This site is dedicated to wildlife and landscape photography.
This site is dedicated to wildlife and landscape photography.
In the spring of 2009 this mother badger and her three cubs were very popular photo subjects in Yellowstone. Her den was fairly close to the road. She crossed the road often and I worried that she’d get hit. I don’t think she ever did get hit, at least at that den site, but an awful lot of wildlife is killed on Yellowstone’s roads each year.
One of the things I’ve noticed about myself at Yellowstone is that I no longer just focus on the species that are most sought after by photographers and other visitors. I’m thinking, of course, of things like bears and wolves. Oh, sure, they’re still at the top of my list, but I’m interested in all the animals now, including the rodents.
I photographed this marmot across the road from Sedge Bay. The rock outcroppings there hold a good population of marmots. I learned a lesson that day. Make that two lessons. I had stopped to shoot marmots and just grabbed my 500 lens and tripod. I left the 100-400 on another camera body in the truck. After shooting for a while this marmot turned its back to me, stood up and gave a warning call. Others chimed in. I didn’t have a clear line of sight to what they were upset about, but decided I had gotten what I wanted and hoisted the camera/tripod onto my shoulder and turned around to head back to my truck. It was then that I saw a black wolf walking midway between me and my truck which was parked about 40 to 50 feet away. It disappeared into some trees. Two mistakes. I should have looked in all directions when the marmots started calling and I should have brought the 100-400 with me. As I got to the truck I saw a white wolf heading into the trees going in the opposite direction of the black wolf. It had been the one behind the marmots. I followed it in the truck, but lost it. Next time I’ll be prepared. Yeah, right. I’ve said that before.
In the spring of 2009 and in the spring of 2010 I spent a lot of time observing baby animals in Yellowstone. They are all cute. But I grew especially fond of bison calves or, as they are also known, “red dogs.” They’re very photogenic. Find a bison herd in the spring or summer and stop and observe for a while. The interactions among the cows, yearlings and calves is very interesting. Plus, it doesn’t take long before one of the calves decides to run around for the sheer joy of it. To see an earlier post of a red dog running click here.
When I travel to Yellowstone I usually don’t leave it because the wildlife photo opportunities are so good. The next time I go to Yellowstone I’m going to break my habit and spend some time in Jackson Hole at the beginning or end of my trip. The wildlife photo opportunities aren’t as good (with the exception of moose), but the landscape photo opportunities are fantastic.
I photographed this wolf on a foggy morning a year ago at North Twin Lake. It had killed a cow elk the night before. The elk carcass is just outside the photo.
I was near Tower Falls last spring waiting to photograph a black bear that had decided to take a nap. I waited for a couple of hours. Nothing. The only living creature near me then was this robin that looked unhappy with my presence.
When people think of Yellowstone wildlife they think of mammals like bison, elk, bears and wolves. However, it’s a pretty good place to see birds as well. There is a spot on the Yellowstone River called LeHardy Rapids. You can count on seeing Harlequin ducks there.
