Brown Bears (Info, Pics and Videos)

[Tshokwane]

Credits to Deby Dixon.

Let Bear Time Begin


Forgot to mention yesterday that I found my first grizzly of 2018. It was a pretty cool find because I was looking way out for wolves. An elk on a tall basalt cliff suddenly seemed to be interested in something and so I followed her gaze. Way at the bottom, below the cliff in a narrow low area, was something moving. The last thing that I expected was a bear so it took a second for the sighting to sink in. The bear went up the cliff, past the elk and on up, up and away. I don't share many of my personal sightings over the radio anymore but Bill H. had been in the park for a few days and not seen a bear so I let him know. Which meant everyone crowded around and got to see the big ole bruin, including some tour groups.

Well, today, or this evening, I heard Jort mention seeing a bear on the Lamars carcass and so went down there for a look after the sun went down. Myself and Cliff spent the entire day watching the Mollies and waiting for them to come to their carcass. Which a few of them did do. I was in Little America when someone broadcast that the Wapitis were in Lamar. Well, one look at 890 and 779 and I knew it was actually the Mollies. They had a bull elk carcass in a location similar to one of two years ago when the entire road got shut down. Today's carcass was about 500 yards closer, but still far from the road, and some of us got some good looks at old 779. She is definitely pregnant but looking a little old. Her right foot injury is really bothering her, particularly in the snow, and she is stiff all over. Not the spry gal I first saw 5 years ago but a sight for sore eyes. 779 has been quite the alpha female. We also had the collared 4 year old (I need to find out her number) and what looked like a 2 year old grey. Some said that there was 10 all together - I probably saw 7 way up on the hill.


I didn't know that the Lamars had a carcass but went for a drive and heard some birds. A quick look through the scope showed what looked like a nearly gone spike elk. But, the grizzly had him all covered and was trying to sleep on him this evening. Now the wolves have to start working twice as hard in order to feed themselves and the bears.

Going into the park it was one of the most beautiful days with quite a lot of new snow. Just gorgeous! I did get stuck in an unofficial pullout but was able to dig myself out with my handy shovel. The 8 Mile were visible, as were the Junctions. Some folks might have had a 4 pack day. I only had eyes for the Mollies.

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