American Bison

The bison move quite close to the vehicles in Yellowstone, despite that, much respect has to be accorded to them. The American Bison or buffalo has made a come back but they are limited to certain areas of the national parks, when their herds grow too large human tolerance for them is very limited.

8375American BuffaloBisons Elks CetartiodactylaLamar VallerymammalMontanaWinterYellowstonebisonbuffalonational park

Living on the Edge of Yellowstone National Park

Cattle ranchers raise their herds close to the park. When the bison population swells these ranchers have problems and consequently so do the bison.

0038FarmLamar ValleylandscapeMarchMontanaWinterYellowstoneorangeranchtreesw interyellow

Bighorn Ram

The classic and stunning geometry of the male bighorn sheep. Relaxed with photographers and tourists this ram tolerated human presence.

8749MontanaYellowstonebighorn ramcloseuphornsmalemammalsheep

Sweep of Red

Yellowstone's hills are cut and painted by the centuries of volcanic activity going on underneath the rock. The red is an iron deposit left by the boiling waters pushed up through the rock.

0054Iron rich rocksLamar ValleylandscapeMarchMontanaWinterYellowstonegeological featureiron veinrocksred

Resting Elk Stag

This elk remained on the ground and casually scratched his back with his magnificent antlers.

8127ElkLamar ValleryMontanaWinterYellowstoneantlersbehaviorlargemammalnational parkstag

Coyote Howl

First there was one howl out in the trees somewhere, soon there was a chorus of many singers. This coyote answered and howled with the best of them.

7730landscapeMontanaWinterYellowstonebehaviorcoyotehowlingsnow

The Clever Raven

In the Lamar valley the ravens get pretty up close and personal. This fellow/gal (?) was right above me on the tree and was very busy announcing his presence.

8038birdCommon Raven Corvus coraxConditionJays crows magpies ravens Order Passeriformes. Family Corvidaeblackcleverexpressiveravenroman noseshaggy throat feathers

Steller's Jay

Smashing and cocky, this aggressive jay is common to North Westerners. He is a brilliant sapphire blue with gleeming black head and long crest.

8157birdJayJays crows magpies ravens Order Passeriformes. Family CorvidaeSteller's JaySteller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleriblackblue

Mountain Chickadee

Sweet little puff of a bird photographed at Dan Hartman's bird feeding station.

8261birdChickadees titmice Order Passeriformes. Family ParidaeMountain Chickadee Poecile gambeliSpruce Pine Pinus glabrasmall

Clark's Nutcracker & Snow

Perched on top of a tree stump filled with bird feed, at Dan Hartman's bird feeder in Cooke City.

8289BirdClark's Nutcracker Nucifraga columbianaJays crows magpies ravens Order Passeriformes. Family CorvidaeMontanaNorth AmericaSpruce Pine Pinus glabraUnited Statessnow

Pine Grosbeak

Beautiful rosey finch at the feeding station set up by Dan Hartman in Cooke City.

8307birdFinches Order Passeriformes. Family FringillidaeMontanaPine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleatorYellowstone

Snow in the Lamar Valley

A snowy morning in the Lamar Valley.

9016Lamar ValleylandscapeMontanaYellowstoneblack whitemountainssnowtrees

First Grizzly of Spring

This bear has retrieved the carcass of an elk from the little pond to his right. After eating he covered it in grass and sat on it to protect it from other carnivores.

9409Grizzly bearLamar ValleyMontanaWinterYellowstoneactivitybehaviorbrownburyingcarcassmammalsnow

Taking a Break

After carefully burying his elk carcass and depositing his body on top of it, the grizzly sat down and panted..

9686Grizzly bearLamar ValleyMontanaWinterYellowstoneactivitybehaviorbrownburyingcarcassmammalsnow

Grizzly On Guard

The first grizzly of spring faces a large group of American Bison, he rears up on his hind legs and gets a better reckoning of the size of the herd.

WolfQuest0048Grizzly bearMontanaYellowstonebehaviorbrowncarcasssnowstanding

Grizzly Snack

As if to make his point, the bear turned and started to eat his cherished dinner

0212Grizzly bearLamar ValleyMontanaWinterYellowstoneactivitybehaviorbrowncarcasseatingmammalsnow

Bison Decision

After a standoff of about 10 minutes the bison slowly started to go back in the direction they came from. They would not cross in front of or behind the grizzly and his meal.

0245American bison Bison bisonBisons Elks CetartiodactylaBovidaeBuffalo Bubalus BubalisLamar VallymammalMontanaactivitybehaviorherd

Coyotes and Ravens Share the Spoils

The Grizzly, surrounded on 3 sides, decided to take a walk. Instantly coyotes and ravens, quarreling among themselves, made use of the opportunity for a meal.

0446American bison Bison bisonBirdBisons Elks CetartiodactylaBovidaeCanidaeCarnivores CarnivoraCommon Raven Corvus coraxCoyote Canis latransJays crows magpies ravens Order Passeriformes. Family CorvidaeMammalbehavioreatingpackscavenger

Grizzly Protecting His Meal

It's the next day. There is obviously less of the carcass present, but our bear, steadfast in the face of snow and intruders, maintains his position on top his elk carcass.

9097Grizzly bearbearbehaviorbrowngrasslandmammalsnow

Bison Calf

A baby buffalo searching for a morsal to eat, winter does not offer much succulent fare. The calf's little horns are just perfect.

9182American bison Bison bisonBisons Elks CetartiodactylaBovidaeBuffalo Bubalus BubalisLamar VallymammalMontanaNorth AmericaUnited Statescalfgrassland

American Bison

The rich brown of the bison coat is very beautiful, one understands the respect accorded this animal by the native Americans.

9251American bison Bison bisonBisons Elks CetartiodactylaBovidaeBuffalo Bubalus BubalisLamar VallymammalMontanaNorth AmericaUnited Statesbrownfurgrassland

On the Move

American Bison travesing the broad grasslands of the Lamar Valley. This area with it's streams and wildlife is a big draw for the wolves of Yellowstone in search of prey.

9088American bison Bison bisonBisons Elks CetartiodactylaBovidaeBuffalo Bubalus BubalisLamar VallylandscapeMammaldistancegrasslandherdlinemountainsmoving

Lone Bison Bull

We spotted this big male walking along a narrow ledge on a steep embankment. From our position it looked hair-raising.

9103American bison Bison bisonBisons Elks CetartiodactylaBovidaeBuffalo Bubalus BubalisLamar VallymammalShapebisonclimbinglonesteep

The Terraces at mammoth Hot Springs

Volcanic steam pushes up through the rock to release calcium which forms travertine and the terraces. The process is on going and this scene changes daily. The dark colored stripes are made by "thermophiles" heat loving organisms.

9234Mammoth Hot SpringsMontanaYellowstonegeologic featuresaltssteamtravertinecalciumterraceslandscape

Pronghorn Buck

You see me, I see you. The American pronghorn is unique, not an antelope or deer. They travel a 6000 year old migration route.

9788American antelope goatAntilocapridaeLamar VallerymammalMontanaPronghornPronghorn Antilocapra americanaYellowstoneantilocapra americanartiodactyl

Knarled Trees

When studied for a while the winter colors of Yellowstone reveal themselves as a splendid array of hues.

9792MontanaYellowstonetreeswinterbarecoloredlandscape

Grand Prismatic from the Air

Weather was a problem in getting up into the air. Luckily before the sun set I got to see Grand Prismatic, the largest hot spring in the park.

WolfQuest9567Aerial ViewGrand PrismaticMontanaYellowstonegeologic featurehot springslandscape

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Minerals stain the rocks of Yellowstone from thousands of years of boiling fluid percolating upward; they are yellow, pink, red and white. It is indescribably beautiful.

9785YellowstoneGrand Canyon of Yellowstonemineralsironrockssnowyellowpinkredwhitearial viewlandscape