When anyone thinks of Yellowstone, the first thing that comes to mind is Old Faithful. But while there are an estimated 10,000(!) thermal features in Yellowstone and while they are all amazing and beautiful (and I have a photo of most of them), seeing the wildlife is more fun.
Driving or hiking in Yellowstone is like going on safari in Africa. Except instead of Lions, Giraffes, and Rhinoceroses (Rhinoceri?) there are Bear, Elk, and Buffalo. And coyotes, mountain goats, wolves, moose, big horn sheep, etc, etc, etc.
You are warned at every opportunity to stay away from all wild animals and how dangerous they are, but it is amazing how many people ignore the warnings.
Bison
Bison are big. Really big. And they have mean little eyes. And sharp horns, even the females. And can supposedly charge you at 35 mph.
It was really exciting seeing the first couple dozen or so bison.
After that, it was, like:
- “Do you want me to stop for a picture?”
- "Not necessary.”
They like to walk on the road,
pose at scenic locations,
and hang out in groups
This is a bison footprint next to my sneaker, size 7.5. Did I mention bison are big?
Elk
The elk ignore humans the same way the deer do back home.
Male elk like to hang out in or near the Bridge Bay campground. Three bull elk showed up right before candle lighting Friday afternoon. The same group plus two friends showed up Shabbos afternoon.
Because it was Shabbos, I couldn’t take any pictures when one of them came over and licked our RV then got one of his antlers caught on our eruv wire (he got untangled without bringing it down).
No photos from when another walked in to the campsite across from us, ate the last sausage on their cooled off grill, then spent the next 20 minutes licking off said grill. Or when a bison walked through that same campsite a half an hour later.
These pictures were taken before Shabbos.
The elk ladies like to lounge around Park Headquarters in the Mammoth area, but they can be anywhere. They reminded me of the deer that infest my backyard.
Bear
“Carry Bear Spray And Know How To Use It”, “Hike In Groups Of Three Or More”, ”Make Noise When Hiking”, ”If A Bear Charges You, Do Not Run”, “If A Bear Attacks You, Drop To The Ground, Curl Up and Play Dead.”
Costco carries bear spray in Montana.
When we would hike we would sing and talk loudly, pitching our voices high then low, to confuse the bears and make them think we were a large group and therefore stay away. When we came across other hikers, it was a little embarrassing. But the strategy must have worked because we didn't see any bears while hiking.
This is a black bear (taken with a telephoto). We did not see any grizzles. *
Coyote
We saw this one on a seldom used road
Mountain Goats
Mother and her adorable kid were scampering far up on a cliff wall
Mystery Rodent
No idea what this is. it was bigger than a squirrel with a tail like a squirrel, and smaller than a fox. Any ideas?
Sandhill Cranes
There were a whole group of us on the side of the road looking through our binoculars trying to figure out what in the world these giant birds were. Turns out they are sandhill cranes. I had thought sandhill cranes were only gray.
Trumpeter Swans being photobombed by a Canada Goose (on vacation from NJ?)
Etc’s – Cutthroat Trout, Mule Deer, Chipmunk, etc, etc
We left Yellowstone on Tuesday and have started driving east towards home.
* We didn't see any grizzly in Yellowstone, but Bob saw one today along the Beartooth Highway. We saw a female moose and her calf in the Grand Tetons, big horn sheep in Canyonlands, and various other assorted animals in other places. No wolves though. At least, so far.
