Can you spot the Yellowstone bobcat hiding in plain sight?

Trent Sizemore encountered the elusive wildcat while leading a photography tour last week in the park’s northern range.

Bobcat sightings are rare in Yellowstone National Park, in part because the stealthy felines are mostly nocturnal but also because they’re masters of camouflage.

How easily can you spot the bobcat in Trent Sizemore’s image?

Sizemore told FTW Outdoors that the extraordinary encounter occurred last Monday during a photography workshop he led in the park’s northern range.

Can you spot the bobcat? Photo: ©Trent Sizemore Photography

“We stopped at a pullout near Lamar Valley to have lunch, when one of my clients spotted something up on the rock, and it was the bobcat watching us,” Sizemore recalled.

“This was my first one in 10 years here. We spent several hours there, seeing the cat a few more times that day. Up against the rocks, the camouflage was impeccable.”

The same bobcat in full view. Photo: ©Anne Reinhard

The image showing the bobcat less camouflaged was captured by one of Sizemore’s workshop participants, Anne Reinhard.

“[She] was off photographing birds so she missed the first sighting we had,” Sizemore said. “She got this one a bit later in the day.”

Location of the bobcat. Photo: ©Trent Sizemore Photography

The Yellowstone website states that bobcats occupy habitat throughout the park but are “rarely seen.” Most reported sightings occurred in rocky terrain near rivers.

Bobcats are in the lynx family and can weigh up to 30 pounds. They prey largely on small mammals and birds, but have been known to stalk deer and pronghorns.

Yellowstone is currently plowing roads in preparation for the spring opener, scheduled to begin April 19.

However, the road connecting the North and Northeast entrances – about 55 miles, passing through Lamar Valley – is open year-round.

Grizzly bears are ‘awake and active’ in Banff National Park

A research animal identified as Bear 122 or “The Boss” is believed to have been the first grizzly bear spotted out of hibernation.

The first grizzly bear sighting of 2024 has been logged in Canada’s Banff National Park, according to social media reports.

The park on Thursday confirmed that “bears are awake and active” in the country’s oldest and most popular national park, located in Alberta’s  Rockies.

“To ensure the safety of wildlife and the public during this sensitive time of increased activity, area closures may be implemented as needed,” the park stated via Facebook.

Chateau Mountain Sports identified the grizzly bear involved in the first sighting as Bear 122, a.k.a. “The Boss.”

“The Boss is awake! Act busy,” the rental and retail company advised ts Instagram followers.

The park advised tourists to visit its bear safety page before visiting. The page contains advice on how to avoid encounters and how to react during every type of encounter.

A common theme: Stay calm and never run because running is likely to trigger an attack response.

Male grizzly bears are first to emerge from hibernation. They’re typically followed weeks later by female bears with cubs.

–Grizzly bear image courtesy of Banff National Park

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.

Rare white sailfish caught off Guatemala; ‘One-in-a-million’

Pacific Fins Resort explained the last known catch-and-release of a white sailfish in Guatemala waters occurred in 2018.

A luxury fishing resort in Guatemala last week announced the extraordinary catch of a white Pacific sailfish.

“The Billfish Unicorn, one in a million, or an albino sailfish? Whatever you want to call it, it’s a sight you will never forget,” Pacific Fins Resort boasted via social media.

The strikingly rare sailfish, caught by Paul Renfro and his group aboard the 40-foot vessel Libertad, was described as leucistic.

(Leucism, unlike albinism, does not affect the pigmentation in an animal’s eyes.)

Pacific Fins Resort concluded its post:

“Guatemala is known as the sailfish capital of the world, but with the thousands of sails released each year, it’s a rare catch for sure. The last time this happened was in 2018, when another leucistic sailfish was caught in our waters.”

The secondary sailfish image, also courtesy of Pacific Fins Resort, is for the sake of comparison.

Yellowstone wolves visit Old Faithful in surreal webcam footage

Members of the Wapiti wolf pack were observed strolling across the boardwalk system that winds around Old Faithful and other thermal features.

Yellowstone National Park fans who tuned into the Old Faithful webcam  Thursday morning were thrilled to see wolves strolling across the iconic thermal region.

“What a view this morning!” Yellowstone Forever exclaimed via X. “The webcam captured some incredible footage of the park’s Wapiti wolf pack making its way through the Upper Geyser Basin.”

The webcam footage – rare footage, indeed – shows several wolves on and near the basin’s sprawling boardwalk system. (See footage below.)

A 10-minute version produced by the National Park Service (posted below) shows more extensive exploration by the wolves near Old Faithful and other geysers as steam floats across the wintry landscape.

At times, the wolves are traveling on boardwalks that are crowded with tourists in spring and summer. One wolf is shown near a geyser’s vent, as if savoring its warmth.

A screen shot from the webcam footage was posted on the Yellowstone Insiders Hub Facebook page by Joe Nagel, who exclaimed: “Wolves right now on the Old Faithful webcam!”

One follower joked: “Get. On. The. Boardwalk,” in reference to a park regulation that applies only to human visitors.

Another remarked, “Well, that probably cleared the elk and bison out of the geyser basin.”

Old Faithful is in the southwest portion of the 2.2-million-acre park, which is situated in Wyoming and small portions of Montana and Idaho.

Although wolf sightings can occur anywhere inside the park, the most likely spotting destinations are across the vast northern range.

–Footage courtesy of the National Park Service

Whales steal spotlight (again) at legendary Hawaiian surf spot

Footage showing humpback whales breaching while a young surfer drops into a wave at Waimea Bay is reminiscent of an even more extraordinary scene in 2014.

The accompanying footage shows an 11-year-old surfing at Waimea Bay, but perhaps more impressive is the sight of humpback whales breaching in the background.

“Young Kalama Stratton is putting in his time at Waimea Bay with a few whales breaching out the back,” The Inertia described Tuesday on Instagram.

Two distant whales are shown leaping, one after the other, as Stratton drops in at the legendary big-wave destination on Oahu’s North Shore.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Inertia (@theinertia)

The clip is somewhat reminiscent of an extraordinary scene memorialized 10 years ago up the coast at Pipeline.

The top image, captured in 2014 by J.T. Gray of North Shore Surf Photos, shows a humpback whale mother and calf riding a wave just beneath the surface.

“The whales were 75 to 100 yards east of Pipeline and playing for a while, then swam to about 10 yards outside of the lineup,” Gray explained at the time. “A set came in and the bodyboarder caught the first wave, and the humpbacks caught the second.”

Image captured in 2014 by ©J.T. Gray/North Shore Surf Photos

While humpback whale sightings are common at this time of year, the gregarious mammals are rarely spotted in the surf.

Said Gray:“Whales frequent Hawaii in the winter months, but never that close to shore.”

Make RV camping easier with these resources and guides

It’s time to hit the road.

Rev up the RV, pack your camper, and get ready for fun. Whether you’re a van lifer or a part-time RV adventurer, a camping trip is the perfect way to unwind and explore the beautiful world around you. While there are tons of top-notch campgrounds in the United States, people traveling in an RV or camper will need to find campsites that cater to them. Hunting down the right spot isn’t always easy. Lucky for you, it’s about to get much simpler.

Make your next RV camping trip a breeze with these travel resources and guides. Uncover incredible campgrounds, learn all about boondocking, find ways to bring your pets along for the ride, and so much more.

A row of RVs parked in a lot near palm trees.

How to find awesome campgrounds

If you need campground suggestions, you’ve come to the right place. This list of stunning spots for an RV camping trip will have you itching to hit the road. Plus, you can find the best national parks for RV campers here.

Looking for details on unique campsites? Check out this feature on the inviting world of Spacious Skies Campgrounds. For an extra sporty RV camping excursion, you’ll also want to check out the options available at SkyPark at Santa’s Village. This mountain biking park will treat RV campers to some marvelous views. If you’re searching for a wilder camping experience, you can also find RV campsites within the stunning Stanislaus National Forest.

A couple sitting on top of an RV in the desert.

Learn all about boondocking

See if boondocking is right for you (and learn exactly what boondocking is) with this guide. As this resource explains, “For the van life and RV communities, boondocking means camping in an area without hookups. This kind of camping is also described as off-grid or dry camping, as the campers don’t use and/or have access to public utilities like water or electricity.”

If this kind of RV adventure sounds like something you would enjoy, you can learn more about boondocking on public land with the Bureau of Land Management’s tips for dispersed camping.

An RV to the left of a forested mountain range in the background.

Make RVing with your pets stress-free

There’s no need to keep your furry friends at home while you go camping. Discover practical ways to bring your dog or cat along for the ride with this guide to RVing and traveling with pets.

An RV driving on a road up to a snowy mountain.

Other RV camping tips and resources

Hungry for even more RV camping resources? We’ve got you covered. For a stress-free trip, check out these five tools that make trip planning easy.

Your Yosemite National Park questions, answered

Get the info you need.

California is a state that enjoys a bounty of natural wonders. In fact, it has the most national parks of any state in America. The state’s nine national parks include Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Redwood, and last but not least, Yosemite.

Yosemite National Park is the third oldest national park, after Yellowstone and Sequoia. Established as a national park in 1872, Yosemite also became a World Heritage Site in 1984. The site protects roughly 750,000 acres of meadows, valleys, mountains, and more. These stunning landscapes help make Yosemite one of the country’s most visited national parks. Before you visit, get to know the area with these answers to some of the most commonly asked Yosemite National Park questions. Plus, find resources to help you plan your trip.

A mountain range overlooking a lake.
Photo by DJM Photos

Where is Yosemite National Park?

Let’s start with the basics. Where is Yosemite National Park? As the park website explains, since Yosemite “covers nearly 1,200 square miles of mountainous terrain in the Sierra Nevada of California” there is no “single address” for the destination. When visiting the park, old-school maps and park-provided directions will be most helpful.

Visitors coming from San Francisco can expect the drive into Yosemite to take around four hours. If you’re coming from Reno, the drive will take between four and six hours. For help planning your trip, check out Yosemite’s driving directions hub for more detailed information. This resource even includes tips for driving between sites within the park.

Snow by a river with a rocky canyon in the background and the moon overhead.
Photo by Anita Ritenour

What to do in Yosemite?

Curious tourists will find endless things to do in Yosemite National Park. Sightseers can explore a variety of gorgeous overlooks and marvel at the majesty of El Capitan or the serenity of the Merced River. Hikers will feel on top of the world during a Half Dome Hike and can enjoy fall color on Valley Loop Trail. Rock climbers can also find fun adventures at Yosemite. Try a crack climb at Merced River Canyon, go alpine climbing at Cathedral Peak, or do a trad climb up El Capitan. This guide will point you toward even more climbing options at Yosemite.

That’s not all Yosemite has to offer, though. Scenic drives, wildlife viewing, biking, fishing, stargazing, and more make the park paradise for active travelers. Yosemite also ranks as one of the top 10 most accessible national parks, so everyone can join in on the fun.

A gray mountain.
Photo by docentjoyce

What to see in Yosemite National Park?

Now that you know some of the activities available at Yosemite, let’s dive into the incredible things you’ll see when you visit. With 1,200 square miles of wild beauty, Yosemite National Park has a lot of sights to see. Here are a few of the park’s most iconic landmarks to look out for:

  1. El Capitan
  2. Half Dome
  3. Bridalveil Fall
  4. Glacier Point
  5. Mariposa Grove
  6. Merced River
  7. Tunnel View
  8. Tuolumne Meadows
  9. Yosemite Falls
  10.  Cathedral Peak

If you’re near Yosemite during February, you’ll also want to try catching a glimpse of firefall at Horsetail Fall. Here’s a glimpse of the magic you’ll be able to see there.

Water flowing off Horsetail Fall glows orange while backlit from the setting sun.
Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

Soak your cares away at these 6 free-to-visit hot springs

Jump in!

Join the long history of people relaxing in warm mineral waters by visiting a hot spring. You can find naturally occurring hot springs through the United States, but they’re most plentiful in West Coast states. These fascinating spots are also known as thermal springs. They form when geothermal heat (heat from within the Earth) warms groundwater. Some springs can reach wickedly high temperatures that repel all but the most heat-resistant organisms. Lucky for water-loving travelers, there are also plenty of comfortably warm springs to enjoy throughout the country.

Find your next hot spring experience with this list of six free hot springs destinations. Or, have a more luxurious vacation at these hot spring resorts.

Cookbook Review: Dishing Up Virginia

When in Virginia, do as the Virginians do, right? When it comes to food, that means taking home a Virginia cookbook so you can replicate some of the best recipes at home, wherever that may be. Our choice was Dishing Up® Virginia: 145 Recipes That …

When in Virginia, do as the Virginians do, right? When it comes to food, that means taking home a Virginia cookbook so you can replicate some of the best recipes at home, wherever that may be.

Our choice was  Dishing Up® Virginia: 145 Recipes That Celebrate Colonial Traditions and Contemporary Flavors by  Patrick Evans-Hylton  (Author), Edwin Remsberg  (Photographer).

One of the things we liked about this cookbook was its knowledge of Virginia’s history. It divides the food by regions, so you get some of the Shenandoah Valley area that we have focused on in a series off stories, and you also get the Chesapeake Bay, Wine Country, and more.

You get not only the author’s recipes, but a compilation of some of the recipes from noted Virrginia restaurants, such as the Willliamsburg Lodge, which offers its Fried Green Tomato Salad. You also get a taste of Thomas Jefferson’s love of food, with dishes such as Monticello Apple Cake.

The book offers sample menus, unusual seafood recipes, a maple syrup-inspired Chicken Wings recipe perfect for this time of year, and, well, a whole state’s worth of delectable appetizers, entrees and desserts.

Check it out, whether you  are in Virginia or not, both for its recipes and for its travel hints and places to see when you go East.

About The Virginia Series

The Shenandoah Valley is nestled between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains in historic and scenic west-central Virginia. It has the transportation infrastructure and connection to markets in every direction. One of their major areas of focus is the food processing taking place in the region. The Food Channel recently had the opportunity to work with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to tour some of the up and coming places, and to talk with entrepreneurs as well as established business people eager to tell the Virginia story.