Tag: yellowstone national park

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.

Landscape

Mormon Row Barn, Grand Teton National Park

This is a photo of the Moulton Barn.
Moulton Barn, One of the Historic Mormon Barns

When I travel to Yellowstone I usually don’t leave it because the wildlife photo opportunities are so good.  The next time I go to Yellowstone I’m going to break my habit and spend some time in Jackson Hole at the beginning or end of my trip.   The wildlife photo opportunities aren’t as good (with the exception of moose), but the landscape photo opportunities are fantastic.

Waterfowl

Harlequin Duck, Yellowstone National Park

Photo of male harlequin duck.
Beautiful Male Harlequin

When people think of Yellowstone wildlife they think of mammals like bison, elk, bears and wolves.  However, it’s a pretty good place to see birds as well.  There is a spot on the Yellowstone River called LeHardy Rapids.  You can count on seeing Harlequin ducks there.

Bighorn

Bighorn Ram, Yellowstone National Park

Photo of bighorn ram near the Yellowstone River.
Big Ram, Above Yellowstone River

I photographed this ram near the Yellowstone River picnic area on the road to Cooke City.  This area and the area where the last photo of the lamb was shot, the Gardner River Canyon, are two of the best places in the park to see bighorn sheep.

Bighorn

Bighorn Lamb; Gardner River Canyon, Yellowstone National Park

Photo of bighorn lamb jumping.
For the Joy of It

My favorite time to be in Yellowstone is the spring.  Why?  The babies.  One of the reasons I like them is that they are so full of life.  They run around and jump in the air just for the joy of it.  The ones that run and jump the best are the bighorn lambs.  And they do  it on steep terrain.  Most herbivore babies are kept in hiding for the first couple of weeks until they can keep up with their moms.  Not lambs.  It is reported that they  climb as well as their mothers when they are only one day old.  I guess that lamb in the last post walked out of there the next day.

Notice how well this little lamb blends into its habitat.