Wildlife, Yellowstone, Tetons, 2015

Had a really great year viewing the wildlife in the national parks this summer.  Have to admit, we did spend lots of days trying to see a wolf.  Finally got to see some the last day.  We had to be in the park by 6:30 am and finally saw them about 9:00 pm.  Think next year we will go later in the year, as they are more active then.

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Wildlife Encounters, Yellowstone National Park 2014

While we were in Californa last year, we purchased new spotting scopes so we could spend a lot of time watching wildlife in Yellowstone this year.  We were not disappointed.  We were able to spot wolves and grizzly with our new scopes.  I was even able to hook my camera onto my spotting scope to take pictures.  My hubby also let me invest in a 100 to 400 lenses for my camera I bought last year.  What a great time taking photos.

digiscoping

new lenses osprey with chick

camera  wolves

just outside our camping spot

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Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is located in West Yellowstone, Mt.  What a place to see.  When we got out of the car we could hear the wolves howling.  Upon walking out the doors of the exhibit hall, we were able to see a couple of the wolves that had been howling.  When we looked to our left, we saw Sam, a huge grizzly from the coastline of Alaska.  He weighs in at about 1,000 pounds.  After Sam returned to his private enclosure, we were able to watch Kobuk & Nakina, brother and sister bears from Alaska.  Kobuk weighs about 550 and Nakina 400.  When those two bears went into their enclosures 5 more bears came out, Spirit from Whitefish, Mt, weighing in at 350, Sow 101, 32 years old who was overly tempted by human foods near West Yellowstone, weighing in at 350, Coram, 5 years old who used to steal food from pick-ups at the grocery store in Coram, Mt, weighing in at  450, then Grant & Roosevelt, brothers from Yellowstone Park.  They were taken in after their mother had to be euthanized for public safety.  Grant is 350 while Roosevelt is 400.  The bears are let out to the bear habitat to search for their food.  They are out for 45 minutes then they go back into their enclosures while the workers then proceed to hide food for the next set of bears who come into the bear habitat.  The center runs a program which allows kids to hide food for the bears to find called Keeper Kids.   Besides the bears and wolves, the center is home to 2 eagles, an owl, and a falcon.  Tickets are good for 2 days.  In my opinion, this is one of the highlights of our trip.  Be sure to click on the blue link to see more photos.

Sam