Tag: bison

Pronghorn

Pronghorn Doe and Fawn, Yellowstone National Park

Photo of pronghorn mom and her young fawn.
New Life in Yellowstone

It’s that time.  If you like to photograph wildlife you should be in Yellowstone or on your way.  Bison calves are running all over the place.  Elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep are giving birth or will be soon.  The bears are also out and about, some with cubs.  It is the time to see and photograph baby animals.

This pronghorn fawn was born last May.  The doe kept it and its sibling between the Roosevelt Arch and the north entrance station for the first week after birth.   That’s when I left the park.  The area is bounded by three roads and a high steel fence.   It was crowded and noisy and wouldn’t seem to be a place for a wild animal to want to have babies.    It’s also about the last place around Yellowstone that I would want to be stationed for a week hoping to photograph some predators.  I don’t know if it was just happenstance or that mother pronghorn knew this was a good place to have her babies while they got stronger and were able to run fast enough to escape from a predator.

Other Bird

Yellow-headed Blackbird, Yellowstone National Park

Photo of a male yellow-headed blackbird singing for a mate.
Singing for a Mate

When I drove out to the Lamar Valley each day this past May I would usually check out the road to the Slough Creek campground.  It’s a good drive for finding bison, pronghorns and coyotes in the spring.  It’s also a prime area for wolves and grizzlies.  I would often see this male yellow-headed blackbird as I drove past a small marshy area along the road.

Yellow-heads are a little smaller than their red-winged cousins and not as common.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before in Yellowstone.  I know I’ve never photographed one there before.

Uncategorized

A Snowy Memorial Day in Yellowstone

Photo of snowy road in Yellowstone on Memorial Day.
Snow Plow Leads the Way

This is what it looked like as I headed toward the Lamar Valley yesterday.  That’s a road grader plowing the way.  Its top speed seemed to be about 10 MPH and at a spot short of Tower the driver got out and waved us around him.  I don’t know what happened to the trucks that usually do the plowing. It looks like 6 inches or more fell here.

“This is nothing compared to winter here.”
Photo of a bison feeding during a snowstorm on Memorial Day.
“This is nothing compared to winter here.”

These conditions were no problem for animals like this cow bison.  However, I’m not so sure about animals born yesterday.  The snow was that wet, heavy type.  I wouldn’t want to be a baby elk born yesterday or the night before.

Photo of a bull elk in new snow on Memorial Day.
Snow on Memorial Day

This bull elk looks healthy and a little snow is probably no big deal to him although his winter coat would have served him better than his summer coat.    This photo was taken in the afternoon and most of the snow had melted by then.

Uncategorized

Second Anniversity of My Blog

Two years ago this month I started this blog with a trip to Yellowstone.  It seems fitting that I am in Yellowstone now.  This is my favorite time to be in Yellowstone.  I saw 14 black bears today, not counting repeats.  Four were spring cubs.  No grizzlies yet though.

Unfortunately, my laptop is has something wrong with it.  Not a good sign and not a good time for this to happen.

Below is a photo of what is probably Yellowstone’s most famous area from a wildlife standpoint.  The photo shows a small part of the west end of the Lamar Valley.  The valley is sometimes referred to as America’s Serengeti because of the sweeping vistas showing large numbers of wildlife.  Numerous bison are visible. There may be some smaller animals in there as well.  The valley has been the best place to spot wolves among other things.

Hopefully, this laptop will remain alive until my trip ends.

Bison Herd Across the Lamar River
The Lamar Valley, America’s Serengeti
Bison

Bull Bison, Yellowstone National Park

Photo of bull bison standing on trail.
“Sure, I’ll get off the trail when you get here.”

Bison are docile creatures and seem fairly harmless.  However, they injure more people in Yellowstone each year than all the other species combined.

Photo showing full body profile of bison bull.
Buffalo Nickel Pose

I’m still upgrading all the images on my website.  I just finished the bison portfolio.  All the “B” mammals are done, except bobcats.  To go to my website click here.

Bison

Bison Calf, near Slough Creek

Photo of a bison calf.
Bison Calf near Slough Creek

In the spring of 2009 and in the spring of 2010 I spent a lot of time observing baby animals in Yellowstone.  They are all cute.  But I grew especially fond of bison calves or, as they are also known, “red dogs.”  They’re very photogenic.  Find a bison herd in the spring or summer and stop and observe for a while.  The interactions among the cows, yearlings and calves is very interesting.  Plus, it doesn’t take long before one of the calves decides to run around for the sheer joy of it.  To see an earlier post of a red dog running click here.