fbeaston Loc: Vermont

This is another in a series of posts using photos from a recent 6+ week trip I took around the Western US & Canada, with a college buddy Chuck & my Australian Shepherd Gem, aka "the Mutt." I'd like to thank all who have looked at the prior posts & commented.

This post completes our visit to Yellowstone ... it is mostly wildlife which I like shooting the best. The final day & a half in Yellowstone were phenomenal. The biggest thrill involved 3 Grizzly Bears & 2 Grey Wolves in Larmar Valley. It began with a Sow & her last year's cub chewing on an elk carcass with Ravens earlier in the day, 200+ yards from the road. We went back there in the evening & they were back working on the carcass, but they seemed nervous & kept looking around. Initially I thought it was due to some buffalo moving through but they paid little attention to them. Then I thought maybe it was due to 2 Grey Wolves that came in shortly afterwards, but again, the bears paid them little heed. Then over the hill came a big Boar Grizzly ... & that was what the female & her cub were concerned about. They ran off 100 yards or so & watched the male come down the hill to spot above where they'd just been. We learned from a Ranger in the Grand Tetons Nat'l Park, that often female's will bring cubs down next to the road to protect them from the males ... as the males, who often try to kill cubs to induce the female to come into estrus, avoid the roads.

Then the female began walking toward the male with the cub following a distance behind (it seemed to recognize the danger). They met with a Grey Wolf looking on. Note, the female stays between the male & her cub at all times. Eventually, the 2 adult Grizzlies began nuzzling & batting each other with their front paws, even appearing to bite one another, but not fighting & ultimately the male did breed the female. All of this occurred at least 250 yards away, just after sunset, as the light was fading fast & the hill side was in shadow, plus I cropped the shots a lot, so they're a bit grainy. But I like them as long as I don't blow them up too much.

All in all, a wonderful time ... my favorite Nat'l Park.

The Antelope, Big Horn Sheep, Raven, & Black Bear were taken with a Canon 6d & EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. The Grizzlies were shot with a Canon 7d II & EF 500mm f/4L IS USM lens. The 2 scenic mountain shots were shot with a Canon 5d IV & EF 24-105mm f/4l IS USM lens.

Hope you enjoy these.
Frank

Yellowstone Nat'l Park, Antelope

(Download)

Yellowstone Nat'l Park, Grizzly Bear Sow & last year's cub feeding on an Elk Carcass with Ravens waiting for scraps ... taken in late morning.

(Download)

Yellowstone Nat'l Park, Big Horn Sheep

(Download)

Yellowstone Nat'l Park, Grizzly Bear Sow & last year's cub with several Buffalo traveling through

(Download)

Yellowstone Nat'l Park, Grey Wolf (yes, I know he's black, but he is in fact a Grey Wolf). He was 1 of 2 wolves watching the Grizzlies chew on the Elk Carcass.

(Download)

Yellowstone Nat'l Park, Boar Grizzly (top), Sow Grizzly (middle), Cub Grizzly (bottom), Grey Wolf (right). Wish the light had been better & shot not so grainy. Would have been best wildlife shot of the trip.

(Download)

Cooke City, MT, on our way to Yellowstone

(Download)

Yellowstone Nat'l Park, Raven that landed right next to me ... I had was a 100-400mm lens on & grabbed the shot

(Download)

Yellowstone Nat'l Park, Black Bear (yes, I know he's brown in color, but he is a Black Bear)

(Download)

Yellowstone Nat'l Park, as we were heading out of the Park ... I was sorry to leave that beautiful place.

(Download)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Stash Loc: South Central Massachusetts

Very nice

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Thanks for the thumbs up Longshadow.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Thanks Stash for the comment & thumbs up.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Excellent work, Frank! Been out of town and just starting to catch up.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Thanks Mike ... I appreciate the continued visits & comments. Hope you did something fun while you were away ... & kept the Crew entertained.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Really enjoyed this series.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Thank you NMGal ... I can also say I really enjoyed taking those shots ... although I wish the light had been a bit better for the Grizzly shots ... however, that camera & lens surely made up for the holes in my skills. Everyone else watching those bears had quit shooting ... I just had to try & I'm glad that I did. Thanks for the visit & comment.

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Thank you photophile. Appreciate the thumbs up.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

You've gained a lot of fans with your tour, Frank. I hope you don't plan to leave us in the lurch when you get back home. Nice set of photos. I have to admit, I'm a little jealous, I've been to Yellowstone a bunch of times and never saw a wolf that I could get a shot of.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Well, I very much appreciate that vote of confidence Keith ... particularly coming from you ... 'cause I've seen your shots!!!! So that means a lot. But sadly, I am home ... this effort is just me reliving the adventure!!! I had often thought of doing what you do, traveling f/t via RV, but when I retired, I got a house & property in VT, which has gotten in the way a bit. But I'm still looking to do as many trips as I can figure out how to do. Hope you're healing.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Nice set of shots Frank - I got to make it down there one of these years!

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Good goal ... I'd like to go again!!!! There's so much to see. Thanks for the visit & comment.