January 23, 2012
On the way to Old Faithful, our Old Faithful Winter Expedition group saw five coyotes between Norris and Fountain Paint Pots. We also watched a herd of bison digging through the snow with their heads, trying to get to the grass underneath. Snow accumulated on their backs as they dug, but their fur is so thick that barely any body heat escapes. We also enjoyed minor eruptions of Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser.

January 20, 2012
Earlier this week, the Lamar Canyon wolf pack came right through the Lamar Buffalo Ranch campus. We heard howling, and then were able to spot five wolves from the pack at approximately 10:00 p.m. They left perfect tracks on top of the snow, and then in other spots you could see where they broke through the snow as they walked through the campus. They moved through the campus and then went up the Rose Creek drainage.

January 19, 2012
In the Lamar Valley, we spotted a golden eagle perched in a dead tree above the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek, possibly looking for ducks. On the cliffs opposite the confluence was a lone bighorn ram, and we also saw three sets of coyote pairs in the valley. We ended our day watching a female wolf from the Lamar Canyon pack, who had an elk cornered in the Lamar River Canyon. While nothing happened, the young wolf appeared to be a good hunter who was honing her skills.

January 13, 2012
Not far from the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, the Lamar Canyon wolf pack took down a bull elk. Early in the morning we watched them feeding, and then they laid down to rest not far from the carcass. Three coyotes tried to sneak in and get something to eat, and one succeeded in grabbing a big hunk of meat. The Alpha Female of the pack then jumped up and chased the coyotes for a good distance. The first two coyotes were ahead, but the third was lagging behind, slowed down by the hunk of meat he was carrying. As the wolf caught up with him he threw it down and kept running. The Alpha Female stopped chasing them, picked up the meat, and took it back to the rest of her pack.

January 9, 2012
On a day trip to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, our Winter in Wonderland group spotted three otters at the bottom of the Upper Falls. We observed them fishing, and also watched them jump in and out of the water, sliding on the shelf of ice along the river’s edge. In the Hayden valley we saw eleven trumpeter swans swimming together in the Yellowstone River.

December 30, 2011
Traveling from Old Faithful to Mammoth on our Winter Wonderland program we spotted an otter on the Gibbon River, right before Gibbon Meadows. The otter was swimming in the river, and then we watched it jump up on the river bank and roll around the snow. In the same stretch of river we also saw two trumpeter swans, swimming together.

December 29, 2011
As we traveled toward the Lamar Valley we spotted a fox near Phantom Lake and three coyotes near Blacktail Plateau. The Blacktail wolf pack was visible hunting elk again, and we watched them from the Hellroaring Overlook. The Lamar Canyon wolf pack was just east of the Buffalo Ranch, while we spotted the Mollie’s wolves on Jasper Bench. There were also two bald eagles flying over the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek.

December 28, 2011
From the Hellroaring Overlook we watched five wolves from the Blacktail pack chasing elk, unsuccessfully. On Specimen Ridge we spotted the Mollie’s wolves, bighorn sheep, and a large herd of bison. As we traveled further into the Lamar Valley, near the Buffalo Ranch, we also saw the Lamar Canyon wolf pack.

December 26, 2011
While cross-country skiing near Tower Falls we heard what we thought were rocks falling, but quickly realized that it was the sound of bighorn rams bashing heads. The sheep were all the way across the canyon from us, and we would see them bash their heads together and then hear the sound a few seconds later. We spotted a total of three males and watched two of them follow the third, challenging his dominance.

December 6, 2011
We were able to observe otters near the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek again this week. This time we spotted two groups of otters, and we watched them unite with each other. They were hesitant at first, but then they came together, rolled around together in the snow, and then separated again. Otters are attracted to what little open water is still available right now as winter sets in. We also watched two pups from the Lamar Canyon wolf pack chase a bison, though they quickly gave up after the bison ran down a steep hill. The pups are still honing their hunting skills, learning what to—and what not to—attack.

December 4, 2011
During Lamar Valley Wolf Week, participants saw two otter pups and their mother at the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek. In the same area we spotted the Lamar Canyon wolf pack, and we were also able to observe eight members of the Agate wolf pack on Amethyst Bench and Jasper Bench. As we returned to the Lamar Buffalo Ranch we saw a red fox just west of the ranch.

November 27, 2011
During Lamar Valley Wolf Week, participants saw two otter pups and their mother at the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek. In the same area we spotted the Lamar Canyon wolf pack, and we also were able to observe eight members of the Agate wolf pack on Amethyst Bench and Jasper Bench. As we returned to the Lamar Buffalo Ranch we saw a red fox just west of the ranch.

November 21, 2011
Early in the morning, from a cabin at our Yellowstone Overlook Field Campus, we heard wolves howling in the distance. We waited until first light and then pulled out our scopes, and after scanning the area we spotted 12 wolves on McMinn Bench, near the spot that we had been watching bighorn sheep the night before. The wolves were bedded down and we watched them for approximately 45 minutes. When a group of bighorn rams appeared the wolves gave chase, and both the wolves and the rams disappeared over a ridge, out of sight.

November 15, 2011
This morning in the Gardner Canyon we observed two bighorn rams in a standoff high on the canyon's edge, as well as a herd of elk near--and in--the Gardner River. Near the North Entrance we also saw a four-point mule deer buck giving chase to a doe. With winter setting in at higher elevations, increasing numbers of ungulates are heading down to lower lying valleys.

November 4, 2011
Hayden Valley is currently covered in a heavy dusting of snow. We saw approximately thirty trumpeter swans from Canyon to Yellowstone Lake. One of the advantages of watching wildlife in these conditions is that animals are easier to spot against the white backdrop of snow. In addition to the trumpeters, we also spotted ten coyotes in the Hayden Valley.

November 2, 2011
It's been a beautiful but brisk start to November here on the Northern Range.  This morning a herd of elk--cows and calves led by one bull--made their way through the Roosevelt Arch, pausing to rest near the Yellowstone National Park sign. Coyotes could be heard howling in the distance, and Electric Peak was hidden in the clouds.

October 21, 2011
Over a two-day span we watched the Lamar Canyon wolf pack try and hunt an elk cow without success. The wolves chased her, but she evaded them by escaping into the river and standing in the deep water. We watched them work the elk like this on day one, and when we returned on the second day we found them in the same scenario. The wolves were on the bank of the river, and the cow was still standing in the water.

October 7, 2011
In the Lamar Valley we spotted the pups from the Lamar Canyon wolf pack playing with each other. Soon the adults returned from a hunt, and the two groups greeted each other. As we were watching the wolves we also noticed a badger that was digging for ground squirrels, sending dirt flying everywhere. Then, when we were getting ready to leave, we noticed a large grizzly moving through the valley, making its way towards the wolves. The wolves gave chase and ran the bear off, successfully keeping it away from the puppies.


October 5, 2011
Near the Lamar Buffalo Ranch we watched a grizzly bear feeding on an elk carcass. While the bear was eating, two wolves from the Lamar Canyon pack approached, hoping to get something to eat too. The wolves kept trying to sneak in and snatch a piece of meat, but the grizzly wasn’t in the mood to share her meal. After a several attempts, the wolves laid down about 20 feet from the bear to wait. We also saw ravens and a bald eagle in the area, but the bear wasn’t sharing her carcass with anyone.

October 3, 2011
We paused at the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek to look for wolves, but found moose instead.  There was a cow moose with a calf, and also a bull. It’s mating season for moose, and we watched the bull continually try to approach the cow, but she wasn’t interested in him and kept running away. He chased her around for several minutes until she eventually ran across the road, with her calf, away from the bull.

October 2, 2011
At sunset we observed four bull elk in the Mammoth area: one bull lying in the grass near the Mammoth Jail, two young bulls near the Albright Visitor Center, and the dominant bull over by the Lower Terraces. As darkness fell, the dominant bull moved, with approximately 30 cows and calves, to the grass in front of the Post Office. We listened to him bugle several times in the dark, while the two smallest bulls held court with a few cows in front of the dining room.

September 25, 2011
Near the Yellowstone Picnic Area we spotted a fox in the tall grass, slowly meandering across a meadow in the early morning light. Across from the Lamar Buffalo Ranch we watched a coyote make his way through a herd of bison as he traveled across the valley floor. Further into the valley we spotted four wolves from the Lamar Canyon wolf pack, and we were able to watch them for a several minutes before they disappeared into the trees.

September 24, 2011
From a hillside in the Lamar Valley we observed the Lamar Canyon wolf pack. We saw two adult wolves and one yearling, as well as several pups. The pups were playing with each other near the trees, and we watched them all for several minutes before they disappeared out of view.

September 16, 2011
In Mammoth we watched--and listened to--three bull elk in the evening. When we arrived, there was a lone bull resting in the grass in front of the Visitor Center. After watching him for several minutes, he stood up and bugled several times before heading off behind the Visitor Center and out of site. In front of the Post Office, a large bull was holding court with a group of approximately 25 cows and calves. When he noticed a smaller bull near the females he gave chase, bugling as he chased him away from the females.

September 12, 2011
In Mammoth, as sunset approached, we stood near the Albright Visitor Center and listened to two bull elk bugling. The larger of the two is a 5x6 bull that has been frequently seen in the Mammoth area, though the other bull has begun showing up regularly over the past few days as well. Each bull had positioned himself near a small group of females, and although they bugled back-and-forth they did not approach each other. Perhaps we will see them vying for dominance in the near future as the elk rut ramps up.

September 7, 2011
Late in the evening we were standing outside the bunkhouse at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch when we heard a bull elk bugling in the distance. We couldn’t see him, but we listened to him bugle six times over the course of an hour as he made his way up the Lamar Valley in the darkness. During the rut (mating season), bulls will bugle to announce their availability to females and to warn and challenge other bulls.

September 6, 2011
On Dunraven Pass we spotted a black bear sow with two cubs. The bears were up in a tree, intently feeding on whitebark pine nuts. This is the time of year when bears start making their way to higher elevations, seeking out food sources like whitebark pine nuts in an effort to consume as many calories as possible to help them make it through the winter.

September 3, 2011
We were watching the Lamar Canyon wolf pack and their pups in the Lamar Valley when the Agate wolf pack came into sight and invaded the Lamar Canyon pack’s territory.  The wolves challenged each other and, though we didn’t see any physical contact made between the wolves, there was lots of howling. The adults from the Lamar Canyon pack were divided between running off the Agate pack and trying to gather the pups, who had scattered. After successfully defending their territory from the Agates, the adults rounded up the pups and marked their scent in the surrounding area.

August 26, 2011
In the Hayden Valley we watched two wolves from the Canyon wolf pack attempt to sneak up on two bison that were bedded down. The wolves approached the bison from behind, seemingly undetected, but once they got close the bison jumped up and wheeled around to face the wolves. Once the bison were on their feet, the wolves backed off fast and went on their way.

August 21, 2011
We were recently lucky to experience a three-dog-day while out and about in the park. We saw a fox near Indian Creek, hunting in the tall grass near the road. At Gibbon Meadows we observed a lone black wolf making its way across the meadow. And at Swan Lake flats we watched coyote mousing in the tall grass.

August 20, 2011
In the Hayden Valley we observed a wolf and a grizzly bear feeding on a bison carcass. As we continued to watch, three additional members of the Canyon wolf pack swam across the Yellowstone River and began feeding on the carcass as well. A grizzly sow with two cubs approached, but decided to keep moving when she saw the wolves and the bear already eating. Eventually, the grizzly wandered off and the wolves continued feeding on their own.

August 14, 2011
On our way to Old Faithful, we spotted the alpha female from the Canyon wolf pack in Gibbon Meadows. She was just at the tree line, feeding on a carcass. We watched her eat for a few minutes before she disappeared into the woods. A wolf can eat up to 20 pounds at a time.

August 12, 2011
Early in the morning, we spotted a grizzly bear on the hillside above the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek.  The bear was out foraging for food, taking his time as he meandered through the tall grass.  We watched him for several minutes before he clambered over a ridge and disappeared from sight.  Although grizzly bears are known for being powerful predators, a large part of their diet consists of vegetation.

August 7, 2011
Early in the morning we watched five wolves from the Lamar Canyon Pack—the alpha female, alpha male, and three yearlings—make their way across the Lamar Valley.  We watched them travel from just west of the Confluence to Jasper Bench.  When they reached Jasper Bench, only the alpha female continued on, swimming across the river to feed on a bison carcass for about an hour.  After she had her fill, she headed back into the valley.  She passed a herd of bison, and seeing a bison calf, decided to test it.  When the calf didn’t run far enough away from her, she persisted in her approach.  A few of the adult bison intervened, and the wolf continued on her way.

August 2, 2011
In the Lamar Valley we watched two wolves from the Lamar Canyon Pack—06F and 755M—trying to defend their elk kill from a hungry grizzly bear.  The grizzly had taken over the carcass, and the wolves repeatedly tested the bear, successfully grabbing a few bites of meat for themselves as the bear ate.  Not wanting to share his meal, the grizzly leapt toward 755M and swiped at him, chasing him off the carcass.

July 27, 2011
Participants at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch were awakened early in the morning by a herd of bison, loudly snorting and grunting, as they made their way through the cabin area.  Bison are beginning to gather in the Lamar Valley for the start of the rut, or mating season.


July 24, 2011
We were observing a bull elk in Elk Park when suddenly a lone black wolf appeared from the river bed.  The wolf tested the elk several times, running directly towards him and then gauging his reaction.  The elk chased the wolf at each approach, kicking at it with its hooves, until the wolf decided it was a lost cause and headed off into the trees.

July 12, 2011
In the Lamar Valley, we watched a large grizzly bear and the alpha male (755) of the Lamar Canyon Pack interacting at a bison carcass. The grizzly was lying on top of the carcass, preventing the wolf from feeding. When the bear started to meander towards the treeline, the wolf seized the opportunity to grab a few bites of meat. As soon as the grizzly saw the wolf approach the carcass, he ran back and laid down on top of it again, protecting his meal.

June 27, 2011
On our way back to the Lake Hotel, we passed a porcupine on the side of the road. These vegetarians are considered rare in the park and are usually seen along stream banks browsing on tender grasses and reeds. It was a surprise to see one from the road.

June 21, 2011
We celebrated the longest day of the year by watching the sun set at Slough Creek. In addition to watching wolves, bears, and beavers, we also watched two mother pronghorns, each with a fawn.  Females typically have sets of twins but these two were solo. When fawns are born, they weigh just six-nine pounds and can walk within 30 minutes of birth.

June 21, 2011
The ospreys have returned to their nest in the Tower Fall area. This 132-foot-tall waterfall was named by the Washburn party in 1870 for the towers and pinnacles surrounding the falls. Tower Fall and nearby Calcite Springs Overlook are great spots to look for osprey fishing along Tower Creek and the Yellowstone River.

June 21, 2011
Yesterday was the first day of summer and the weather cooperated.  It was sunny and warm, a little too warm for the bears. We watched a grizzly bear swimming in the river in an attempt to cool off. He didn’t seem to be ion his way to anything in particular. He was just out foraging for food, lazing about, and staying cool.

June 16, 2011
The Bears: Bones, Signs, and Stories class had quite the appropriate sighting today. They spotted two grizzly bears courting in the Slough Creek area. Many of our students have seen this behavior recently, but this group actually got to watch the union, which lasted for 12 minutes. After they were finished, the two bears split up in search of food. The female bear found an elk calf to eat, which she had to drag around to keep from the male bear.

June 16, 2011
Spring runoff is causing very strong river currents. We watched a grizzly bear attempt to cross the Yellowstone River in the Hayden Valley. It would get out to the middle but then get caught in the current and turn back to the shore. Once it reached land, it would shake out, walk back, and reevaluate. We watched the bear try this a couple times but didn’t see a successfully crossing.

June 14, 2011
People watching elk watching wolves…that’s how we spotted wolves today. Three members of the Lamar Canyon Wolf Pack were hunting a herd of elk in the Slough Creek area. All of the elk were on alert, facing the same direction as they watched the wolves approach. This is what clued us in to the fact that the wolves were there. We watched as the wolves swam across the river and began testing the pack. We didn’t see a successful hunt but we were able to watch the animals interact for quite some time.

June 14, 2011
As we walked down the back of the Mammoth Terraces, we saw marmots cavorting on the snow and new elk calves getting their legs. Towards the end of our hike, we encountered a bull snake meandered along the edge of the creek. At first, he was easy to spot. He swam in to the water and embedded himself in the river gravel so that only his head and the tip of his tail were showing. If he had been there when we first walked by, we never would have spotted him.

June 13, 2011
Two badgers were spotted n the Lamar Valley today. Badgers are common in Yellowstone but live in burrows underground so they are not seen frequently. They can defend themselves against coyotes, wolves, and even bears, although they have been known to hunt in with coyotes for a mutual meal.

June 9, 2011
While Yellowstone’s wildlife is well-adapted to its perils, the park is still a dangerous place to live. We watched two elk cow-calf pairs attempting to cross the river today. One pair made but one of the calves was swept away and killed by the current. This was very hard for our Yellowstone for Families group to watch but we spent time talking about all the different animals that would benefit from that calf. Nothing goes to waste here.

June 8, 2011
A sow grizzly with a cub-of-the-year was a great start to our wildlife day. The smaller creatures captured our attention for the rest of the day though. On our hike to Storm Point, we watched western grebes displaying in Indian Pond. The bold yellow, red, and black feathers of the western tanagers caught our eye at Storm Point, and we also encountered a muskrat perched on the remaining ice on Yellowstone Lake, munching reeds near the edge of the water.

June 7, 2011
As we were walking the boardwalks at the Upper Geyser Basin, we came across an elk calf nestled in the brush near the trail. Some of our group worried that the calf had been abandoned, as the mother was nowhere to be seen.  Actually, elk calves are born with almost no scent. Therefore, mothers will often stash the calves when they go eat. Hiding the calves is actually safer until they are able to run.

June 6, 2011
The alpha male wolf from the Lamar Pack caught our attention as he made his way back to the den. He was being aggressively harassed by a group of four coyotes. A few days earlier, several of the Lamar wolves raided the coyote den and, according to biologists, actually ate the coyote pups. This was most likely a territorial action. We wondered if the coyotes were acting out of retaliation for the loss of their pups.

June 3, 2011
While hiking in the Hellroaring area today, we came across a sow grizzly bear with a cub-of-the year. We wondered if she only had one cub or if she had recently lost one because she seemed especially leery of us, even though we were across the river and a good distance away. She ate on a carcass while her cub napped and played near-by. But she always stayed between us and the cub.


June 2, 2011
Today was a windy one on the Specimen Ridge Trail. We looked up to see a courting pair of grizzly bears on the ridge line above us. The male seized this opportunity to show off for his hopeful mate. He charged towards us three times. This was a good chance to practice bear-safety tips. We had our bear spray at the ready, we grouped up and put our arms in the air to appear larger, and we talked to the bear as we backed away. All ended well but it was a reminder that we are in their home when in the wilds of Yellowstone.

June 1, 2011
We watched a sow grizzly bear with two yearling cubs feeding on an elk calf. This was the first elk calf the group spotted this year and it was not in the condition we were hoping for. It can be difficult to watch nature play out in this fashion but elk calves are a critical food source this time of year. The elk calf provided important nutrition to the three bears.

May 26, 2011
The bighorn lambs are putting on their annual show in the Gardner River Canyon. The adult males always look so stately with their full curls but the young lambs are so cute that they steal the stage this time of year. Within hours of being born, they can be seen traversing cliff faces, seeming to defy gravity.

May 25, 2011
We saw the cinnamon-color black bear by the Yellowstone River Bridge. These cinnamon colored black bears are often mistaken for grizzly bears due to their light coats but you can still tell they are black bears because of their size, straight backs, and elongated faces. Although this bear was small, we watched it chase a larger black bear off a carcass.

May 23, 2011
The sandhill cranes are once again on their nest at Floating Island Lake. Today the male was on the nest and the female was in the vegetation at the far end of the lake. A coyote came up and appeared to be interested in the nest. The female crane chased the coyote off. He realized there was no easy meal to be found and left.

 

May 23, 2011
We watched a courting pair of grizzly bears in Hayden Valley today. They were on a hilltop, playing in the snow banks. From the female’s behavior, it appeared that she was not quite ready for the male.

May 21, 2011
The northern range proved fruitful yet again today for excellent sightings. We saw a lone harlequin duck at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Lamar rivers. After watching him for a bit, we moved on and saw three Lamar wolves returning to their den site and then watched as a coyote startled a small group of bison, causing them to run through a marshy area, kicking up mud and water, making quite the spectacle.
 
May 18, 2011
Today on our Private Tour, we came across a large boar grizzly bear foraging for bugs in the willows. Bears have a diverse diet that varies throughout the year. Although their primary food source is winter-killed carcasses in the spring, this one seemed open to mixing it up today.


May 03, 2011
As the snow finally melts at the North Entrance, spring wildlife is becoming more apparent. We watched a coyote slinking off in the sagebrush near the Roosevelt Arch. The air was filled with the high-pitched calls of the Uinta ground squirrels sounding the alarm. They typically come out of hibernation in April. This sound is a common one in the warmer months in Yellowstone that is welcome right now as winter is slow releasing its grip.

March 23, 2011
Members of the Canyon Wolf Pack crossed the road right on front of our group as we drove to Mammoth Hot Springs. We stopped to watch them for a while. After a short time, a young black wolf began digging in the snow, looking for a buried raven cache. He found one and enjoyed his snack, all the while being dive-bombed by the raven that was clearly unhappy at losing its meal.

March 14, 2011
Spring is coming and the bison are making their way back in to the park. We spotted a group by the Blacktail Ponds. This is a treacherous area for the large animals this time of year. One wrong step and they can fall through the thawing ice—carcasses are often seen here in the spring. They seemed to sense this danger as they were following directly in each other’s steps, weaving a narrow path through this wetland area.

March 12, 2011
Today was a beautiful day for a cross-country ski, fresh power and clear skies. While skiing along the tree-line, a great grey owl was spotted, diving in to the snow for food. We watched the owl hunt in this matter for about 30 minutes. Its asymmetrical ears allow it to locate prey under the snow. The tell-tale mark it left behind was a pit accented by wing-tips in the snow.

March 02, 2011
Most of Yellowstone’s hoofed mammals head for lower elevation in winter to forage where snow is not as deep. We watched a group of big horn sheep today that had a different strategy. They navigated the steep wind-blown slopes looking for bare patches where the snow had blown away exposing grassy patches.

March 02, 2011
While skiing to Tower Falls, the wind had a different sound to it today. We thought nothing of it as we skied through the crunchy snow. Once we stopped, however, we realized that the wind carried the sound of wolf howls in the distance. It was the middle of the day but they were quite chatty. They could have been howling to gear up for a hunt, signal the presence of people in their habitat, or just to talk.

March 01, 2011
We spotted the Lamar Canyon Wolf Pack today on the carcass of a big horn sheep. There were five wolves feeding. After a brief time, members of the Yellowstone Wolf Project arrived. They hiked out and performed a necropsy on the sheep once the wolves had moved off. A cross section of bone marrow showed that the ram was very old, in poor health, and had almost no fat reserves. Once they left the carcass, we watched as fox, coyotes, and golden eagles moved in to feast.

February 28, 2011
We watched a pair of coyotes courting at Round Prairie. Both held their tails high. The male diligently followed the female. She didn’t seem to mind. Soon spring will be here, as well as the next crop of Yellowstone’s wildlife.

February 23, 2011
The first day of spring is less than a month away but it’s still deep winter in the park. We watched as a lone bison pushed through the deep snow. He was clearly struggling, burning precious calories. Another bison slept along the road. Apparently being near cars was not as bad as having to walk through deep snow.

February 22, 2011
Winter Wolf Discovery students watched five members of the Lamar Canyon wolf pack on an elk kill. Once the wolves had their fill, they moved up the hill to take a nap. As soon as they left the carcass, several ravens, five magpies, three bald eagles, one golden eagle, and one red fox moved in to eat. This was a good illustration of how the wolves benefit other wildlife. When the wolves are successful, many others get to eat.

February 19, 2011
It all started with a mouse. Winter in Wonderland students were watching a fox mouse in the deep snow near Alum Creek. This was the sixth fox they saw that day. Along came a coyote. The coyote chased the fox off as he was mousing too. While watching the coyote mouse near the road, the Canyon Wolf Pack was spotted along the tree line. Most likely they had a larger meal earlier in the day and were resting and digesting in the sun.

February 05, 2011
A group of Winter Wildlife Expedition students had the opportunity to watch a dozen bison being hazed back into the park near the Stephen’s Creek area. The bison are not allowed to leave the park on to private property to the north. Their natural tendency is to migrate down to lowlands where snow is not as deep and food is more readily available. This is a very complicated issue. It was emotional to see it first-hand.

February 03, 2011
We had the opportunity to watch a dozen bison being hazed back into the park near the Stephen’s Creek area. The bison are not allowed to leave the park on to private property to the north. Their natural tendency is to migrate down to lowlands where snow is not as deep and food is more readily available. This is a very complicated issue. It was emotional to see it first-hand.

January 27, 2011
Our school group had a true “Natural Geographic” moment yesterday. While at the Hellroaring Overlook, we saw the Wolf Project helicopter fly down and dart two members of the Blacktail Wolf Pack. The crew then took measurements and collared the wolves. When they were finished, they awoke the wolves and waited to be sure they were OK. The helicopter took off. Shortly after, the wolves took off. It was rewarding to see science happening in the field.

January 26, 2011
Living History students were treated to a viewing of both the Agate and Lamar wolf packs near Jasper Bench. The Lamar wolves were clearly visible on an elk carcass. A lone Agate yearling decided to take on a small group of cow elk nearby. One elk stood her ground and actually ran over the young wolf. He appeared to be OK and slinked off back to his pack. This was a great lesson to learn about testing elk packs.

January 25, 2011
We came across a group of 26 bighorn sheep at the top of the cliffs. We set up our scopes and as we watched them, a group of five Agate wolves appeared. They moved closer to the sheep but the wind hid their scent. As soon as the wolves crested the ridge, the sheep scattered down the cliff face. It was a treat to watch how adept they were at navigating the steep hillside. The wolves seemed to realize they were no match for the sheep on that terrain so they settled in for a nap at the top of the hill.

January 24, 2011
On the way back to Mammoth from the Tower area, we spotted a bull moose that had lost his antlers (some do not shed their antlers until March). We were close enough to see bumps that would become this year’s set. We watched quietly and were able to hear him browsing on willows. In winter, willows and conifers are their main food source.

January 23, 2011
The other night at 3 a.m. our Lamar campus manager awoke to the sound of wolves. They sounded like they were very close by. She carefully opened her front door and four wolves were in the parking lot of the bunkhouse. She listened to them howl for a minute and then they walked up the path towards the store. After they appeared to check out the campus, they made their way back down toward the river.

January 22, 2011
A few days ago, volunteer Chuck Snover was coming to work on the old boundary road and a small animal ran in front of him. At first, it appeared to be an otter but upon further analysis, it turned out to be a mink. The two are close cousins but mink are nocturnal so otters are more likely to be spotted.

January 21, 2011
By some accounts, the January full moon has been called "The Wolf Moon". This morning, while at YA's Overlook Field Campus outside Gardiner, the Wolf Moon was setting behind the Gallatin Range amidst a purple and pink haze. As the sun rose from the east, illuminating Electric Peak, the howl of wolves met my ...ears. In minus degree temp's, the wolves howl came from the Mount Sepulcher foothills, inside the park boundary. I spotted the wolves through binoculars, and heard later that the Quadrant Pack and the nearby Eight Mile Pack were having a territorial dispute this morning. What a way to start the day (for me and the wolves)!

January 21, 2011
We saw six Lamar Canyon wolves bedded down in the snow. They seemed content to bask in the sunshine. After a time, the alpha female began to howl and roused the pack. She made a path through the snow and was followed by the adult males. The pups took up the rear, taking advantage of the snow-packed trail the elders made before them.

January 17, 2011
Today we watched the Lamar Pack wolf pups on a carcass. They are old enough to venture out on their own. They would periodically howl to stay in contact with the other pack members. Mating season is fast approaching so last year’s pups will soon take on larger roles within the pack when new pups arrive in the spring.

January 16, 2011
The winter landscape does not offer many nutrients to Yellowstone’s plant eaters but today we watched famous bull elk #10 browsing. It’s amazing how such large creatures can delicately harvest new willow shoots with their teeth. That combined with digging for grass should help him get through to spring.

January 13, 2011
As soon as our group parked the car at Slough Creek, we heard wolf howls. We jumped out and set up our scopes. We quickly spotted the howling wolves on the hillside, but couldn’t see what was setting them off. After watching for a few minutes, the Agate Pack came in to view. The two groups howled at each other for a while and then went their separate ways. We were fortunate to witness this interaction.

January 04, 2011
Winter in Wonderland students encountered a red fox while snowshoeing the Specimen Ridge Trail. They had stopped to take in the thermal activity by Calcite Spring. As they were looking down in to the canyon, they noticed a red fox trotting along the hillside below them, seemingly oblivious to their presence. The fox stopped at a log and began digging in to the log. Perhaps it heard rodents burrowing around in the wood. The fox was unsuccessful but it was fun to see it in action.

December 30, 2010
Sometimes nature can be tough to watch. Our group saw a young cow bison by the side of the road in Lamar Valley, likely the same injured one that was seen two days earlier. At first, she appeared to be dead but then moved her legs. She did not have the strength to even roll over. We called NPS and they euthanized and moved the carcass. Usually, nature is left to take its course but there is a fear of habituation if animals feed on carcasses too close to the road. It’s crucial that animals keep their fear of humans and that we respect their space as well.

December 30, 2010
A pair of Wilson’s snipes was seen near Soda Butte Cone. These birds are considered to be an uncommon sighting in Yellowstone in winter. Named after ornithologist Alexander Wilson, they used to be considered a subspecies of common snipe but were reclassified to their own species. They are usually seen in marshy areas.

December 27, 2010
Today we watched as 14 members of the Blacktail Wolf Pack moved single-file through the wintery landscape. The pack was visible with the naked eye but with spotting scopes, differences in their grey and black coats were highly visible. The wolves followed in each other’s footsteps to conserve energy while travelling in deep snow. As they approached a group of bison, they scattered around them to interact and test the herd. The bison stood their ground and the wolves moved on.

December 21, 2010
While snowshoeing in Pleasant Valley, our group watched a group of bull, cow, and calf bison. In their midst was a coyote. It appeared to be hunting for mice in the snow that the bison had broken through and kicked up.

December 21, 2010
Six-eight members of the Canyon Wolf Pack were seen off Old Yellowstone Trail on Monday afternoon. They might have left a carcass in the area as three golden eagles, more than fifteen bald eagles, and many ravens were reported in the area. Folks out watching the lunar eclipse last night reported hearing howling. What wonderful neighbors!

December 15, 2010
Any day you see a fox in Yellowstone is a good day. These canines are not as frequently seen as wolves and coyotes. But today we saw a red fox that was almost black, which is especially rare in the Rocky Mountains and North America. We watched this large male fox as he hunted for rodents beneath the snow, triangulating, or shifting his head, to listen for movement beneath the snow. He was unsuccessful one time but captured a meal with his next attempt.

December 14, 2010
Today, students in Lamar Valley Wolf Week were observing bighorn sheep on the slopes of Mount Norris. Despite a strong wind that should have dulled their senses, the entire pack took off running for the cliffs. Soon after, members of the Lamar Canyon wolf pack came in to sight. The sheep could not have seen the wolves so they must have smelled or heard them coming. This viewing illustrated how fine-tuned prey-species’ senses are.

December 14, 2010
Snowshoe tracks weren’t the only ones in the pristine snow of Little America. Our group crossed paths with a bobcat today. Bobcat tracks are distinguishable by the circular shape of the fore-pad. It seems that cat sightings and tracks are more prevalent than in previous years. When students returned to the civilization of the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, they were joined by a large bull bison scratching himself on the cabins and an ermine scampering around and under the cabins.

December 02, 2010
The foothills of Sepulcher provided quite the sighting today. A coyote was seen chasing a snowshoe hare. They both dipped out of sight into the hills so the outcome was unknown. Tracks in the snow are typically the only daytime evidence of snowshoe hares in winter as they are nocturnal.

November 28, 2010
A group of bighorn sheep was seen in the Gardner Canyon this weekend. They are in the middle of their mating season and are putting on a show. One older ram was seen chasing a younger male straight down the slopes. The concave bottoms of their feet allow them to run over rocky and steep terrain.

November 20, 2010
The North Entrance to Yellowstone received more snow than most locals recall in years. In addition to spectacular visibility for wildlife viewing, sounds were accentuated as well. From the Yellowstone Overlook Field Campus, wolves (likely the Blacktail Pack) were heard howling across the river. Snow geese flew overhead, making their way from their breeding grounds in Canada to their winter grounds in the Southern United States and Mexico.

November 16, 2010
Day one of Food For the Masses: Eleven members of the Blacktail Wolf Pack were seen chasing hundreds of elk in the Hellroaring area today. Winter is an outstanding time for wildlife watching as the snow provides a great backdrop. Yet less than 3 percent of Yellowstone’s visitors come during this time.

November 15, 2010
This afternoon, 400-500 elk were seen in the vicinity of Stephen’s Creek on the northern boundary of the park. During the summer, the park’s entire 2.2 million acres are suitable elk habitat but by this time of year, most have moved down to their winter ranges. There has been an ongoing debate since the 1930’s as to whether or not these areas are overgrazed by wildlife.

November 14, 2010
Yesterday, an ermine was spotted at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, running between buildings. Short-tailed weasels (or ermine in winter) change their summer brown fur to white to camouflage them in the snow. Unfortunately, the ground was still exposed, winter coming a bit late this year. The good news is that most of the park is covered in snow this morning.

November 10, 2010
Our group saw a white-tailed doe and fawn in the Pebble Creek drainage today. Mule deer are frequently seen in Yellowstone; white-tailed deer are scarce in the park. While their size and color are similar, you can tell the species apart by the large donkey-like ears of the mule deer and the waving flag-like tail of the white-tailed deer.

November 10, 2010
The Lamar Valley was a hub of activity today. We watched the Lamar Canyon Pack at their rendezvous site. The pups are young enough that they were still playing with ravens, but old enough that they’re starting to follow the adults, and test the elk. In addition to this we saw a covey of gray partridges near the road and a northern shrike hovering and hunting for insects and small mammals.

November 10, 2010
Several pronghorn have recently been spotted in the Gardiner area that appear to have no hovens. Both the male and female of the species grow horns. Adult males grow horns 10-16 inches long; female horns are typically 1-2 inches long and are not pronged. Every November-December, the males shed their sheaths and are left with small nubs that are not easily spotted. The males will not have full-grown horns until next February-March.

November 09, 2010
All 15 of the Blacktail wolves were seen on the slopes from Hellroaring Overlook. Their grey and black coats were beautiful in the late afternoon light. They were likely in the vicinity because there were also four groups of over 100 elk each. Winter is coming to Yellowstone and animals are flocking to the valley floors where food is more available.

November 04, 2010
On my lunchtime walk today I encountered a number of “snowbirds”. Three pronghorn, four mule deer, and a small herd of eight elk were grazing or lounging peacefully within a few hundred yards of the Roosevelt Arch. As the snow begins to fall and accumulate at higher elevations, increasing numbers of ungulates head down hill to lower lying valleys where forage is more readily available. In Gardiner, this means frequent encounters with animals roaming through town.

November 02, 2010
We observed the entire Lamar Canyon Pack on what appeared to be a mule deer carcass. After relaxing near the carcass for a while all seven wolves got up and traveled down the valley to a rendezvous location.

October 27, 2010
Both the Canyon Wolf Pack and a grizzly bear were seen out in Hayden Valley today. Even though it is starting to become the time of year when grizzlies begin to hibernate, they still can be seen throughout the park packing in the calories that will help them make it through the winter. Bears are not true hibernators, instead entering a state called torpor. This means that their body temperature and heart rate decrease for part of the day, instead of for days and weeks like true hibernators.

October 27, 2010
While doing a little off trail excursion in Little America this afternoon we came upon some fresh badger diggings. Since these animals are nocturnal and it is not denning season yet we can only guess that they were out last night digging up sleeping Uinta ground squirrels for a quick snack. On the same walk we also found a carcass of an elk calf picked clean to the bone but still fresh enough that the joints were still soft and spongy. These two examples show how all the animals in the park are taking advantage of as many extra calories as possible before winter surrounds Yellowstone.

October 13, 2010
Driving down to Mammoth, we watched a grizzly bear meandering through the trees above Obsidian Cliff. We were hoping for a better look and we got it when he crossed the road right in front of us! We also got a quick glimpse at a long tailed weasel as it scurried into the hoodoos at Silver Gate. It was an unexpected, fast look, but gave us a chance to discuss winter adaptation because this particular animal will soon turn white to blend into winter's snow.

October 12, 2010
Although we saw a great amount of wildlife, including swimming coyotes, 2 huge grizzly bears, migrating hawks, and even two of the first trumpeter swans on the Yellowstone River, one thing we enjoyed discussing and watching were the ever-present ravens. We saw over a dozen on a single carcass, flying in and out, caching meat. They were in every parking lot, stealing food from unsuspecting visitors, raiding the backs of pickup trucks. They were often perched in trees, on rocks, and on the ground as we drove around the park, seeming to pose in their self-confident way.We discussed their intimate relationship with wolves, their adaptability, and mythologies concerning how their feathers became black (while Raven was gathering fire to bring back to earth).Mostly we enjoyed watching them creatively thrive in their world.

October 08, 2010
Our hike this day started near the Mammoth Terraces. We were graced with elk bugles echoing through the forests, a fantastic way to start a fall hike. Meandering our way across the colorful Swan Lake Flat, one of our alert hikers looked very close by and found the now-famous sow with four cubs. This unusual "quad-mom" hadn't been seen since her regular appearances this spring. She afforded us time to quietly sit and watch her and her four offspring, all healthy, and with their heads resting sweetly on mom's (relatively) enormous back. The runt was much smaller than the siblings, but still looked healthy and strong. After a long rest in which they watched us watching them, the cubs became restless and finally got mom up to wander off the hill and disappear into the sage. For a 15 year veteran of Yellowstone, this might have been one of my best ever back-country bear sightings.

October 06, 2010
After hiking down the Rescue Creek trail from the grasslands to the desert, we decided to try our luck at some roadside wildlife watching. We were headed toward a bison carcass from a couple days previous and unexpectedly had a lively sighting of seven of the Blacktail Pack wolves! They are rarely seen these days, and certainly not in great numbers, or with such good looks. We heard about #302, the original alpha male to this pack, and his previous exploits, being known as a wandering bachelor before establishing this pack. He's gone now, but it was great to see his family doing so well. Later, two of the wolves jumped up and looked west. A quick scan revealed a small grizzly running full tilt toward the carcass, scattering wolves, till one brave loner came in to snack, albeit warily, alongside the grizzly.

September 29, 2010
There was a herd of bighorn ewes and lambs in the Gardiner area today. They were frolicking on a steep hillside. It was pretty incredible to watch the speed with which they ran up and down the steep slope, veering towards and away from cliff edges. Bighorn sheep are very sure footed, and live on steep hillsides to avoid predators.

September 27, 2010
This fall has brought a lot of bear activity to the town of Gardiner. Fall is the time of year when bears are in hyperphagia, an active feeding phase when they are working to store enough fat for winter hibernation. In some years there is an increased presence of bears in local gateway communities, which is certainly the case this year in Gardiner. Higher competition for natural food sources results in bears that forage in the local community for alternate food sources. This year bears have been found throughout the streets of Gardiner and the outlying areas foraging for fruit trees, bird feeders, garbage, and any other readily available food source. The chances of bear-human conflicts are increased when bears are habituated to humans and become food-conditioned. The townspeople have to be vigilant about reducing the chances of bears obtaining non-natural food sources, and several local residents have banded together to form a Bear Awareness campaign to educate the community. This morning, a black bear with a yearling cub was spotted in a tree behind the Yellowstone Association headquarters, and YA staff member observed a grizzly foraging in apple trees a few hundred yards from her house.

September 19, 2010
We had several highlights over the course of our Essential Yellowstone program. The first day we watched an eruption of Great Fountain Geyser. This geyser erupts every 9 to 15 hours, and is quite impressive to watch, sometimes spraying water as high as 200 feet. On the second day we observed five grizzlies in Hayden Valley: a sow with two cubs of the year and a sow with one cub of the year. The sibling cubs were being harassed by a coyote, and we wondered if perhaps the young bears had gotten too close to a former den site. The highlight of our third day was seeing “wolves in the mist”. Often gases from the Mud Volcano area will form a fog in Hayden Valley as the cool air settles. We waited patiently, and as the fog lifted were rewarded with a glimpse of three wolves from the Canyon Pack.

September 15, 2010
A second big bull elk has now shown up in the Mammoth Hot Springs area. After what looked like a long day of running around chasing girls and trying to keep them in the lawn near the church, the bull was laying down with his head completely on the ground. He appeared to be resting that big heavy set of antlers. Now there are two large bulls in different parts of the Mammoth area–perhaps we will see them vying for dominance in the near future.

September 11, 2010
While stopped in the Lamar Valley to use the restroom, our group heard some coyotes yipping. We climbed up on a nearby hill to see what the commotion was about, and were rewarded with a quick glimpse of three wolves from the Silver Pack, including a black wolf. The coyotes were attempting to drive the wolves out of the area.

September 11, 2010
We had several interesting sightings today. The first sighting was a large male black bear, with a beautiful deep black coat color, on the side of the road eating the tops off of clumps of clover. As we were walking further down the road, we were lucky enough to spot a pine marten. We were busy filming and observing the marten when one of our group realized there was a sow grizzly bear with two cubs about 80 feet down the hill from where we were watching the marten. We decided to quickly move on, putting a greater distance between our group and the bears. Later, our group observed Cooper’s hawks fighting with a prairie falcon, as well as Swainson’s hawks, and a large number of Clark’s nutcrackers.

September 10, 2010
Today we saw the three adults and four pups with the Lamar Canyon Wolf Pack napping on some high rocks. Suddenly a grizzly bear came their way, and walked right into the meadow where they were sleeping. Of course Dad had to get up and push the bear out of the area to protect the pups. He escorted the bear all the way across the top of the hill, with one of the young pups attempting to follow along. Finally the male wolf had to stop, turn around, and tell the pup to go back where it was safe.

September 08, 2010
Today we observed a bull moose shedding his velvet by rubbing his antlers in the trees and brush. This is the time of year when moose antlers stop growing; the moose then shed their velvet in preparation for the fall mating season and combat rituals that earn them the right to breed.

September 08, 2010
Today we observed a massive bull elk bugling in the fresh snow and frost covered grasses of Swan Lake Flats. It was a beautiful sign of the beginning of the elk rut, which is ramping up in the park.

September 07, 2010
One of our most exciting moments in the field today was watching a cow elk standing almost up to her back in the Lamar River while the alpha female of the Lamar Canyon wolf pack was biding her time waiting for the next move. It was an interesting cat and mouse game between the elk and the wolf.

September 06, 2010
Today we observed three moose. Two were a possible courting pair; the male was following the female around curling his upper lip.

September 02, 2010
We had a 35 degree temperature swing today, starting off in the low 30’s this morning and up to about 65 in late afternoon. As temperatures are changing, so are the birds. We saw 13 American avocets. Interestingly, they were all males in winter plumage; white grayish feathers on the neck and head instead of the light sandy brown color typical in summer. We guessed they were making their way south, with a quick layover in Yellowstone.

August 28, 2010
On our early morning wildlife safari two men told us they just had seen a grizzly heading over a hill. We tentatively climbed to a high spot and were rewarded with the sight of a grizzly smelling his way around a small pond. The bear sniffed at several rocks that struck us as places where animals, wolves and coyotes in particular, might mark their scent. The bear climbed upon a huge glacial erratic, plopped down on his plump rump, and started surveying the surrounding scene. After some time he clambered on and out of sight.

August 27, 2010
On our northern range hike we came across an animal seldom seen: a short-tailed weasel. Unfortunately it was dead, but interesting that it had no wounds. We guessed that perhaps a hawk had dropped it while trying to fly away with dinner. We knew his body would still sustain others, even the beetles that are sure to come. Later, the strong smell of a carcass had us yelling “HEY BEAR!” until we came across a bison that was mostly consumed. We guessed it was a male who perhaps had sustained a mortal wound during the rut. While our sightings were of different varieties today, it was a constant learning experience seeing how death gives life to others here in Yellowstone.

August 25, 2010
As the alpha female of the Canyon Pack returned to the pack today, we watched a hierarchy of dominance beginning to unfold amongst the trio of pups. The two sisters took turns standing over their brother forcing him to stay put.

August 24, 2010
On our way to Hayden Valley to see if we could find a few of Yellowstone’s predators we encountered a herd of four bucks with their velvet backlit by the rising sun. A few miles up the road on Dunraven Pass we saw a large herd of cow elk blending into the forest on top of Mount Washburn. South of Canyon Junction we arrived in time to see two bull elk sparring in preparation for the upcoming elk rut. The elk were noncommittal; taking bites of grass between sparring. By the time we arrived in Hayden Valley we had already had a good wildlife morning. We topped it off with a glimpse of the Canyon Pack wolf pups and a sow grizzly with three cubs of the year, the cubs following moms lead on breakfast choices. Another family, coyotes this time, hunted in the nearby grass.

August 24, 2010
This morning a herd of over 30 elk cows and calves came marching through the Arch at Yellowstone’s North Entrance. I took these photos from the front steps of our office. This is the time of year when elk herds congregate in preparation for the rut – the mating season – which occurs through the month of September in the park.

August 24, 2010
Two recent programs had multiple wolf and bear observations from one location: At one time, we observed eight grizzlies and three wolves all in the area of a single bison carcass. There seems to be a smaller white bark pine nut crop this year, which is related to how many bears show up at wolf kills and other carcasses. Reported by Tom Hyde, Wolves of Yellowstone. We were lucky enough to watch six grizzly bears (three adults and three cubs) feeding on a bison carcass in the Hayden Valley. It is pretty typical to see bears gather in groups like this – sometimes referred to as a sloth of bears – in places where food is plentiful.

August 24, 2010
Two recent hiking programs had interesting bear encounters on their travels: On our first day of hiking in the Hellroaring area we had the unusual event of spotting a cinnamon colored black bear on the trail. Usually we see bears from the road, because they often hear us coming in the backcountry and disappear before we have the chance to see them. This sighting allowed us some quiet time away from the typical roadside bear jam crowds to watch the bear grazing on late summer grass.

August 23, 2010
Today we had unusual red-tailed hawk sighting. This hawk has unique light-phase plumage; a brown and white checkerboard pattern with a beautiful red tail. We see this bird every fall, but this is the first time we’ve seen it before early September. Perhaps its early arrival in the park is a sign that winter is coming early–red-tailed hawks are migratory birds.

August 22, 2010
We had two good sightings today: one was a very active pack of coyotes, two adults and four large pups wrestling and playing. The other was an adult male black bear in the Lamar River that managed to fish out part of a submerged carcass from between the rocks. Bears are omnivores, and do not hesitate to scavenge old carcasses, especially at this time of year when they are busy putting on weight before the winter hibernation.

August 10, 2010
The best part of our day was being able to look into the "windows of the earth" to see who traveled our path before us. What are the "windows of the earth?" These are the bison wallows, the disturbed earth where a bison rolled. In this window, we observed coyote, pronghorn, and fox tracks. Little did they realize we would be tracking them later in the day.

August 09, 2010
As we entered into Hayden Valley, we had the best wolf sighting of the season. Running along the side of the road, a grey wolf from the Canyon Pack was very easy to see. As the bus slowed down, the wolf made a turn and passed directly in front of the bus. We could see that this wolf was one of the important ones with a collar that allows the wolf researchers to track the movements of the pack.

August 04, 2010
Just as we were approaching Tower Junction, I mentioned that it was a great place to see black bears. No sooner were the words out than a large black bear came running up from the embankment on our left and crossed directly in front of us. He ran to the other side, looking over his shoulder and climbed a few feet up the scree slope to our right. Panting, he sat there, looking at us and looking in the direction from which he'd come. We couldn't wait to see what had spooked him, but nothing ever came up to the road. Eventually, the bear sauntered back down the embankment and began to eat flowers, shrugging it off like nothing had happened!

August 04, 2010
We spotted a cinnamon black bear walking alongside the road near the Hoodoos above Mammoth Hot Springs. We observed as the bear traveled down a hill and broke open a rock. We could actually hear the rock crack as the bear broke it right in half. The bear then rolled the rock out of the way, and started eating ants off the ground. Through the spotting scope we watched ants climbing all over the bear’s nose, which he wiped off as they became too annoying.

August 04, 2010
We spotted a big bull moose on Yellowstone’s Northern Range. This was a particularly interesting sighting because he was growing a very nice set of antlers that still had a lot of velvet on them. The flat paddle of a moose antler is called a palmate formation because it resembles the shape of a hand. Bull moose begin growing their antlers in April or May. Antlers are one of the fastest growing bones, up to an inch per day in some parts of the season. The antlers will grow until August, when bulls begin rubbing off the velvet and polishing their antlers for the rut.

August 04, 2010
While picnicking at a remote backcountry beach on the Lamar
River we had the opportunity to watch an angler land a cutthroat trout and gently release the fish back into the water in accordance with park catch and release fishing policies. The observation led us into a discussion about fisheries management and history, including the exotic lake trout crisis in Yellowstone Lake, and current politics with fishing.

August 01, 2010
When inquiring about what the participants’ interests were, we had wolves, bears, moose, and mountain goats on the list. I told them that I couldn’t make any promises, but we’d see what we could do and hope for the best. It turns out we saw a grizzly bear, a black bear, the entire Lamar Canyon wolf pack, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep. We did not see a moose, but were still very successful in finding most of the wildlife we sought. While there are no guarantees, you can increase your chances of finding wildlife by understanding their habitat. So that’s what we focused on – looking for grizzly bears in the open sagebrush in the Lamar Valley area, black bears in the more forested Tower area, goats on the steep and rocky Baronnette Peak, and the wolves in the vicinity of their den site.

August 01, 2010
We headed out to observe a five day old bison carcass on the northern range, which resulted in the group being treated to five grizzlies and a wolf on the carcass. That gave us the opportunity to observe the different coat colors grizzlies can have, from one almost black individual to a sow with two older cubs that approached blonde in color. All, however, had the distinctive hump and dish profile of the grizzly. Also gave us the chance to view feeding hierarchies, with the largest bear feeding first and the other bears waiting patiently.

August 01, 2010
Coyotes have distinctive bounce to their trot. That combined with their more reddish tan coloration and small size makes them easily identifiable. Two times this week we observed a coyote this week in the same area, hunting. Coyotes will often trot along hoping to flush small prey which they will then jump up and pounce on. We were fortunate enough to see this happen multiple times.

July 29, 2010
Two groups recently observed animals dining on interesting prey. A private tour group watched a grizzly bear capture and eat a marmot. The observation served as a springboard for a discussion about grizzly bear calorie needs and food sources. The Yellowstone for Families group watched some killdeer hunting ephydrid flies and their larvae at the Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces. Ephydrid flies are commonly seen in wetland and thermal areas in Yellowstone, and are a regular food source for some birds.

July 29, 2010
On one of our hikes to a backcountry lake in the Lamar Valley area, we were surprised by a family of river otter. We watched them learn as mom taught them how to find crustaceans in the water. Then, the family of otters followed us down to a lower lake and showed off their impressive fishing skills. We’ve had many wildlife sightings on this Trails Through Yellowstone program, but one of the most amazing things we’ve seen was an osprey family we spotted at the beginning of a hike to a backcountry thermal area. We watched two adult osprey giving flying lessons to their young. Osprey make great pairs; they mate for life, return to the same nest every year, and both adults share in the care of their young.

July 29, 2010
On the way home last night we encountered a black bear jam. We observed the bear standing up on his hind legs and ripping apart an upright old dead tree trunk. The sound cracked and echoed through the forest as he ripped up that tree to get at the insects inside. On another day, we watched a big male grizzly bear in the Blacktail area. At first the bear was sleeping, but then we watched it get up and graze, digging here and there, perhaps for roots or ground squirrels. Eventually the bear made its way over to a stream, took a drink, and then sat with its hind end in the water – cooling down on a hot day.

July 27, 2010
Last night we watched a wonderful sighting of a fox trying to navigate tourists. It was being a very good fox, moving through the traffic without approaching people or begging for food. The fox traveled into an adjacent meadow and began hunting for mice. Animals like coyotes and fox can become habituated to people when fed by park visitors; we were happy to see this fox pursuing its natural food sources.

July 27, 2010
During the Northeast Corner Backpack Expedition, a nine day backpack we unofficially dubbed “Cooke City to Gardiner the Hard Way", we hiked through a little bit of every ecotone from desert to high alpine, and our wildlife sightings ranged across the spectrum, too. Finding a small cinnamon black bear during a hot afternoon on an open slope surprised us all, even the bear! On a cool misty morning a bison on Slough Creek greeted our campers. Up in the forests of the Buffalo Plateau, we caught glimpses of pine martens and long tail weasels. Whether the grass was riparian or dry determined if the creatures underfoot were boreal toads, of which there were many, or voles scurrying to hide from the large creatures lumbering down the trail. One evening, we heard both a lone wolf and several coyotes (the coyotes were sending out an alarm cry, no wonder why!). We saw many winged inhabitants from eagles and cormorants, to caddis and stoneflies feeding (or feeding on) the trout we saw jumping out of the Yellowstone River. Our most unusual sighting was a rubber boa sunning in some granite boulders--usually they're nocturnal. His monochromatic grey body was only the second one Jim Garry, our instructor of 41 years had ever seen in Yellowstone.

July 20, 2010
Bears and Bones were the impromptu themes of our private tour today. In the Blacktail Plateau area we spotted one of the larger black bears we’ve seen in the park. It was a cinnamon colored black bear that we estimated at close to 400 pounds. Male black bears in Yellowstone typically weigh between 200 and 300 pounds. The children in the group were fascinated by the elk and bison bones that we came across during the day. We did a little bit of Yellowstone CSI as we investigated bone piles from previous winter kills.

July 18, 2010
Today on the northern range our group observed a badger and a coyote apparently tag teaming the ground squirrel population in the valley. As we all watched through the scopes, an interesting interaction unfolded. The coyote was chasing the badger over the hillside while yipping and yapping. The badger rolled over, and then faced out of his hole -- seemingly taunting the coyote. While Native American legends speak of the relationship between coyotes and badgers, the opportunity to watch their behavior together in the field does not regularly occur.

July 18, 2010
While having lunch along the Yellowstone River we discovered a great blue heron rookery. Herons were flying in and out of the treetops while we watched. The nests had young in them that appeared large and close to fledging; they’ll likely take their first flight in the next week or two. We also enjoyed observing baby kestrels learning to fly on their own, conducting aerial gymnastics, and just beginning to feed themselves.

July 18, 2010
Our group observed a grizzly bear searching for pronghorn fawns in the Lamar Valley. The bear appeared to be doing a kind of grid search. Because the newborn fawns have no scent, the bear was unable to rely on its sense of smell. It was interesting to see how the bear used a strategic search pattern instead.

July 17, 2010
We were watching elk and bison grazing across the Yellowstone River in the Hayden Valley when we noticed the elk becoming alarmed. As the elk raised their heads high in the air and moved closer together on high alert, we spotted a black wolf traveling nearby along the Yellowstone River. The wolf seemed to be searching for smaller, easier prey in the sagebrush, and left the area without incident.

July 15, 2010
This morning as we were driving into the park we spotted two moose not far from the North Entrance. The moose were standing on top of a hill, and ultimately trotted by in the vicinity of our group. Perhaps the most intriguing thing about the sighting is that we had the chance to learn more about moose habitat. The dry, cactus-studded environment near the park’s North Entrance is a strange place to see moose because it’s quite different from their normal habitat. In the summer moose are most commonly found in wet, marshy areas near lakes, rivers, and meadows.

July 14, 2010
After a day hiking the Day Hiking Yellowstone Literary Trails group observed the Silver Pack alpha female regurgitate food for one of the pups. From the same observation point the group watched two grizzlies grazing about 400 yards from the wolves.

July 12, 2010
Leaving early to find bears and wolves was worth our time when we found a grizzly gnawing on an old bison carcass 200 yards off the road in the Lamar Valley. We were also fortunate enough to see the Silver Pack alpha female and one pup. The pup headed for the shade, but we got great looks at the silvery alpha female while she sat in the sun near her den site. Bison, badgers, elk, and pronghorn completed the scene in the American Serengeti.

July 12, 2010
This morning we were lucky enough to see a black bear foraging along the side of the road for grubs and roots. We noticed that the bear was almost blonde, or very light cinnamon colored. It was a good opportunity to talk about differences between grizzly bears and black bears, and coat color.

July 12, 2010
At Black Sand Basin visiting the Rainbow Pool, we watched a male cowbird fly over and appear as if it might land in the hot spring. The bird was carrying what looked like some kind of food, which it actually dropped it in the hot spring. We figured the bird didn’t know about the rules against dropping things in thermal features, and wondered if we should report the bird to the rangers.

July 11, 2010
Just shy of 6 a.m., we witnessed two separate grizzly bears move through the Silver Pack den area. The first large male grizzly moved through without too much incident; there was a momentary standoff between the alpha male and the grizzly, but the bear soon moved on his way. A short while later, what appeared to be a sub adult grizzly bear passed through the den area. This time, the alpha male of the Silver Pack came out and confronted the bear in a most aggressive fashion. The two had a momentary standoff after which the bear was escorted out of the area by the alpha male close on the bear’s heels. Next, we observed the same young grizzly in an encounter with a bison herd. The bear made a bluff run towards the bison herd before sauntering through the middle of the herd, after which the bison grouped together and ultimately chased him off.

July 10, 2010
While we had an extensive list of wildlife sightings today, high on the list of priorities was to find a grizzly bear. We were rewarded within a few minutes of leaving the Canyon area by running into a sow with two cubs on Dunraven Pass. The cubs were following mom closely and watching what she ate and trying some of their own. We thought it was a rare sighting but hours later when we came back over Dunraven Pass in the afternoon we were fortunate enough to run into her again. Whatever she was eating must have been really good.

July 09, 2010
In the sagebrush hills between Mammoth Hot Springs and Gardiner, Montana, there were many pronghorn gathered, including males, females, and fawns. According to the 2010 Yellowstone Resources and Issues Guide, the pronghorn population dropped by about 50 percent in the early 1990’s, possibly due to predation, or loss of winter range. While pronghorn are often seen in the vicinity of the park’s North Entrance in Gardiner, they are a species of concern in the park.

July 09, 2010
We witnessed a grizzly bear sow with two cubs on the slopes of Mount Washburn. Mom was digging for roots and tubers while the cubs were looking intently at what she was doing, learning how to do the same. Although the cubs couldn’t resist taking breaks to run around and spar with each other, they were “trying” to learn the appropriate foods to eat from mom.

July 07, 2010
We saw three wolf pups from the Silver Pack in the Lamar Valley. We didn’t see any adults, just the pups who seemed to be having an adventure of their own. All of the wolf watchers had just left the area, but our group went up on the hill anyway and looked out across the valley. We were fortunate enough to watch the pups play for about half an hour before they went back into the trees. We were also lucky enough to spot two badgers in the Slough Creek area.

July 06, 2010
On the final day of the Trails Through Yellowstone program the group was fortunate enough to see a sow grizzly bear with three cubs of the year maintaining an elk carcass on a creek in the Hayden Valley. Although there wasn’t much left on the carcass, the sow had to defend both her food source as well as her cubs from a coyote. The coyote and a few ravens kept encroaching on the carcass, but the sow could not afford to relinquish the meal. In defense, the sow repeatedly charged through the water at the coyote as the cubs came splashing full steam right after her.

July 04, 2010
While watching a grizzly bear on a carcass in the Lamar Valley, our groups witnessed two wolves take down a baby bison. This would have been an easy kill for them except for the large bull bison that intervened on behalf of the calf and charged after the wolves. Unfortunately, it appears the calf sustained too many injuries to survive. Bison calves and other young ungulates are at a huge risk from predators when separated from their mothers.

July 02, 2010
On a hike to Trout Lake we spotted three otters catching fish the inlet of the lake where the cutthroat trout gather during spawning. We were able to watch them eat the fish, swim around, play, and generally act like otters. We also spotted two grizzly bears on a bison carcass while a grey wolf lurked in the area as well. It was interesting to watch them interact, as the bears were not willing to yield the carcass to the wolf.

July 01, 2010
While enjoying “the Best of Yellowstone” we saw an unbelievable 18 bears. One of the best sightings was on a backcountry hike: seeing a black bear meandering and grazing while we had him all to ourselves. Watching a grizzly feed on a carcass in Lamar with an impatient coyote checking on him every few minutes was a lucky interaction to watch as well.

June 30, 2010
While hiking off-trail around the Hellroaring area we smelled first, and then saw, a red fox that skirted around us off-trail through the sage brush. It was a nice sighting; the fox back-tracked and allowed us to watch him for 10-15 minutes. Though fox widely inhabit the northern part of the park, their primarily nocturnal and solitary habits make sightings somewhat rare.

June 30, 2010
On the final day of the Trails Through Yellowstone program the highlight for the group was watching a grizzly bear for about 45 minutes. They observed as the bear searched through the sage brush for a variety of different food sources and eventually made its way swimming across the Yellowstone River towards the road where it came in close contact with some people and created a bear jam. The instructor aided an NPS ranger in directing traffic while the grizzly bear crossed the pavement and went up the other side of the road.

June 30, 2010
Participants in the Dragonflies, Damselflies, and Pond Invertebrates course were searching for charismatic microfauna in a still water pond in the Specimen Ridge area. The group was able to examine four dragonflies, all of which turned out to be male. The dragonflies had not yet hardened, meaning they had emerged that day from their nymphal stage in the water. Three to four days from now the females will emerge and mating will begin, turning the pond into a “den of iniquity”, dragonfly style.

June 28, 2010
The Bears: Bones, Signs and Stories course was rewarded with bear sightings in the double digits each day of the three day course. Some of the highlights included a black bear sow with two cubs, a grizzly sow with two cubs, and the famous sow with four cubs. The group also witnessed what appeared to be a sow grizzly trying to chase off her two year old cub. Sow bears will chase off their grown cubs in preparation for the upcoming mating season.

June 25, 2010
Today in the Lamar Valley we watched two coyote adults feed on a bison calf that was either just recently born or perhaps stillborn. The female bison still had afterbirth material, and since it’s so late in the season we wondered if there were complications with the pregnancy. The bison’s misfortune was a boon for the coyote pups however, who were waiting back at the den nearby.

June 25, 2010
Watching from the back porch, participants in both the Bears: Bones, Signs, and Stories and The Art of Wildflower Identification courses at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch witnessed a mule deer give birth to three fawns. Mule deer are commonly seen in the park, and give birth between late May and early August.

June 23, 2010
While hiking in the Junction Butte area, the Yellowstone Geoecosystems class took a break from studying rocks to observe a pronghorn doe with two fawns passing by about 200 yards from the group. Pronghorn start birthing in late May and continue into June, and usually have twins. Because these fawns were up and running around we guess they are probably around three weeks old.

June 20, 2010
We were fortunate to arrive at Trout Lake just as an otter made its way to the stream. We observed from above as the otter herded fish into the shallows and attempted to grab them, unfortunately unsuccessfully. However, after we stopped for lunch, we observed another otter on the opposite bank feasting away on some trout.

June 20, 2010
On Sunday staff at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch reported that two wolves from the Silver Pack were seen on the south side of the Lamar River. They chased a coyote off of an elk calf carcass and promptly began to eat. After about half an hour the alpha male took a leg and started traveling east to take it back with him to the pups in the den. Approximately one half mile to the west the Agate Pack was feeding on a bison carcass, and one of the wolves chased a grizzly bear off of that carcass. Interestingly, the two wolf packs never paid any attention to each other despite their close proximity.

June 18, 2010
A boreal owl chick was spotted in the northeast corner of the park sitting peacefully on the branch of a snag. We kept our distance, and the chick seemed unconcerned with our presence, appearing to fall asleep periodically. We did not observe any other owl, adult or chick, but we did observe a possible perch based on the presence of whitewash. The presence of a chick suggests a nest nearby, but none was observed.

June 18, 2010
Today was the day to focus on geology, but we started off with numerous wildlife sightings. We watched a grizzly sow and her four cubs forage along a meadow. A huge male was also in the area, and as he moved closer, the grizzly sow constantly monitored the situation. When he moved too close, she and the cubs moved at great speed down into the tree line, as a big boar could be a threat to the cubs.

June 18, 2010
Today was wildlife day and Yellowstone showed off. Grizzlies, black bears, otters, bighorns, mountain goats, and wolves, oh my! Perhaps the coolest moment of the day was catching sight of a short-tailed weasel while stopping to observe a bighorn ram. Its quick, darting movements through fallen trees made it exciting to watch.

June 17, 2010
We spotted a grizzly bear cub near the Old Faithful developed area, which had caused a huge bear jam. The cub appeared to be on his own, wandering around in the meadow right by the road. We didn’t see any sign of the mother. We watched the bear interacting with a raven: the cub chased the raven, and in turn the bird came back to hassle the bear. Sadly, we received word on Monday that this bear had been killed accidentally during capture efforts on Friday. The park's press release is available here: http://www.nps.gov/yell/parknews/newsreleases.htm

June 06, 2010
An adult cinnamon black bear killed and fed on an elk calf below the Yellowstone River bridge. Ten miles to our south, near Dunraven Pass we watched a sow grizzly bear and her two cubs of the year move back and forth through grass and sage on the scent trail of something, maybe a recently born elk. These were examples of two of the five predators that elk calf needs to worry about. The other three are wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions.

May 30, 2010
Love is in the air! We had a most unique sighting at West Thumb of a pair of loons performing their mating dance, swimming parallel and alternately bobbing heads and changing positions--lovely! It was an especially rare treat because of Yellowstone's loons' declining population. Later, we happened upon black bears mating near Tower Junction, he roughing up her back and she willingly letting him mate. Interestingly, her yearling cubs were nearby, in a tree! We also saw a full complement of spring young, from a grizzly cub to bighorn lambs, an elk calf just off the boardwalk, goslings, and even two sandhill crane colts!

May 26, 2010
We watched a wolf chase a grizzly bear away from a wolf den. She physically fought the bear off and continued to chase it far away from the den, keeping her pups safe for another day.

May 26, 2010
While exploring the park in a classic touring car, our group was rewarded with spring time wildlife. A new bighorn lamb was perched with mom near Calcite Springs, several osprey were sitting on eggs in the canyon area and bison calves were everywhere. We even got to see a thin, post-hibernation bear digging for grubs and plants along the lake shore.

May 23, 2010
As the sun rose behind the cloud cover, two of the Blacktail wolves left a bison carcass. As they moved across an open meadow, we saw two grizzly bears mating in our same field of view. In this moment of wildness, a lone wolf howled from behind us creating a lasting memory.

May 19, 2010
After talking about how difficult surviving the first year can be for a grizzly bear cub, we watched a boar (male bear) chase after a cub while the sow (female bear) tried to defend it.

May 19, 2010
We watched a sow grizzly bear defend her cub-of-the-year against a male bear. She physically fought him off and then proceeded to chase him across the top of Specimen Ridge.

May 18, 2010
A collared gray wolf was holding a cow elk in the bond between North Twin Lake and South Twin Lake. There were possibly two other wolves in the trees howling. As we quietly observed this moment, the cow elk climbed out to one side–only to jump back in as a visitor (not associated with our group) walked toward the elk.

May 15, 2010
People often ask why wolves howl. Though difficult to say for sure, many howls occur when wolves are trying to locate their pack mates. We witnessed a classic example of this today near Lava Creek. One gray wolf apparently got separated from another by the road in some dense trees. The lead wolf looked back and howled. The trailing wolf soon appeared and joined the leader crossing the road within a very short time. We got a great view and the wolves continued on, together for a few miles up the road.

May 13, 2010
We watched a grizzly bear chase a bison herd across the plains. It was really interesting to see how the bear strategized an attack and the bison strategized a defense.

May 10, 2010
While exploring the essence of Yellowstone, we were able to observe a number of grizzlies and black bears eating the first spring foods, mostly grubs and grass. Bison calves felt the first spring grass below their hooves, while osprey mated in the Canyon. Grand, Fountain, Grotto and many other geysers gave us a view into the inner workings of Yellowstone’s volcanism.

April 21, 2010
While looking for a female grizzly bear with four cubs-of-the-year, a very unusual sighting for Yellowstone, I saw two bull moose near Golden Gate. Both had shed their antlers long ago, one had short velvet-covered nubs, the other was still in the beginning stages of his new growth. It has been 22 years since the 1988 fires and the Yellowstone landscape is recovering—there are increasing moose sightings throughout the park each year.

April 19, 2010
Over this five-day program, the students were awe-struck at what Yellowstone had to offer. From a close-up look at a bison that was taken down by Silver Pack wolves, to the interaction between an adult grizzly bear and the pregnant alpha wolf in #755's group, we were blessed with incredible sightings. We saw six grizzlies and two wolf packs in one day; then we woke early to find a red fox and coyote on Swan Lake Flats and hiked to Tower Falls on the closed road and saw two peregrine falcons and four osprey that had returned to their nesting sites after a long migration from the south. The next day was full of off-trail hiking where we found Native American artifacts and shed elk antlers. On our way to Old Faithful the final day, a collared male wolf in the Mollie's Pack crossed our path twice near Midway Geyser Basin. For high school students from far-away Connecticut, they had an amazing week in our first national park!

March 25, 2010
Two grizzly bears were seen today. One was across the Yellowstone River near Tower Junction and one was in the sage below Garnet Hill. This time of year it is typical to see grizzly bears coming out of hibernation. The older males come out first with the younger males following and later the sows and cubs.

March 17, 2010
We spotted a large male grizzly bear along the east side of the Yellowstone River in the afternoon sun. He smelled around, yawned, and lounged in the shade of some Douglas fir trees. Typically older male bears emerge from their winter den first, followed by sub-adult bears, and then females with cubs. Bear tracks have been reported since mid-February on Yellowstone’s northern range but this was one of the first close-up sightings of the season.

March 11, 2010
Five wolves attacked a bull elk and disabled it, but did not kill their prey before they started eating the elk.

March 11, 2010
Four wolves chased three other wolves away from an old bison carcass. The three that were being chased covered about four miles in 15 minutes.

March 09, 2010
While checking out the cone at Soda Butte on the east side of the Lamar Valley, we saw a Uinta ground squirrel on the snow! This is an unusual sighting for this time of year but with the lack of snow-pack, this poor creature could have woken up from its winter slumber to find its den site flooding.

March 02, 2010
While out on a hike on the northern range, we noticed a quiet little flute-like hoot of the pygmy owl. These tiny owls would be advertising for mates now but are very difficult to see, especially at other times of the year. On this day however, we got lucky and found the owl at the top of a spruce tree and got a great look just before he flew off.

February 27, 2010
We watched the Agate/Mollies Pack frolicking in the snow. The big male dominated the smaller male in order to keep him away from the female. He stood on top of the smaller male pinning him to the ground while the smaller male licked at his face. Then the younger female got up, ran down the hill, and chased a bunch of ravens. She came very close to catching up with one, but she fell into deep snow face-first and it slowed her pace, pretty much to a dead stop.

February 17, 2010
We were watching two wolves walk through the Lamar Valley and they suddenly broke into a run. Just ahead of them, a coyote running for its life. Unfortunately for the coyote, wolves do not like these smaller canines and the two female wolves caught the coyote and killed it. Sometimes wolves will kill a coyote and leave it for the scavengers simply to kill the competition. On this day, one of the wolves actually ate the coyote.

February 16, 2010
A rare sighting in Yellowstone, we saw two belted kingfishers on our drive to Old Faithful, one along the Gibbon River and the other on the Madison River. This bird is usually skittish around people, but both birds allowed us to watch them for a few minutes.

February 14, 2010
On Valentine’s Day we watched the courtship and mating between two wolves in the Silver Pack.

February 13, 2010
We watched a large male moose eating willow plants along the side of the road. We knew he had recently lost his antlers because we could see the pedestals on the top of his head.

February 03, 2010
We watched two moose grazing on willows. This gave us a perfect opportunity to discuss the impacts of trophic cascade and fire on the ecosystem.

February 03, 2010
Today we witnessed something not often seen, the process of radio collaring wolves. In the Lamar Valley, members of the Wolf Project darted and collared a Silver Pack pup and re-collared a black male (#147) nearby. The wolves continue to be a controversial species. A great deal of scientific information has been, and continues to be, gathered by collaring some of the wolves in the park.

February 02, 2010
We watched four otters playing in the Lamar River. The cold water does not bother these animals due because their amazingly thick, oily coats keep their skin dry and warm.

February 02, 2010
A new group of wolves is moving into Lamar valley. The Silver Pack, named so because the alpha male’s coat is almost white, is chasing off any male suitors that are coming near the females.

January 29, 2010
Wolf mating season is on. A well known wolf from the Agate Pack, alpha female #472 and another Agate Pack female were seen with an unknown black male who has been with them for some time. As we watched, a large gray male from the Mollie’s Pack appeared and was chased off by the black male. The next day, that same Mollie’s male and another Mollie’s male were seen with the two Agate females, but the black was nowhere to be seen. As is typical, wolf mating season can involve a great deal of changes in pack structure on the competitive northern range of Yellowstone.

January 27, 2010
We watched an unrelated female wolf being tracked by the Druid Pack females. The unrelated female was quick to move off when she realized the Druid females were right behind her. Since the most common mortality for wolves in the park is to be killed by other wolves, we all hoped she would live to see another day.