If you want to catch wildlife in action you best be getting up early. A rude awakening and a rough start was getting up three hours earlier than what I am used to. Temperature this morning was in the 40’s, not bad for 6 in the morning in autumn.
We were met by Taylor, one of the parks biologists as well as a guide for Wolf Watchers. She was extremely bubbly and pleasant for early morning. She shared with us her knowledge about the wolves and how to her it’s almost like the wolves of Yellowstone are her dogs in the way that she knows them just by their behavior and their coats. She also shared with us the impact the new hunting regulations have already had on the Junction pack as they lost 3 wolves already this past week when they ventured out of the park. Concerning since last night they went out of the park again and the pack hasn’t been seen that I heard of today.
Our first spotting of a black wolf this morning lazing around in Lamar Valley was uneventful as he didn’t feel like doing anything so he just appeared as a blob that occasionally lifted his head. However, This stop was the most diverse of our stops, we saw: a black wolf, a grizzly, pronghorn, a fox, bison and even mountain goats off on the mountain edges. Quite the way to start our first outing in search of wolves.
The following more intriguing spot was the Bison carcass from ten days ago I believe. We made the short hike to the carcass and saw the damage they are able to do. It looked as thought the Bison had exploded as fur and pieces of bone were scattered across the immediate area. I went in search of wolf and bear signs near the trickling stream only successful in scat and some bear tracks. The hike was still enjoyable to see what they see as they peer out across the valley towards the road.
As we finished up with the wolf trackers during lunch at the Buffalo Ranch an avid bear watcher pointed out to us a mother black bear with her two cubs that was out several miles rubbing up on some trees. It was also here that we found out that there is a fresh morning kill 200yards from the road that we will be heading to tomorrow morning.
A day down with the wolf trackers. We went back to the park after they dropped us at the motel and went to Mammoth hot springs. Unfortunately due to the lack of water everywhere this year there weren’t many pools. Unfortunately this sight seemed anticlimactic but it was an experience none the less that leaves me wanting to return after a wet year to see it in all it’s true glory.