July 19 Wolf, Badger, and Summer Update
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:56 pm
The park has been very crowded this summer. One used to be able to slip in the west entrance before 7 AM, but now the rangers are manning the gates at 5:30 AM. Some mornings we have seen it backed up through the town of West Yellowstone by mid morning. But the park is still beautiful and the wildlife is still visible. We go in the park once a week or so and it has been a good summer for viewing wolves, particularly the Junction Butte pack. They have successfully raised 8 puppies out at the Slough Creek den site. Though it is a long way away, with a good spotting scope the comings and goings are quite visible most days. The adults and yearlings head into Lamar quite often and are even more visible there.
On July 19 we headed in and were approaching the bridge before the Slough Creek turn off when to our surprise a collared wolf crossed the road just in front of us. We had the cameras on the floor, and Karen had to fumble around before grabbing the smaller one to get a shot. By that time the wolf was moving away from the road but stopped briefly so Karen was able to get this shot.
DSCF0027 by William Reinke, on Flickr
Then it started heading up and over the ridge.
DSCF0029 by William Reinke, on Flickr
DSCF0030 by William Reinke, on Flickr
What a great way to start the morning! We then headed down Slough Road to look at the den site. We missed the activity with the pups as they were now out of sight. But we did spot a lone black wolf doing its thing just wandering around. It would do a little mousing, then lay down, then get up and trot off. It finally disappeared behind some rocks so we headed down the road to look for a black bear family that had been around. Didn't see the bears, but on the way back we found an empty pullout and decided to stop and eat breakfast. As we were eating, the black wolf reappeared and was heading towards us. It was just getting in good camera range when it just disappeared into a gully and never came back out that we could see. So no photo. It's amazing how they can just disappear on you.
We eventually gave up on the wolf and started heading out when Karen spotted a badger just by the road. We stopped and it crossed in front of us allowing Karen to get this shot through the front windshield.
DSC_0002 by William Reinke, on Flickr
Bill then took the camera and got a lot of badger butt as it headed away. It was a rather odd looking badger, holding its tail up in the air a lot as it moved.
DSC_0003 by William Reinke, on Flickr
It finally turned slightly so I could get a little bit of profile.
DSC_0007 by William Reinke, on Flickr
We then hiked one of the nearby trails before it got too hot. Spotted bison, pronghorn, and deer along with beautiful scenery. Another great day in the best place on earth!
On July 19 we headed in and were approaching the bridge before the Slough Creek turn off when to our surprise a collared wolf crossed the road just in front of us. We had the cameras on the floor, and Karen had to fumble around before grabbing the smaller one to get a shot. By that time the wolf was moving away from the road but stopped briefly so Karen was able to get this shot.
DSCF0027 by William Reinke, on Flickr
Then it started heading up and over the ridge.
DSCF0029 by William Reinke, on Flickr
DSCF0030 by William Reinke, on Flickr
What a great way to start the morning! We then headed down Slough Road to look at the den site. We missed the activity with the pups as they were now out of sight. But we did spot a lone black wolf doing its thing just wandering around. It would do a little mousing, then lay down, then get up and trot off. It finally disappeared behind some rocks so we headed down the road to look for a black bear family that had been around. Didn't see the bears, but on the way back we found an empty pullout and decided to stop and eat breakfast. As we were eating, the black wolf reappeared and was heading towards us. It was just getting in good camera range when it just disappeared into a gully and never came back out that we could see. So no photo. It's amazing how they can just disappear on you.
We eventually gave up on the wolf and started heading out when Karen spotted a badger just by the road. We stopped and it crossed in front of us allowing Karen to get this shot through the front windshield.
DSC_0002 by William Reinke, on Flickr
Bill then took the camera and got a lot of badger butt as it headed away. It was a rather odd looking badger, holding its tail up in the air a lot as it moved.
DSC_0003 by William Reinke, on Flickr
It finally turned slightly so I could get a little bit of profile.
DSC_0007 by William Reinke, on Flickr
We then hiked one of the nearby trails before it got too hot. Spotted bison, pronghorn, and deer along with beautiful scenery. Another great day in the best place on earth!