“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” - Thoreau
Called the “American Serengeti” for its abundant and iconic wildlife, Yellowstone and the Tetons are frequent destinations for me. Of all the places I've visited in the Lower 48, to me this region most represents what American wilderness once was. It's here that I see abundant wildlife in its most natural state.
Please click on an image to enlarge
Sunrise over the Yellowstone River (Image YS-1)
Pronghorn buck surveys the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone (Image YS-2)
Aspens highlight lodgepole pine forest, Lamar Valley, Yellowstone (Image YS-3)
Bison bull, giving me the stink eye, Lamar Valley, Yellowstone (Image YS-4)
A favorite Yellowstone species, the Pika, Sheepeater's Cliff, Yellowstone (Image YS-5)
"Bobby socks" forest, Geyser Basin, Yellowstone (Image YS-6)
Raging bull, Yellowstone (Image YS-7)
Bighorn ewe and kid, Calcite Springs, Yellowstone (Image YS-8)
Bison bull, Lamar Valley, Yellowstone (Image YS-9)
Young elk bull at sunrise, Yellowstone (Image YS-10)
Bighorn kid, Calcite Springs, Yellowstone (Image YS-11)
Badger, Trout Lake, Yellowstone (Image YS-12)
Bison bull, Yellowstone (Image YS-13)
Young bighorn buck, Calcite Springs, Yellowstone (Image YS-14)
Elk bull bugling to his harem, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone (Image YS-15)
Bull elk, Gardiner, Montana (Image YS-16)
Bighorn ewe, Calcite Springs, Yellowstone (Image YS-17)
Grand Prismatic Springs, Yellowstone (Image YS-18)
Lamar Valley sunrise, Yellowstone (Image YS-19)
Lamar River sunrise, Yellowstone (Image YS-20)
Pronghorn buck, Lamar Valley, Yellowstone (Image YS-21)
Tundra swans at dawn on the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone (Image YS-22)
Tom Miner Basin, Gardiner, Montana (Image YS-23)
Cabin in Tom Miner Basin, Montana (Image YS-24)
Upper Falls, Yellowstone National Park (Image YS-25)
"Go ahead, make my day!" This big boy's eyes tell me to keep my distance. Found grazing a meadow at dawn, I like the way the frost on his head helps frame his face, and his watchful eyes. Lamar Valley, Wyoming.
An imperious red fox that I found scavenging late one evening along the road between Cooke City and Silver Gate, MT. His apparent disdain was probably because I only shared a small bite from my PB&J dinner, rather than giving him the whole sandwich. I don't usually feed wildlife, but he seemed highly habituated to handouts, and I wanted him to stick around. Very low light, high ISO image.
On the hunt. What an evening I had along Soda Butte Creek, WY, with this beautiful red fox, as he scavenged for voles and mice! He wasn't bothered at all by my presence, and we had the whole area to ourselves. It doesn't get much better than this, except maybe the light, which was very dim - always a struggle for my lenses (very high ISO image).
The original hillbilly, Yellowstone NP. I was surprised to find two mountain goats on a cliff fairly near the road, since the closest I'd ever come to these creatures was about 1/2 mile. Harsh noontime sunlight washed out colors and created strong shadows, but I took some memory shots anyway given the unusual opportunity.
Of all the iconic American wildlife, one of my all-time favorites is the adorable Pika, a gerbil-sized critter that lives in boulder fields of the northern Rockies. I spent several hours watching these cute creatures skitter across the rocks at Yellowstone's Sheepeater Cliff. Busy collecting grass for the coming winter, they sometimes squeak to identify their territories and warn of danger, as this one did when he spotted me. ❤
Several evenings along Yellowstone's Soda Butte Creek, I enjoyed this band of pronghorn, presided over by one dominant buck, who kept a watchful eye on his harem, and was quick to round up any strays. In one image, I've tried to convey the amazing speed these animals have (up to 55 mph) - the 2nd fastest land animal in the world (after the cheetah).
Catch me if you can. I had fun watching this pronghorn buck keep his harem in line along Yellowstone's Soda Butte Creek. A doe or two would wander off, and he'd take off to herd them back into the fold. Their explosive speed is amazing - up to 55 mph - far faster than any predator. Nerdy tidbit: scientists think their speed is a vestige from the ice age, when American cheetahs roamed the continent.
Early one morning, I found this wonderful NPS ranch just south of Jenny Lake, in the Tetons, and had to stop to watch the horses, and of course take some photos. It's a beautiful lump of land along Cottonwood Creek, nestled beneath the majestic Teton peaks.
Home, home on the range, where the bison & antelope (pronghorn) play... 🎶🎶 After 9 totally disconnected days in Yellowstone, I'm now in Grand Teton NP, based in Jackson Hole. Critters have been surprisingly scarce, but I spent part of a glorious morning watching these bison graze beneath the majestic Teton peaks.
Getting stink eye from a bull moose one afternoon in the Tetons.
Heading "home" one evening, I spotted this bull moose making his way along a ridge, and liked his silhouette against the sagebrush and hazy orange sky. Two forest fires burn just south of Jackson, WY, and depending on how the wind blows, create very smoky or completely clear conditions.
My take on the T.A. Moulton barn on a cold and clear morning, between Kelly and Moose, WY. One of the most photographed Teton scenes, it's still a wonder to behold, and we're fortunate that the NPS has done such a good job maintaining this historic structure.
My take on Grand Teton's famous Oxbow Bend at dawn. A commonly photographed scene, nothing quite prepares you for just how stunning it is in person. Unfortunately, the day brought clear skies and a slight breeze, which affected the reflections in the water. I'd like to return on a semi-cloudy and still morning.
