Tag: Lamar River

River crossing turns perilous for Yellowstone bison calves

The scene revealed to observers that a time of critter births is also a period when many newborn animals succumb to the elements.

Yellowstone National Park abounds with wildlife and visitors typically leave with wonderful memories involving critters they had encountered.

But visitors who spend enough time in the park also witness heart-wrenching scenes that leave them wondering why nature can seem so cruel.

In late May, I pulled over west of Lamar Valley and watched from a distance as a bison herd began to cross the Lamar River.

Momma bison searches for calf downstream.

The river was shallow but with deep, swift-running channels. The opposite bank was steep with loose dirt and the crossing seemed like a perilous proposition for newborn calves.

Within seconds, one calf was swept downstream and around a bend, leaving mom in a panic. She ran down the middle of the river, staying on a shallow. bar, and ultimately accessed the bank to continue her search.

Bison calf pleads for help as momma closes in.

As this occurred, another calf was swept about 40 yards downstream, but regained its footing and ultimately crossed the river with mom’s guidance.

As the herd continued up and over the bank, the bison that lost her calf paced the area for several minutes before abandoning her search to rejoin the herd.

Momma bison helps calf exit a deep portion of river.

I was with other tourists about 500 yards away. We could not see all of the action but concluded that only the one calf had been lost, likely to be preyed upon or scavenged by wolves, coyotes, or bears.

I was so far away, with a 400-millimeter lens, that I didn’t even look at my images until recently. So I cropped the accompanying shots to help illustrate this story.

Baby bison is back on its feet after most of the herd had crossed over the bank.

The scene revealed to us that a season of critter births is also a period when many newborn animals succumb to the elements or predation.

Remarkably, a day later I witnessed a pronghorn birth from almost the same spot, while also watching a momma badger excavate a den for her kits.

Can you spot the bear? Yellowstone guide issues challenge

If you’re able to spot the black bear in the Yellowstone National Park image you’re either lucky or have a keen eye.

A Montana-based guide who leads hiking expeditions in Yellowstone National Park on Friday tweeted a landscape image and asked followers if they could spot the black bear.

“I’ve been told my more recent ‘Find the Animal Friday’ posts have been way too easy,” Douglas Scott declared. “This one is a little more challenging.”

Can you spot the black bear? Photo: Douglas Scott

Scott, who runs The Outdoor Society, granted ForTheWin Outdoors permission to use the image and supplied a second image that we’ve posted below to serve as a hint for those who might struggle initially to spot the bear (as I did.)

Can you spot the bear in the images posted above? (Answer below.)

Scott told FTW Outdoors that he captured the image June 21 from above the Lamar River “on a perfectly clear day” in the park’s northern range.

“It was definitely a fun spot as my client was amazed I saw it so easily from so far away,” Scott recalled.

Scott’s X followers chimed in with guesses but, as of Sunday night, only one had pinpointed the bear’s location.

When I guessed, Scott informed me that I had found “the shadow of a tree.”

Another guess was met with the reply: “Unfortunately, you are incorrect. You most definitely found a non-animal shadow though!”

Black bear is pictured in the clearing barely left of center. Photo: Douglas Scott

The image posted immediately above shows the bear when Scott was closer (or zoomed-in). Readers, if they choose, can use landmarks in the image to match the location of the bear in Scott’s original image.

To view the answer, click on Scott’s tweet and scroll to Matt Inman’s comment. Or simply view the image posted below.

Scott specializes in leading day trips to remote areas “beyond the boardwalks” of Yellowstone National Park. The hikes typically last between four and seven hours.

Arrow points to black bear. Photo: Douglas Scott

Watch: Yellowstone coyotes ‘duke it out’ over prize buried in snow

Video footage reveals a dramatic scene involving two coyotes fighting over a bison carcass in Yellowstone National Park.

A guide leading a tour in Yellowstone National Park this week captured dramatic footage showing two coyotes battling over a presumed bison carcass buried in the snow.

The accompanying footage, captured by Yellowstone Wolf Tracker guide Michael Sypniewski, begins with one coyote launching an attack on the other coyote as it attempted to feast on the carcass.

Wolf Tracker’s description: “A couple mornings ago, Wolftracker guide @michaelwsyp and his guests watched two coyotes duke it out along the Lamar River. This intense back and forth battle went on for close to 10 minutes!”

The description continued: “Although obstructed from [the tour group’s] view, they believe the two canines were fighting over the remains of a bison carcass buried deep in the snow.”

The footage appears to show that the coyote already on the carcass was the dominant combatant.

As winter turns to spring, many of Yellowstone’s critters rely on frozen carcasses, revealed by melting snow, for sustenance.

Watch: Yellowstone bear cub crosses river on mom’s back

A guide in Yellowstone National Park has captured adorable footage showing a black bear cub hitching a ride across the Lamar River on mom’s back.

Black bears can easily navigate rivers, but cubs sometimes require mom’s help.

The accompanying footage, captured by Yellowstone Wolf Tracker guide Michelle Holihan, shows a cub crossing the Lamar River on mom’s back and leaping from her shoulders onto the opposite shore.

“What’s the best way to get across the cold Lamar River?” Yellowstone Wolf Tracker asked followers via Instagram. “Hitch a ride on mom!

“We spotted this black bear in the river but her two cubs were hesitant to cross so she went back to get them and one of them climbed onboard for the crossing.”

The Lamar River, a tributary of the Yellowstone River, spans 44 miles through wildlife-rich portions of Yellowstone National Park.

According to the National Park Service, the Lamar River and Lamar Valley are named after Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, Secretary of the Interior under President Grover Cleveland from 1885 to 1888.

–Image is a video screen shot

Momma bear rescues panicking, crying cub in swift river crossing

A momma grizzly bear teaching its cub how to cross rivers in Yellowstone National Park was forced to rescue the little one.

A momma grizzly bear teaching its cub how to cross rivers in Yellowstone National Park was forced to rescue the little one as it loudly cried out in a panic in the rushing water of the Soda Butte River.

“I don’t think I have ever recorded grizzly cub cries like that before,” Ron Sterbenz told USA Today/For The Win Outdoors.

Sterbenz of Yellowstone Video on YouTube regularly videotapes wildlife in the iconic park during the tourist season. He recently captured the various steps in the grizzly’s teaching process, including the rescue.

“This one is a grizzly sow who swims a number of the Lamar/Soda Butte river forks while scaring her cub to death,” Sterbenz told For The Win. “She is a kind of odd sow as you can see in the video.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Yellowstone National Park issues warning of ‘danger’ to tourists

“In one part she is scolding the cub for not following her across the river and attacks the 1-year-old [sequence starts at the 2:40 mark]. Next, she is leading him into a faster fork and the cub cries out loud fearing downing [sequence starts at the 6:45 mark].

“I barely had time to catch it, but I did. The cub makes to the bank, so it’s a happy ending.

In the rescue, the momma bear gets alongside the cub and swims toward the bank, essentially pushing the cub along. They both climb out and, as Sterbenz states, it’s a happy ending.

Photo courtesy of Ron Sterbenz.