More Wildlife

Why did the moose cross the road? Same reason as the bison, the elk, the wolf … and although we missed it by two minutes, the grizzly: because it was there. Unfenced, unafraid and completely oblivious to traffic, the four-legged mountain wanderers meander at will. It’s absolutely glorious.
The day after waiting over an hour for a moose pair to stand for a photo opp, we spied a lone bull (the prized photo subject because of the iconic antlers) in a meadow as we drove down the road. By the time we found a spot to turn around and head in his direction, he’d covered two-three miles at a good clip and crossed the road in front of us.
We retraced our steps and soon saw a traffic jam ahead that meant only one thing: animals. A sizeable bison herd had decided to stroll across the road, led by a couple of one-ton bulls, ignoring vehicles and sometimes stopping in the middle or returning to the side they started out on. We rescued two bicyclists who wisely decided not to proceed, carrying them and their bikes in the back of the pickup as we slowly picked our way through the herd.
We’re told the Teton bison herd has increased from 23 animals in 1980 to 650 today, and they’re a fairly common sight. Unpredictable, bison can charge at speeds of 30 miles an hour and have gored visitors dumb enough to get out of their cars.
At dusk that evening, a wolf crossed the road as we returned to camp, confirming our earlier scat ID, and we were to see another the following day at Yellowstone. Only a bear sighting would make me happier.
Moose wander through the campground, and the wildlife expedition vans bring their customers here for sightings. The elk are still in the higher elevations of Yellowstone, and we had a large bull approach our stopped truck before crossing right in front of us yesterday. Several of the animals we’ve seen are wearing tracking collars, and one bull moose was wearing a large wad of bird netting in his antlers, a result, no doubt, of a garden raid.
Sightings are sheer luck and mere seconds can make a difference. We all cruise slowly, hoping we’ll be the lucky ones. And a grizzly is most prized of all.
A trip to Yellowstone brought sightings of black-tailed deer, more moose and bison, our first elk and almost a grizzly. Terry actually caught a glimpse of its hind end disappearing into the trees, as we jockeyed for a parking place in a line of cars that had rangers directing traffic, as people thronged the road.
The big bear had crossed the road in front of a lucky few, and the telephoto lenses were plentiful.
I asked one woman with two impressive cameras whether she’d managed to get pictures of the grizzly and she said yes, “good ones.” Any chance we could see them?
“Sure,” she said, opening the tripod of one camera and turning it on.
“I’m a professional writer and photographer and I’m doing a book on Yellowstone,” she said.
“Great!”
“You’re going to see some good work,” she continued and I called Terry over.
Camera on, message on screen: No memory card.
Chagrined, she grabbed her second camera: “That’s OK, I’ve got it on this one.”
Second camera: No memory card.
Trying to stay cool: “I’ve got plenty of pictures of this bear.”
Ouch.
Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/happytwo.mcwilliams/WildlifeBlog2#5250050878454602002