Frosted Bison
Spring in Yellowstone is not only great for grizzly bear sightings but is also a great time to see other animals with their new-born families. One animal that has been very interesting to watch in the spring is the Bison. Many think of Bison as big, dumb, animals but in reality they actually have an interesting and complex social structure that becomes obvious when you watch them closely over time.
A calfs first attempt to stand.
We have witnessed several births, several funerals, which included mourning between partners and family members and times when the herd rallied together for protection.
In the spring its common to see the herd gather around a cow giving birth, offering protection from predators and even moral support.
Elk are plentiful in Yellowstone. I have yet to see the birth of an elk calf, but I have seen a few that are newly born. Its challenge to find these small calves as their mothers hide them in the brush and willows so well. These young elk, much like a deer fawn, have no scent, making it easier to hide them.
Bull Elk in the Spring.
For me the bulls are the most interesting in the spring. If you are persistent you can find some of the really big bulls that reside in the park. Their racks are amazing to watch because they grow so quickly. If you are lucky enough to follow a couple of large bulls you will see incredible growth over a couple of
Large Elk in velvet near Blacktail in yellowstone Park
days. It’s amazing to see how large the circumference of these antlers are at the base of the head. I often wonder how they hold them up.
One late afternoon we decided to drive to Lamar Valley to checkout some tips we received on a recent kill. Just before entering the valley we stopped to look at some ewes that were fairly high on a mountain side. As we were watching these ewes, we were surprised by a very large bighorn sheep that popped up from a small ravine right in front of us. As he stood there in front of us looking so strong, with his battle scars and broken horns, he was joined by another large male, then another, and another until there were 14 in total.
Bighorn Sheep found near Lamar Valley.
They all stood right in front of us modeling, but one stood out from all the rest. He was the largest of them all and seemed to have an aire of confidence that none of the others had. His trunk showed very defined and strong muscles and his horns exhibited the signs of some pretty big late fall battles. What a treat to was see and photograph him.
There are few things as much fun as watching a coyote pup try to keep up with its mother. They are so curious and easily distracted.
Coyote pup running towards its mother.
Because of the curiosity their mothers must keep an eye on them at all times. This little pup stood outside the den waiting for its mother to return from a scouting trip. When the pup saw its mother it ran to quickly greet her. Notice the pups feet are all off the ground!
Spring also brings the nesting season for the birds in the park. There is a large Osprey nest near Tower that has been used for many years. This year was no exception. We watched as the male flew out in search of twigs to enforce the nest while the female went out after food for the young in the nest. Through the spotting scope we were able to look in side the nest and see the 3 young birds.
Male Osprey adding stick to the nest.
The male Osprey was kept busy defending his nest from a large raven that seemed to enjoy diving toward the nest. After a few tangles the raven gave up and went in search of something else to eat.
The best time of year to see the Mountain Bluebird is most definitely in the early spring. These colorful birds are very beautiful, and very difficult to photograph. They are always on the go. They like to nest inside holes in trees that have been created by other birds.
Mountain Bluebird resting on a rock.
We watched a nest for some time and had a hard time getting good shots of these bird as they flew in and out of the nest.
Another favorite in the early spring is the Bald Eagle. These beautiful birds can often be seen just as you enter the park through West Yellowstone. There is a large nest on top of a tall tree that has been there for a number of years. The road near the nest is posted with signs that list specific times when the area is closed to parking and stopping. This is to protect the nest during the nesting season.
Bald Eagle watching the river below.
The male and female can often be seen outside the restricted area, and are always willing to smile for a picture!
Spring is also an amazing time of year to enjoy and photograph some beautiful landscapes in the park. Make sure you take some time to look at and enjoy the beauty of this incredible National Park. It is truly a Gem!
Sunrise over Roaring Mountain
Adventures of a Photographer 