In Yellowstone National Park, a bear sighting causes extreme traffic congestion, fondly known as a bear jam. This time, we saw a black bear and cubs wandering through the sage near Tower Junction.
One curious cub stood on his hind legs for a better look at the tourist crowd.
A cub scampered up a tree. The camera shot caught his legs standing on a branch. He quickly jumped down and followed mom and his siblings into deep brush. The bears were crossing behind a picnic area when sighted. A ranger showed up and cautioned some of the more brazen tourists (who were already traipsing out into the sage) by shouting, "Do not pursue the bears!" The tourists complied, albeit reluctantly.
Above is the osprey nest we saw last year, built in a dead tree snag.
The osprey came back to nest again, but this time they had bad luck. The snag fell down, nest and all! One chick remained when we viewed the fallen nest last week. A tour guide told us the nest had fallen just a few days before. The odds of the chick surviving on the ground until it's old enough to fledge (probably another week or two) must be low.
A coyote ghosted past a bison in Lamar Valley.
Then he trotted on through the herd. The young bison looks as if he's giving chase.
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My goodness, I'd be thrilled to capture just one of these sightings. Why do some tourists think they can ignore common sense?
ReplyDeletePoor juvenile osprey! But I guess that's what nature is all about. Neat shots of the bison. We've actually seen two black bears in our area lately and, although we live in a rural area, we are in a much more built-up area than Yellowstone. No photos, though. I couldn't get my camera out fast enough!
ReplyDeleteWild bears aren't much like Yogi Bear - but tourists don't seem to realize that! You got some great photos, Janie. I like the little one standing on its back legs looking back at the crowd.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to see all that wildlife. The bear standing in the tree almost looks human!
ReplyDeleteJanie, how wonderful that you saw bear in Yellowstone. Your photos are fantastic, how exciting to see them like this.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, esp that one with the cute little bear poking his head up to get a look. Funny and sort of sad story about the ranger having to ask the tourists not to pursue the bear. And you got to see a coyote too, pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoyed your photos of the 'critters' you spotted on your visit to Yellowstone.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite places in the world and Lamar Valley is always a highlight. Wondering if Steve caught some cutthroat??? :)
ReplyDeleteI can just see people crashing through the brush looking for the bears.
ReplyDeleteI love your photos.
Great sightings! I love the picture of the bear standing on the tree limb. Sad about the osprey nest. Hope we can get up that way again before too long.
ReplyDeleteLindy
Hi Janie, as always your adventures.. especially the bear's thrilled me no end.
ReplyDeleteHappy trails :)
(faintly) Tourists were chasing the bears? So stupid. It's fortunate a ranger showed up or Darwinism might have taken its course.
ReplyDeleteSo sad about the osprey nest. I'm surprised the chick survived the fall.
You sure got some great sightings in Yellowstone. Too bad about the osprey nest. Tourons are the same all over.
ReplyDeleteHas nature ever cease a moment to produce it magnificence? The pictures are simply superb.
ReplyDeleteYou got some great pictures. The only things we didn't see when we went was a wolf and a moose. We spent the best part of a day looking for a moose.
ReplyDeletesilly tourists. i hope the ospreys made it!
ReplyDelete- The Equestrian Vagabond