Through June

7/4/2020

On June 15^th we drove around the lower loop. We didn’t see much wildlife until we got to the Canyon area. There we saw two of the 3 Amigos elk resting in the tall grass near the Canyon Corrals, with their antlers in velvet.

On the 16^th we went to the Lamar Valley after a stop in West Yellowstone. Along the Madison River we saw a pair of doe elk with babies.

On our way out to the Lamar Valley we saw Osprey in the nest in the Lamar River Canyon. One was in the nest while the other was just coming back after looking for food for their young.

A few miles up the road were herds of bison taking their noon nap.

On our way back towards Mammoth we saw a family of Badgers across the road from the entrance to the Petrified Tree.

Near Hellroaring trailhead we saw black bear foraging for food.

We drove through Firehole Lake drive as we returned home. Great Fountain Geyser was just getting ready to erupt so we stopped to watch an always entertaining eruption.

The next day, we drove to Elk Creek just to see if the Badgers would be out of their burrow. Two of them were.

On the way back we saw another black bear near Phantom Lake.

The 18^th we drove around the lower loop again. We wanted to hike Uncle Tom’s Trail, but it was closed (we think due to snow), so we walked down the South Rim Trail to the viewpoint for the Upper Falls. Water levels are still very high.

On the 20^th we went back to the Lamar Valley. No badgers were visible but the bison were out wandering around with their young.

We also saw a couple of black bear that were too far away for good photos, but there was one near the Yellowstone picnic area that was close enough for a good photo.

On our way home we drove through the Hayden Valley and saw an eagle sitting in a tree.

We had to get gas at the end of our trip, so we stopped at the lower gas station at Old Faithful. Lucky for us, Castle Geyser just happened to erupt at that time.

On the 22^nd, we drove around the Lower Loop again. A bison was fording the Yellowstone River near Alum Creek.

Near Mud Volcano, there were a couple of coyote hunting for rodents.

We had to work for three days straight, so we didn’t get out for a drive again until the 25^th, when we went out to the Lamar Valley. On the way out from our trailer, we saw a Blue Heron in the top of a tree along the Firehole River. It kind of surprised us, since we thought Blue Heron were ground dwellers when not flying. It did take off and fly away as we watched it.

A little farther down the road, an Osprey was sitting in the top of another tree.

Up near Blacktail Plateau we saw a black bear with a good case of quarantine hair.

On our way back through Mammoth, there was a herd of elk laying near the church. Among them was a very young one.

On June 26^th, the company sponsored a potluck dinner at the Norris picnic area. On our way home, we were driving by the Midway Geyser Basin at dusk and got a couple of good photos of the sunset.

July 1^st, we took another trip around the entire park. In the Lake area we saw more elk with babies.

 South of Canyon Village we found a cinnamon black bear looking for food.

Near the corral we saw the 3 Amigos together. One of them was trying to hide behind a tree, but he needed a bigger tree.

All three of them were close together.

Out in the Lamar Valley we saw a few bison, including some babies, crossing Soda Butte Creek.

Stopping for lunch near Pebble Creek, we saw another cinnamon black bear too far away for a good photo. Fortunately, we saw another one at Elk Creek.

Returning home through the Firehole river plains, we saw a grizzly bear foraging for food near the Mary Mountain trailhead.

We’re planning on resting over the holiday weekend and maybe taking a drive to the Tetons.