A Day in the Park

Yesterday, after skiing and receiving manna from heaven (radishes from the BBar ranch), we decided to drive in to Yellowstone National Park.  It was quite exciting, seeing bighorn sheep rams, elk, bison, deer, eagles...... and then we got to the park entrance!  More wildlife out and on the move than I have seen, and all of that before we even reached Yellowstone.  The park was also alive with more animals and motion than I have ever seen.  We were delayed six or seven times as tribes of bison were marching along the road toward the northwest, up toward Gardiner.

 The afternoon light and snow squalls provided beautiful lighting effects.

 We saw more elk, deer, antelope, coyote and bison as we drove almost to Cooke City on the northeast corner of the park and  back.  The bison were using fully their powerful back muscle hump to swing their heads through the deep snow for browse.

The wolfwatchers were out, and we learned later they were watching the Junction pack of wolves feeding on a carcass.  We did not join the crowd.
As we left the park, we drove through the little town of Gardiner.  Trying to stop at the little grocery, we found we couldn't turn in to the parking lot, as 6 deer were lined up across the entrance, facing the store- perhaps deciding what they would purchase for supper.  There were several bison on the high school football field, and approximately 30 elk on the lawn of the Methodist church.  As we headed out of town, we saw 6-8 deer on the runway of the tiny Gardiner airport. Humans need to elbow their way in to partake in town life here!
Loki is fully aware of animal life outside the car windows ( Dory never noticed at all).  Here is Loki's close-up view of a bull bison!

When we woke up this morning, the breakfast bunch of bull elk were just leaving the hay (five minutes before  Matt arrived), moseying their way up the field just outside our bedroom window.  When we spoke with Matt, he explained that they had not only enjoyed breakfast, but had also trampled his scarecrow meant to keep them away!