June 23, 2014

After yesterday's rest, I felt much better today. The weather was much better, as well - sunny and into the 70s. It was also the best day yet for wolves and bears.

I started by going out to the Blacktail site and was immediately rewarded with seeing 2 wolves laying out in the open. Then, we began seeing others. By the time the morning was done, we had seen all 10 wolves in the pack – 7 adults and 3 pups. Partway through the morning, Rick McIntyre and Jeremy, one of the wolf researchers came by and stayed for over an hour. According to Jeremy, one of the wolves we saw this morning was a new, to the researchers, member of the pack. At the time, they didn't know anything about this wolf – male or female, where it came from, age, or anything. This isn't a very good photo of it, but it was around a mile away:

Another wolf – a black juvenile – was also in that area and posed for me:

Then, I was going to go to Cooke City for internet and talk to Doug McLaughlin about buying a new scope next year. Mine has served me well, but I have been getting more and more disappointed with its limitations, so I think it's time to move up.

But, I got distracted. The bear with 3 cubs was near the road and I got this photo:

The focus is wrong, but it's still pretty good.

Then there was a wolf in the Lamar Valley.

Then, there was another bear near Pebble Creek:

And then it was lunch time. So, I went back to camp and ate. Then, I finally got out to Cooke City, and I found Doug and talked to him about the scope. He was very helpful. If things don't change, I'll by it after the first of the year.

On the way back, there was an antelope near the road:

Then, it was back to camp for a snack and a nap. Then, I went back out to the blacktail site and saw all 3 pups briefly.

On the way back to camp there was another bear at Phantom Lake:

Along with a couple more bears, I saw 7 today and had 14 wolf sightings. That's a pretty good day.