Grand Teton May 24 and 30

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karenandbill
Posts: 209
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2020 10:55 am

Grand Teton May 24 and 30

Post by karenandbill »

Made 2 more trips into the Tetons on Sunday, May 24 and Saturday, May 30. We wanted to go on Saturday, the 23rd, but with the snow we were concerned about making it over Teton Pass. Wish we could have gone as 399 was out with her cubs. Spoke briefly with a ranger and she said it was a "nightmare". But 399 did not show the day we were there. We still had a great time, however. Saw a black bear eating grass very close to the road and then a mother feeding at Colter Bay with her triplets up a tree. We could not get very good pictures of the cubs as we were giving space for the sow and then the rangers moved us back further. Saw them come down the tree then disappear.

Imageblack bear with 3 coys by William Reinke, on Flickr

Imagecubs up tree by William Reinke, on Flickr

We hiked the trail to Swan Lake and actually saw swans along with a beaver lodge, but no beavers. Went home out Moose Wilson Rd and did see a great-grey owl. Karen got a good view then I got to see it fly.

We went back on Saturday and were not expecting to see much as it was a warm day and we didn't get there until around 1:00. Headed to Pilgrim Creek and no 399, but we were surprised to see what proved to be Bear 610, one of 399's older daughters, with 2 yearlings in the field. 610 is special to us as she was the first grizzly bear our boys and Karen had ever seen on their first (Karen's second) trip to the park in 2009. She along with her sister had just been kicked out and were visible near the roads for the three days we were in the Tetons before heading up to Yellowstone. My boys were hooked!

Image610 and cubs by William Reinke, on Flickr

Hiked a short trail out to Leigh Lake and a bit beyond until the snow became too much of a hassle. That is a beautiful trail and not very long or difficult to get out to the lake and see the best views.

Went back to where we had seen 610 earlier. She was not around but there were two other grizzlies in the same area. According to a local who was there, these were Blondie's two-year olds who had just been kicked out. One apparently had a run in with a porcupine and had a few quills near its eye. Seemed to be ok though.

ImageDSC_0128 by William Reinke, on Flickr

Same lady told me that 399 had been "hazed" away from the road and was out around Hermitage Point with the trail now closed. Don't know how accurate that was but I hope the rangers don't do this every time she shows up near the road. Also mentioned that Blondie has a coy and has been seen in the same area.

Headed for home at that point. Another great day in the park!



mdtrot
Posts: 144
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2017 7:57 pm
Location: East Texas

Re: Grand Teton May 24 and 30

Post by mdtrot »

Thanks, great report!

Marc



Dorothy
Posts: 201
Joined: Sat Jul 29, 2017 7:45 pm

Re: Grand Teton May 24 and 30

Post by Dorothy »

Wonderful report and great photos! We may have actually been there in the crowd when you saw 610 and the cubs and Blondie's two kicked-out cubs, as we saw both of them on Saturday, May 30. Wish we could have connected! When you guys saw 610, was there a big cinnamon black bear over to the North of the meadow (near Pilgrim Creek Road)? We saw a bear there as 610 and the cubs came over that direction and wondered why it hung around (although it did eventually disappear). What a great afternoon for bears that was, and my niece was ecstatic!

Thanks for the report AND the photos! Will post a report of our trip in a bit -- got home and had to get right back into work and getting the house and yard back into some sort of shape, but we had a really good time.

Again, thanks so much for the report!



karenandbill
Posts: 209
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2020 10:55 am

Re: Grand Teton May 24 and 30

Post by karenandbill »

Dorothy wrote:
Fri Jun 05, 2020 10:37 pm
We may have actually been there in the crowd when you saw 610 and the cubs and Blondie's two kicked-out cubs, as we saw both of them on Saturday, May 30. Wish we could have connected! When you guys saw 610, was there a big cinnamon black bear over to the North of the meadow (near Pilgrim Creek Road)? We saw a bear there as 610 and the cubs came over that direction and wondered why it hung around (although it did eventually disappear).
Dorothy, sorry we missed you! It would have been fun to meet up. So glad your niece had had a great first time trip into the park. We arrived with 610 on the move at the north end and didn't see the cinnamon bear. So you were there probably sooner than we were. But we still may have crossed paths. Probably also watching Blondie's cubs. We will be glad to get your report when you get a chance.



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