Winter at Yellowstone is a wonderful time to see the park at its uncrowded finest. Bison are well-adapted to cold weather and foraging the snow-dusted scrub. We enjoyed watching bison by rental car and also on a park tour. Learning keeps us focused on the moment and mindful of our world.
Category: Wyoming
Memories of #Yellowstone, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
I take this photograph from a loop trail near Mammoth Lodge. Here, most of the snow is melted on the craggy hillside and the valley floor is dotted with scrub. During our stay we have learned about the preferences of wildlife for different habitats, like big horn sheep, who prefer the rocky places on the… Continue reading Memories of #Yellowstone, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
Principles of Bison Management, Explore and Discover #Yellowstone, Wyoming
It took time for our forefathers to settle on the management of our first national park. Today, officials from federal, state, and tribal agencies meet, plan, and compromise to solve the challenges of Yellowstone’s bison through the IBMP (Interagency Bison Management Plan). Maintaining an ideal herd size deters bison from migrating outside the prescribed boundaries… Continue reading Principles of Bison Management, Explore and Discover #Yellowstone, Wyoming
Wildlife of #Yellowstone–Bison, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
Today we are on a wildlife tour of the Lamar Valley when it begins to snow. It is cold when the wind blows. But, the bison are protected by a thick, woolly coat so they seem content as they graze in the snowflakes. It is a mild winter in 2015, with little snow cover on… Continue reading Wildlife of #Yellowstone–Bison, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
Wildlife of #Yellowstone–Wolves, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
I take this photograph of a wolf on the last day of our Yellowstone adventure when we are returning from Old Faithful Snow Lodge to Mammoth in the Snow Coach. Our guide is excited to tell us she is one of the oldest living wolves at Yellowstone, and she is often seen in this area… Continue reading Wildlife of #Yellowstone–Wolves, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
Wildlife of #Yellowstone-Coyotes, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
I take this photograph of two coyotes during one of our guided wildlife tour of Lamar Valley. Unlike wolves, who usually hunt in packs, coyotes more often hunt singly or in pairs. Today, we see many people standing in parking lots with tripods, cameras, and binoculars watching for wolves along the distant ridges in Lamar… Continue reading Wildlife of #Yellowstone-Coyotes, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
Wildlife of #Yellowstone–Elk, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
I take this photograph of an elk, standing in the creek, as we walk down the trail to the nearby hot spring. Elk are a familiar wildlife inhabitant of Yellowstone. The park supports a greater abundance of elk than any other large mammal. Elk are a favorite prey for wolves, who will scavenge on bison… Continue reading Wildlife of #Yellowstone–Elk, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
Wildlife of #Yellowstone, Big Horn Sheep, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
Despite the fascinating geothermal features and natural beauty that highlights our snowmobile tour, it is still the wildlife of Yellowstone that captivates me most. I take this photograph of a big horned sheep in the Lamar Valley, accessible by car in Winter. Here, the roads are plowed so it doesn’t require specialized over snow equipment… Continue reading Wildlife of #Yellowstone, Big Horn Sheep, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
The Grand Canyon of #Yellowstone, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
I take this photograph of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, accessible by snowmobile or snow coach in Winter. We drive our snowmobiles close to an overlook where we can walk closer to enjoy the snow-dusted beauty of the canyon walls. Now, the waterfalls are partially frozen, but it won’t be long until the thaws of… Continue reading The Grand Canyon of #Yellowstone, Explore and Discover, Wyoming
The Mudpot, Explore and Discover #Yellowstone, Wyoming
We follow our guide for the snowmobile tour to view some of the less accessible geothermal features of the snow packed loop of Yellowstone. Since there is no one else on the road, we move quickly between basins, views and attractions on our snowmobiles. In Winter, there are no traffic jams, but most of the… Continue reading The Mudpot, Explore and Discover #Yellowstone, Wyoming