Yellowstone - May 22, 2016

How lucky am I that I got yet another day off to go to Yellowstone??  I only asked for 3 Sundays but I've gotten all 6 of them.  I couldn't have asked for more!!

We're on the road at 5 am and going thru the entrance at West Yellowstone about 7 am.  Weather calls for showers but we'll take our chances anyway.  It was all quiet as we head to Madison - nothing going on.  We only have one small Bison Jam and they don't stay on the road long near Gibbon Meadows.  

All quiet until we get past Roaring Mountain and we find a few people on the road taking photos off to the east side.  At first all we see is a Bison but as we clear the small hill we see a Black Bear.  I didn't have long with it before it took off for the cover of the trees and poor Don had to park the truck and he didn't even get to see it.  We've seen Grizzlies but never a Black Bear in this area so it's a first for us.

The rest of the drive was quiet - in fact I didn't even take another photo for an hour and a half!!  We drove down to Tower - once again we knew that was where the bears were hiding.  To - once again - find NONE!!  So back the other way we went and turned to head thru Lamar Valley.  

I'm watching down and Don happens to be watching up higher and makes the spot of the Black Bear and 2 cinnamon cubs coming down the hill just before Yellowstone bridge.  Plenty of parking room (we're the only ones there!!) so we're off the road and we're out of the truck.  There's a small creek between us and the bears and we follow along from up on the road.  

Not many chances for a shot of all 3 but here's the family.  They slowly make their way along the creek and down the hill.  

And finally a drink at the creek before they head up the hill.

We drive clear thru Lamar Valley which is full of Bison as far as the eye can see. 

 

This photo doesn't even do it justice!

Anyway - the only thing we see in Lamar Valley is Bison, Sarah & Travis Bowen and a few Coyotes way way way across the valley.  So we're on our way after a visit.

The Black Bear with the 2 cinnamon cubs is at the Yellowstone Bridge but they're resting and we only catch a glimpse of them when they raise their heads.  Since we've come that far a run over to Tower is called for before we have lunch.  We find a Black Bear grazing near the road so stop for a few photos.  

But just down the road we find the Black Bear with the 2 new cubs that we saw last week at the Tower store.  They aren't real close to the road and back behind lots of deadfall so we don't stay long.  

We eat our sandwiches in the parking lot at Tower - hoping something will come along in the grassy area below the parking lot - but nothing does.  So we put everything away and head back down the road.  

We had planned on a drive up Dunraven Pass but it's closed because of the snow they had so we decide to make a trip up thru Lamar Valley again.  So down the road we go.  The family of Black Bears with the 2 cinnamon cubs is now across the river and snoozing under a tree.  About all we see are ears so we don't stay long.  

But just before the Yellowstone Picnic area we find people out of their cars and just below the picnic tables a Fox is standing like a statue - hoping to catch some lunch.  

He finally gives up on whatever only he can hear and heads thru the sagebrush.

Looks like it's going to be nap-time pretty soon!!

Still nothing happening in Lamar Valley.

This time we stop at Slough Creek - maybe we'll happen upon something.  We do find some Pronghorn and Mule Deer but without some help we can't spot the Junction Butte wolf den that is miles away so we load back up and head out.

The Black Bear family is still snoozing at the Yellowstone bridge - still out of site except for a few ears now and then so we head back to Tower.  We find a new Black Bear in one spot but down the road we find the Black with the 2 COY are closer to the road.  Not sure how - with all the traffic - but we were the first to spot them so started yet another Bear Jam!!  She acts like she wants to cross the road but usually about the time she tries a car stops in her way to photograph her.  The babies are up in the deadfall - wrestling and climbing trees.  

What fun to watch!!

When a Ranger finally shows up we head to the truck and load up to leave.  We can see there's something going on past Roosevelt but decide to check on the snoozing bears one more time.  Nothing happening so now we can head over to see what's going on.  

And it's yet another Black Bear and a yearling cub.  No one is stopping - they all just drive by and take some photos and go on but we spot a parking spot and pull off the road.  

This is Mom.

And the cub finally comes out of the sagebrush.

THAT'S definitely a Keeper!!

Once again the bears disappear over a small hill and since no one can see her the Ranger that finally arrived ordered everyone back to their cars.  Safety First!! 

We wish we could just keep cruising back and forth - looking for bears - but we both have to work on Monday.  We finally got home about 8:30 pm - enuf time to download photos and start thru them before I gave up and headed to bed.  

This may be our last trip to Yellowstone for the Spring.  The last couple of years we've taken a 3-day weekend over Memorial Weekend and spent it in Yellowstone but I didn't ask for those days off and Don has to work Saturday and Monday anyway.  We'll have to see what happens after that - we might make one more trip before we give it up to the tourists.