 yards. They watched us for about ten seconds before they took off. The next day we spotted seven bighorn sheep chewing their cud on the back side of Hoodoo Ridge.

July 28, 2007
Course: Exploring Yellowstone's Microbes
Observer: John Scarlett, volunteer
We had an opportunity to visit a pool of historical significance. Led by the instructor, we hiked to a spring in the Lower Geyser Basin where temperatures reach more than 158 degrees Fahrenheit/70 degrees Celsius. An enzyme discovered there in the bacterium Thermus aquaticus has made possible the artificial replication of DNA through a process called polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

July 28, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
We watched a grizzly bear who had taken over a bison carcass from the Slough Creek wolves. The bear buried the carcass by dragging dirt over it, and then lay on it. We saw it at 9 a.m. and it was still on the carcass at 2 p.m.

July 28, 2007
Course: Geology of Yellowstone Lake
Observer: Bill Mahoney, volunteer
A bald eagle was perched just a few feet off the ground on a small snag and was intently watching for fish along the Yellowstone River in Hayden Valley just south of Elk Antler Creek.

July 26, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
We observed a great grey owl hunting from a low perch on a lodge pole pine. It swooped down towards its prey in the meadow grasses, and then flew to another low perch empty-handed. It must have missed its target.

July 26, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
While hiking Snow Pass near Mammoth Hot Springs, we came upon cat tracks. The size and general width of the trail left behind suggested a small mountain lion. Cats are rarely seen in Yellowstone, making this a lucky sighting. Also, at the same spot, were red fox tracks. The fresh rain left the ground soft enough to reveal a lot of animal activity for us.

July 25, 2007
Course: No Child Left Indoors!
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
While hiking out to the Garnet Trailhead, we spotted movement on a hill. Three badgers stopped their activity for a moment and watched us. They walked up the hill, then came back down. One scooted into their den while the others walked on the hillside, possibly looking for Uinta Ground Squirrels.

July 25, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
We watched young wolf pups playing at their rendezvous site with one adult pup “sitter” near the north end of Hayden Valley across the Yellowstone River.

July 24, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
As we were walking back from Shoshone Lake on the DeLacy Creek trail, we watched a spotted frog jump into the creek.

July 24, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Kathie Lynch, instructor
The Hayden Valley wolf pack appears to still be present at its new rendezvous site near Alum Creek. After watching the wolves for some time, we saw a cow moose and calf grazing peacefully in a meadow on the Canyon side of Dunraven.

July 23, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Ashea Mills, instructor
A surprise spotting of a silvery gray wolf near the road was the highlight of our wildlife day. We saw her squat and talked about how most subordinate wolves will squat (even if they are male) but her size led us to believe she was female. She went into some deep brush and we lost sight of her. We also got to see a cinnamon black bear foraging in a cow parsnip and dive nose-first into a tasty anthill.

July 23, 2007
Course: Flying Pig Ed-Venture
Observer: Kathie Lynch, instructor
The Hayden Valley wolves have moved from their den area near the Otter Creek picnic to the Alum Creek vicinity. We watched various pack members walking around and playing before they bedded down for the day.

July 23, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
An uncollared gray wolf ran across the road in front of the bus while we were driving past Geode Creek. It appeared to be a wolf from the Oxbow pack. It was a beautiful sighting. Later, while on a hike to an abandoned wolf den, we watched a peregrine falcon dive at six ravens that were eating grasshoppers and crickets along the drying grasses. The falcon did not make contact with the ravens but got very close. A second attempt proved unsuccessful and finally the falcon moved on. This was an incredible sighting as it was just 100 to 150 feet from where we stood.

July 22, 2007
Course: Global Climate Change & Yellowstone
Observer: Kathy Perkins, volunteer
Today we saw mud snails in the Madison River, eating water insects. This invasive species may very well deprive native fish of an important food source.

July 21, 2007
Course: Picking Bugs Out of the Paint: the Art of Plein Air
Observer: Anita Edington, volunteer
In an aspen grove west of the bridge near the road to Slough Creek campground, some pronghorn with two fawns grazed. A coyote tried to sneak up on one of the fawns but the adult pronghorn chased it away. The next day, just as we arrived at Slough Creek, we heard coyotes howling. Then, in view of the class, a coyote caught a very fat ground squirrel.

July 20, 2007
Course: Picking Bugs Out of the Paint: the Art of Plein Air
Observer: Anita Edington, volunteer
On the Slough Creek campground road, we watched a badger digging for about five minutes before it left.

July 20, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
This afternoon, we saw a grizzly female with two cubs grazing on the meadows of Mount Washburn. Her two cubs were still nursing.

July 19, 2007
Course: Fly Fishing for Seasoned Anglers
Observer: Tom Reed, volunteer
While fishing in the Lamar and Soda Butte area, we had a good opportunity to watch several different flying insects being fed on by the fish.

July 18, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
While hiking over open sage and grassland terrain, two buck pronghorn – one in fast pursuit of the other – came running full speed right towards us. We watched, awe struck, as the fastest land mammal in North America came whizzing past us, less than 75 feet away. Later on in the Hayden Valley, we were waiting for a chance to see the Hayden wolf pups at Otter Creek and a pine martin crossed the open field. It appeared that no on else saw this, as they were intent on looking for the larger wolves.

July 17, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
We watched Fountain Geyser erupt for about 20 minutes. It was a wonderful treat to watch bison meander through the entire Fountain Paint Pots area.

July 17, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
On the Delacy Creek trail, we encountered a great gray owl hunting on a sunny mid-morning. This owl, unlike most, will hunt during the day. The owl made several unsuccessful attempts to catch things. It also kept trying to perch on very small trees, making us think it could be an immature owl just starting to learn to hunt. Finally it flew right over our heads to seek another perch. What an awesome sight to see such a large bird so close. These owls are some of the largest in the world.

July 15, 2007
Course: Emerging Knowledge of Wolves
Observer: Nathan Varley, instructor
We saw wolf pups by the Yellowstone River. There were two adults lying in tall grass, and the pups were playing on the bank, pulling up grass, rolling around, and playing tug-of-war with a goose feather.

July 15, 2007
Course: Emerging Knowledge of Wolves
Observer: Janice Smith, volunteer
At Antelope Creek, we saw a sow grizzly and two cubs playing near the road. The cubs came into the road and they were playing with the traffic cones.

July 14, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
This morning on the Blacktail Plateau road, a black bear sow with one cub was feeding right next to the road on a berry bush.

July 13, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
A participant discovered an obsidian knife blade on our hike. Because the Yellowstone Association is the official educational partner with the National Park Service and we have an open dialog with them, we noted the location where it was found and took it to the park anthropologist. She was excited about the find and happy that we had retrieved it. It was estimated to be about 2000 years old and possibly obsidian that was quarried at Obsidian Cliff here in the park. Now, the family that found it will have their name in the record book in the park archives for years to come, showing that they found a 2000 year old knife blade!

July 13, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
We watched a white wolf, alpha female of the Hayden pack, walk down to the Yellowstone River from the forest with five pups, for a drink of water. The pups wanted a regurgitated meal and to nurse but she would allow neither. The pups played in the grass on the river’s edge and in the shallows. A yearling female pack member regurgitated a meal two times after they mobbed her, licking her muzzle.

July 13, 2007
Course: Dayhiking the Wild Yellowstone: Lake Village
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
As we hiked off-trail north of Yellowstone Lake, two coyotes trotted across the field. We continued and farther along, a bull bison lay in the shade of the trees as a fox hunted mice in the meadow. After our lunch stop, we walked through a forest and spotted an owl, either great gray or great horned, flitting through the trees.

July 13, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Ashea Mills, instructor
One of the highlights to our week was watching two different packs of coyotes with pups. The first we saw in the evening and got to see the pups chasing each other near an alert pronghorn buck. The second ran across the road in darkening twilight and one of the pups, confused as to which side of the road he should be on, plopped down, appearing frustrated, right on the yellow line. We turned off the headlights and it ran back up to the mother.

July 12, 2007
Course: Mammal Tracking
Observer: Anita Edington, volunteer
We were searching for bear sign in the Mammoth area when we came across very fresh tracks, with the bear still in them! The bear was searching for ants and tearing decaying logs apart.

July 12, 2007
Course: Mammal Tracking
Observer: Anita Edington, volunteer
We were very fortunate to observe interaction of an elk herd, cows, claves, and four bulls. We listen to vocalizations between cows and calves for about 20 minutes.

July 12, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
We observed a sow grizzly bear with two cubs near Antelope Creek as the cubs played in the mountain meadow wildflowers. The mother grazed and dug up roots, bulbs, and tubers. Later, we watched three fledgling peregrine falcons flying in the Tower Canyon area. They were loudly calling to each other and occasionally landing on cliffs, ledges, and spires.

July 10, 2007
Course: Mammal Tracking
Observer: Anita Edington, volunteer
During a tracking exercise along Slough Creek, we encountered an otter swimming. It was visible for about two minutes.

July 10, 2007
Course: Beckett Group
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
The group watched a grizzly mother with her two cubs at Antelope Creek foraging in a field of wildflowers, then lying down in the mountain stream to nurse. Later we spotted a peregrine falcon fledgling near the Tower canyon aerie on top of the cliffs. Next we observed a buck antelope round up five does near Junction Butte.

July 09, 2007
Course: Flying Pig Ed-Venture
Observer: Kathie Lynch, instructor
At the Chittendon Road entrance to Mount Washburn we watched a grizzly sow and two cubs of the year walk down the gravel road toward us and next to the bus. We had a good view from the safety of the bus!

July 08, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Ashea Mills, instructor
Near Antelope Creek we observed a grizzly sow and her two cubs for an hour. The sow moved through the valley, digging for insects and eating vegetation. The cubs stayed very close to their mother, looking for direction as to what flowers and vegetation to eat. The mother appeared to show the cubs that they could not eat “cow parsnip.”  She also rubbed against tree trunks, showing the cubs how to do the same.  The cubs stood up on their hind legs to look around for their mother; the mother kept a close eye on her cubs at all times.

July 08, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
In addition to watching a grizzly mother and two cubs of the year near Mount Washburn, we also watched a black wolf near Blacktail Ponds walk toward a bison carcass, then disappear over a ridge.

July 07, 2007
Course: Beyond the Trail: In-Depth Field Journaling
Observer: John Scarlett, volunteer
While walking along Pebble Creek mid-morning, we spied a water ouzel (dipper) nest attached to the rocks directly across the creek and about eye level. Once students were settled in and quiet, the adult resumed feeding in the creek and tending to two chicks in the nest. Binoculars gave an incredible view into the nest, and into the very large, orange beaks of the chicks. Students sent a couple of fascinating hours observing, sketching, and painting.

July 06, 2007
Course: Flying Pig Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
In the Tower area, the group watched three nearly fledged peregrine falcons on their aerie cliff ledge walking around each other. Near Mount Washburn we watched a sow grizzly bear grazing and foraging in the mountain meadows with her two spring cubs running around her.

July 06, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
A highlight for the group was watching a sow grizzly and her two cubs of the year cross behind our bus between Tower Falls and Dunraven Pass. She crossed the road about 300’ or less behind our bus. The two cubs followed quickly behind and immediately caused quiet the bear jam on the roadside. Bears now are high elevation-grazing in “greener pastures” while the valley floors are heating up during the daylight hours.

July 05, 2007
Course: A Trail Through Leaves
Observer: Janice Smith, volunteer
This morning the class hiked to Trout Lake for field journaling. Around 11 a.m. we observed two otters swimming in the lake. They swam to a log, climbed upon it, and proceeded to eat a trout. The log had shiny orange roe on it, which we surmised was left from the trout that the otters had consumed. They continued to swim around the lake and back to the log. We left at 11:30 a.m.

July 04, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
While walking back to the road in Little America, we looked to our right to see a fairly large male black bear foraging not far away. He was out in very hot weather in the middle of the day—in his thick black coat! Soon after, he sniffed the air and headed for a bison carcass about a mile away—quite a sense of smell! We were then able to investigate where he had been, and discovered a small hole full of ants busy recovering from their recent bear “attack.” The bear had been eating the ants and their eggs.

July 02, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Brad Bulin, instructor
On a day hike near a wetland, a female goldeneye flew within a few feet of our head—twice! We were walking near some trees and she was protecting young somewhere nearby. She was using intimidating behavior to scare off potential predators.

July 02, 2007
Course: Flying Pig Ed-Venture
Observer: Kathie Lynch, instructor
We saw a black bear sow with a cub of the year on a bull elk carcass. We watched while the cub climbed up the elk antler like a tree.

July 01, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor

June 28, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
We hiked along Glen Creek, descending to Mammoth Hot Springs via Snow Pass. Just above the junction of Snow Pass with the Howard Eaton Trail, we noticed two black bears grazing in the meadow near the trail. The larger bear was a cinnamon color and the smaller one was brown. They slowly moved back and forth, possibly eating the salsify flowers.

June 27, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Phil Knight, instructor
Near Barronette Peak we saw a fox carrying prey and hunting. The prey might have been a bird. The Fox approached within five feet of some people, but did not seem to notice them.

June 26, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
We came across a cow and calf moose in the water at Floating Island Lake at close range. We watched while they fed, the calf frolicking in the grass as it caught up to its mother running back into the woods. During the day we also saw ten different bears, (five grizzlies and five black bears). After a good fall of whitebark pine nuts, we are seeing bears frequently.

June 26, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
We hiked three miles to the shore of Shoshone Lake. As we sat down to eat lunch, we looked down the shore to spot two young moose -- a bull and a cow stood in the water. They began to trot in the shallow water, coming toward us. We gathered our gear and backed off into the trees to give them space. They slowed to a walk and continued by us, glancing in our direction. They kept walking a few hundred yards then stopped to browse the willows. We backed away and returned to our trail.

June 26, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
We watched about eight Druid pack wolves at the Soda Butte Creek and Lamar River confluence running around with a bison herd near the trees at the base of the mountains.

June 26, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Wolf Basecamp
Observer: Dan Stahler, instructor
Two grizzly bears traveled though the meadow near our campsite this morning.

June 26, 2007
Course: Wolves of the World
Observer: Thomas Reed, volunteer
We saw the Druid pack at the junction of Soda Butte Creek and the Lamar River. The alpha female appeared to be playing tag with the yearlings. The wolves harassed bison for a few minutes and then wrestled, jumped on each other and napped.

June 25, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Wolf Basecamp
Observer: Dan Stahler, instructor
Those of us lucky enough to be awake at 3:30 a.m. heard a wolf howl chorus from the Druid pack. Later on, in the evening, we watched a courting pair of grizzlies wrestling on the ridge between Cache and Calfee creeks. Nearby a Druid wolf fed on a carcass upstream of Wahb Springs.

June 24, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Breanna Lewis, age 10, participant
On June 24 we joined a couple other families to look for wildlife. First we met our guide Janice to start Animal Ecology Day. We drove off to Yellowstone Lake to hike at Storm Point. Farther along the bank was a sleeping bison, on the other side of the lake. We soon forgot about it. Then, sunning on the rocks, we spotted a yellow-bellied marmot. After taking pictures, we moved on. Later, we stopped at a group of trees that had awesome bear claw marks on them. Suddenly we realized that we were right near where we saw the bison. Where was it? Then Janice looked at the shore and realized that there was a bison sleeping on the bank about ten yards away from us. As we started walking away, it stood up. Yikes! We high-tailed it out of there. After dinner, as we drove around, the first thing we did was stop at a look-out in Hayden Valley. The first thing we saw in our telescopes were three huge bald eagles. Feeling satisfied with our day, we drove off, but it wasn’t over yet! Our bus pulled to a stop at a car jam. We parked and got out. I grabbed some binoculars. We had no idea what was coming. Wolves are my most favorite animals in the world but I had never seen one. But, unless my eyes were playing tricks, I was seeing a huge gray wolf down below, and…way to the left there was a giant grizzly…a mother grizzly! There was a tiny cub following its mother, and the wolf was heading right for the cub! It wanted dinner! Oh boy, the big mother bear got mad! She snapped at that wolf and chased him off to the other side of the road, then sauntered off. The wolf, meanwhile, was going for a herd of twenty elk, it seemed, but then he disappeared behind a ridge. So we packed back onto the bus and…”Fox!” someone shouted. A red fox ran across the road, stared me straight in the eyes, and moved on. So we did too, but there was more. “Elk!” someone screamed. Janice halted the bus, and not a moment too soon, as one, two, three elk ran in front of our bus. We were lucky. Slowly, we drove on. “Well, we haven’t seen everything yet,” someone said, “not a moose.” “Yes we have!” I yelled. “Look!” They did. There was a female moose by the road grazing. Wow. Today had been an awesome day.

June 24, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Wolf Basecamp
Observer: Dan Stahler, instructor
We found four or five of the Druid wolves at Cache Creek. A little while later, on the south side of Mount Norris, we spotted a sow grizzly with two cubs of the year as well as two adult grizzlies, probably a breeding pair.

June 24, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Ashea Mills, instructor
What a variety of animal interactions! We watched coyotes chase pronghorn until they turned on the coyotes! Then a bald eagle flew in a graceful arc over the whole scene. Later we watched a cinnamon colored black bear defend a bison carcass against a shiny black wolf. Multiple sows with cubs, both black and grizzly bears, were definite highlights. At Trout Lake, kids and grown-ups alike loved watching the spawning, wriggling, flashing trout.

June 24, 2007
Course: Learning Birds by Sound
Observer: John Scarlett, volunteer
By getting up at 4 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, we were on the road before sun-up listening to a wide variety of birds. By the end of class we had heard or seen an estimated 88 – 100 species of birds, the most exciting mid-morning on Sunday. In the Beartooths east of Cooke City some of the class was fortunate to see the elusive goshawk. Not only was the sighting a rare treat, it was a joy to see the park’s chief ornithologist, who has years of bird listening and sighting experience, so excited and enthusiastic.

June 24, 2007
Course: Yellowstone Ed-Venture
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
While watching coyote pups play with each other and their mother near Soda Butte Creek, a badger patrolled the sage and grass flats below, going in and out of burrows for about 100 meters.

June 22, 2007
Course: Photographing Yellowstone’s Summer
Observer: Tom Murphy, instructor
On the north slope of Mount Washburn above Antelope Creek our class watched and photographed a sow grizzly with two cubs of the year. She fed on grass and, about ninety yards below our pullout, she laid on her back to nurse her cubs for about a minute and a half. In total, we watched her for about an hour before she went down the hillside toward Antelope Creek and out of sight.

June 21, 2007
Course: Yellowstone for Families
Observer: Shauna Baron, instructor
While driving over Dunraven Pass, we saw a grizzly bear sow with two cubs of the year only 200 feet from the road. The cubs were made very nervous by the car doors slamming and kept standing up in the high grass to see what all the noisy tourists were doing. We saw a gopher snake sunning itself on the Mammoth Terraces. It slithered away into a hole to hunt rodents. At Trout Lake we watched cutthroat trout struggling to make their way upstream to lay their eggs.

June 21, 2007
Course: Trails Through Yellowstone
Observer: Julianne Baker, instructor
In three-and-a-half hours, we had twelve bear sightings. One was as we turned into the Petrified Tree pull-out to see the tree, and spotted a black bear. We watched for thirty minutes as the bear climbed a snag, grabbed a bird from a hole in the tree, climbed down, sat, and ate the bird. He did this at least six times. We assumed the bear was eating baby birds from a nest in the tree. When the birds were gone, the bear walked away, pausing to defecate before moving on.

June 20, 2007
Course: Poetry in Yellowstone: A Journey of the Heart
Observer: Anita Edington, volunteer
Approximately one mile south of the Tower store we spotted a black bear sleeping on a day bed by the side of the road.

June 18, 2007
Course: Northern Range Beginning Tracking for Xanterra employees
Observer: Eric Bindseil, instructor
A large black bear fed on an elk calf carcass under a tree before walking down to Soda Butte Creek to drink and soak in the water. We watched him leave the creek, shake off, then lie down in the shade of the tree within a few feet of the carcass.

June 18, 2007
Course: Flying Pig Ed-Venture
Observer: MacNeil Lyons, instructor
We were fortunate with our grizzly viewing this morning! We saw two grizzly bears high on the upper slopes of Specimen Ridge, then two more on Mount Norris. Grizzly sightings are common in the Northern Range this year, probably because these bears have reached carrying capacity in this ecosystem. As the p