Just driving in the morning - the only thing we see is one of the "Bachelor Elk" in velvet beside the road. We do finally find the Black Bear that's been on the carcass at Floating Island Lake - he's on the far side and not great for photos so we don't stay long.
On towards Tower we go and not far from Rainey Lake there's a vehicle parked on the road so we stop behind him and there below us is a Black Bear snoozing up against a tree with her 2 one-year old cubs. They're all snuggled together and it's hard at first to even see that there are 2 cubs! And no - you can't tell in this photo - I just Love the cubs feet!!
Time to get up and the cubs are right below us - it was fantastic!!
We got lots of great shots - - and then the Ranger showed up. Bummer but we moved on.
We spent some time at Slough Creek scoping the Prospect Peak den area. Tiny Wolf pups could be seen - there are 5 of them!! But boy are they a LONG way away!!! Having a scope is a MUST - Glad we do!! We had to be careful where we walked - these Sparrows were right under our feet!!
We finally pack things up and mosey on down the road. Don hears that the Grizzly and cub are back out just at the entrance to Slough Creek so we head back that way.
Was so nice to get photos today - and NO Snow!! Once again they were right below us and close to the road.
The cub entertained himself with someones ice grips for their shoes.
Then he started working on the sagebrush.
They finally wandered over to a big rock and the cub climbed up on top to entertain us. Maybe this is how he feels about all of us taking his photo -
Something got their attention and he jumped down and they wandered over the edge - out of sight.
This time we made it thru Lamar Valley until we had to stop for a distant Grizzly near the Lamar River.
There were other things to photograph - I finally caught a Mountain Bluebird before he took off
And there were lots of Marmots
As we head back towards Tower we see the Grizzly and cub are far off now
Nothing going on at Tower so we check Petrified Tree, Hellroaring, Floating Island Lake - no bears. Down near Lower Hellroaring Overlook we find a Black Bear and yearling cub but too far to bother with photos so we go on.
Lucky we did - there's a really nice Black Bear in the Phantom Lake Drainage. He's walking along on the far side and we just keep moving along with him.
I got alot of great photos of him!! Then once again the Rangers run every one off - oh well - we'd made the best of our time with the bear.
We went in search of the Grizzly and cub from yesterday that we saw near Roaring Mountain and found them almost 4 1/2 miles north of there.
They finally wandered away from the crowd and we loaded up and went on our way.
When we finally got back towards Tower we find people watching a Black Bear snoozing on a log - she's got her cubs behind her.
She looks exhausted!!! Isn't that an awesome pose???
Just down the road we were treated to a nice Cinnamon Black Bear - I got so many great shots of him!!
Seeing people in this one spot All The Time we finally asked and here there's a Great Horned Owl nest. I could only see a parent - probably Mom - but never saw any kids in the nest.
We stopped to watch a Bison herd near Roosevelt.
I'll be cropping for days just on this one day alone - so many great shots!! This was the day we saw 14 - or maybe 17 - bears. It would be our best day of the 5 we were here.
Time to work on Day 3!!
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