Yellowstone Day 3: Wild Wolves
Day 3: Wild Wolves Woke up early to get ready for wolf tracking. Was a little unsure what to expect but in the end was very pleased with the results. Met our guide, MacNeil Lyons, at 6 AM. talked and planned our route based on what we wanted to see. We headed to Hayden Valley and set up some scopes. Saw three elk on the way. After waiting for a bit, we lucked out and saw a big grizzly too far away for a photo opt but cool none the less. After the bear ran into some folliage we lost him. Then some time passed and our guide spotted what I have been waiting my whole life to see in the wild -a wolf! After observing the one for a bit, another one joined it and before it was all over there were 4 wolves. One yearling and three pups, 2 black the others silvery-grey. We watched them through the scopes for some time then we lost them in the trees. Our guide told us more information about the wolves. By then a human pack had gathered to watch and listen and to see what was to be seen. We waited around some, and the grizzly came back. It headed towards the trees where we had last seen the wolves. The yearling came out of the trees and met the grizzly trying to divert the bear's attention from its younger charges. After some rarely witnessed wolf /bear interactions towards the end of meeting between the two species, the pups joined in the chasing the bear away.
Overall a great start to the morning. We then packed up and headed to our next location. Before making it very far, we saw a sow with two older bear cubs. We admired, then moved onward in hopes of seeing more. We drove down to Lamar Valley, stopping perodically. Saw another grizzly through the scope again and continued on our way. Saw some pronghorns and bison with the unaided eye. As we drove through Yellowstone, MacNeil told us great stories and information on just about everything, very helpful and knowledgeable. We stopped at the other wolf hot spot but after talking to the other people hanging out decided that a bear sighting further down the road would be better.
It proved to be the right choice. The grizzly was in tall grass but fairly close. Got okay pictures but overall just seeing it was worth it. After that, we started our journey back. We had set out at 6 am we came back at about 1. Saw 4 wolves, 6 grizzly, lots of elk, bison, and pronghorns, overall a eventful day.
But the day was not over yet. We drove to Mammoth Hot Springs. Saw a coyote, and pardon the pun, some mammoth formations. Ate, then drove to our lodging at Old Faithful. Saw some more elk, then reached the inn. Checked in, got settled, then ended the evening with a bang with Old Faithful being the last thing we saw before finally calling it a day.
Day 3: Wild Wolves Woke up early to get ready for wolf tracking. Was a little unsure what to expect but in the end was very pleased with the results. Met our guide, MacNeil Lyons, at 6 AM. talked and planned our route based on what we wanted to see. We headed to Hayden Valley and set up some scopes. Saw three elk on the way. After waiting for a bit, we lucked out and saw a big grizzly too far away for a photo opt but cool none the less. After the bear ran into some folliage we lost him. Then some time passed and our guide spotted what I have been waiting my whole life to see in the wild -a wolf! After observing the one for a bit, another one joined it and before it was all over there were 4 wolves. One yearling and three pups, 2 black the others silvery-grey. We watched them through the scopes for some time then we lost them in the trees. Our guide told us more information about the wolves. By then a human pack had gathered to watch and listen and to see what was to be seen. We waited around some, and the grizzly came back. It headed towards the trees where we had last seen the wolves. The yearling came out of the trees and met the grizzly trying to divert the bear's attention from its younger charges. After some rarely witnessed wolf /bear interactions towards the end of meeting between the two species, the pups joined in the chasing the bear away. 
Overall a great start to the morning. We then packed up and headed to our next location. Before making it very far, we saw a sow with two older bear cubs. We admired, then moved onward in hopes of seeing more. We drove down to Lamar Valley, stopping perodically. Saw another grizzly through the scope again and continued on our way. Saw some pronghorns and bison with the unaided eye. As we drove through Yellowstone, MacNeil told us great stories and information on just about everything, very helpful and knowledgeable. We stopped at the other wolf hot spot but after talking to the other people hanging out decided that a bear sighting further down the road would be better. 
It proved to be the right choice. The grizzly was in tall grass but fairly close. Got okay pictures but overall just seeing it was worth it. After that, we started our journey back. We had set out at 6 am we came back at about 1. Saw 4 wolves, 6 grizzly, lots of elk, bison, and pronghorns, overall a eventful day.
But the day was not over yet. We drove to Mammoth Hot Springs. Saw a coyote, and pardon the pun, some mammoth formations. Ate, then drove to our lodging at Old Faithful. Saw some more elk, then reached the inn. Checked in, got settled, then ended the evening with a bang with Old Faithful being the last thing we saw before finally calling it a day. 
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