It was a good day in Yellowstone.  The weather was crisp and Fall like and then the excitement began.  We made our stop at Hell Roaring where there is a talus slope and a great place to look for the Pika.  (see above picture) The Pika is a cute little rabbit like creature that is an indicator of climate change.  It can not survive at temperatures above 75 degrees, if the environment they are living in rises above that temp. they move upward to higher elevation or die.  In Yellowstone they are doing okay….in Utah and parts of the Southwest they are gone.  It is amazing that an animal can be so sensitive to changes in the environment due to potential climate change.  When they move to higher elevation their food and needs are often not met because of the new change in environment.  It is always amazing that as you stand quietly by the Talus rock you may hear a little squeal and catch a glance of the little creature dancing across the rocks. I was grateful that nature allowed me to hear the squeal and see their quick dash across the rocks. I saw two of them but some of the students saw three.  It was here where we participated in Citizen Science.  This is a program that many organizations are encouraging to collect data by citizens.  Our guide had us measure the temp.,elevation, number sighted, and other information to be passed on to the researchers.  It is a great way to get citizens involved with science.

We also later gathered data on a sub bison group and recorded location, number in this subgroup, presence of bulls and cows, and approximate number of yearlings traveling with this sub group.  It is known that usually the  lead female keeps the sub group together.  They are a very maternal oriented animal.  Often the male bull will move off on its own after the rut. Hence you often see a big bull  bison standing alone in the background until the next rut that occurs in August. That leaves the young bulls and females to remain with the group. If you happen to see a little red calf at this time of the year (Oct) it is going to be a real challenge for that animal to survive the winter.  We did see one small guy and hope that he will be able to survive the winter. There are numerous stories I have heard from guides and researchers about the bison that are extremely interesting on how they keep connected within their group.

Now for the big event (for me) was a journey into the Lamar Valley by Slough Creek where we were greeted  by a line up of tripods and scopes (see featured picture) and I knew something was happening.  It was the Wolf Watchers.  The wolf watchers go out everyday to monitor and watch the wolf packs of Yellowstone hours at end.  They recognize each wolf in the pack.  The watchers are often retired individuals that love watching and studying the wolves.  What was going on???  It was the Junction Pack.  They had taken down a bison and were feeding in a frenzy on the carcass.  Eight of them  mostly black wolves with two grey wolves in the pack.  They would grab a leg and go off and eat it.  You could see others carry off a chunk of the meat.  Their tails were all wagging and positioning themselves for a piece of the  kill.  Some of them began to slow down and move off to the side. They will eventually become “meat drunk”  with bellies swelling and movement slowing down.  They will stay around and guard the kill while other predators (bears and coyotes) are probably waiting for their share.

Unfortunately it is difficult to get pictures of them with our cameras but other wolf watchers have scopes that allow you see them much closer up.  We were about a mile away.  I have a picture and you will only see little black dots for wolves. (see picture) But in real time and with the best scopes it is much more impressive.  I should mention that the wolf watchers are so generous in letting you look through their scopes and encourage one to “come see the Junctions on the bison carcass”.

Just the other day in central Yellowstone the Waipti Pack took down a female elk and young.  The Waipti’s are a pack of 22 wolves.  One of the largest in the park.  I have never seen them but hope to someday.

After observing the frenzy at Slough Creek we then moved to Junction Butte where the students had the opportunity to climb to the top and get a view of the Lamar Valley and Mount Washburn in the distance. The students always enjoy hiking off the trail and seeing new vistas, bones, rocks, and plants.  (see picture)  I even got to see some puffballs and mushrooms growing in the manure of the bison.  It has been a while since my mycology (study of fungi) days spent at Flathead Lake by Glacier National Park where I was able to collect fungi (dry and collect spore prints).  I have a collection of over a hundred different dried fungi collected  from the Northwest part of Montana.

Another area I have found that students enjoy is the confluence of the Yellowstone and Lamar River.  It is pretty spectacular.  Once again Yellowstone did not disappoint and it was a good day to be in Yellowstone National Park.  Tomorrow we venture down into the geyser basin areas and a stop at Old Faithful where everyone can check it off their bucket list.  Until then…..

Dr. Ketterling