Wildlife watching in Yellowstone

One of my favorite things about the United States is our National Park system. Seriously, our parks rule! And while I try my hardest to go as often as I can, it isn't always easy to truly appreciate everything that our parks have to offer. That's why I'm so grateful to the Yellowstone Association for their scholarship so that I could attend the Lamar Wildlife Getaway!

The iconic animal of Yellowstone is the bison, and they truly are majestic. Large herds graze in the Lamar Valley, where we spent quite a bit of time just watching them do their thing.

It's hard to tell in this picture, but this baby had just been born and we could actually see the afterbirth still attached to the mom. Sadly, our guide Carolyn said the birth was a bit late in the season and it would be hard for the calf to gain enough weight to survive the next winter...

The program took us on several hikes each day, and it was gorgeous. The group consisted of about 12 people, including three other teachers. We had two guides with us each day, who helped with spotting and with setting up our scopes. Carolyn and Carlin were absolutely amazing, seeing things that I ever would have found. Note to self: get a professional guide if you want to have a fuller, richer experience!!

Everyone is always excited to spot bears, and we were lucky enough to see several, including this mom black bear and her two cubs. We were hiking off-trail, and almost ran right into them. During the trip, we also saw several grizzlies, but mostly from further away.

Another famous Yellowstone animal is the wolf, which virtually disappeared in the first half of the 20th century. In the mid 90s, 41 wild wolves were reintroduced, and now the population is up to around 450 in the greater Yellowstone area. We tried hard to find one, and after staring into this field for about 2 hours, one actually popped out from the ledge right under us, about 25 meters away!!

For the time I was there, I stayed at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch in the Lamar Valley. It was misty and rained in the evenings a few times, but we never got rained on during our expeditions. Overall it was nice, comfortable, and quiet. I even got my own room!

After the program was over, I spent an extra day driving around Yellowstone by myself... and I wish I had spent even more time there! The wildlife there is amazing...

...but let's be honest. Yellowstone is known for its amazing geologic features. I loved hiking around the geothermal area,

travertine terraces,

 Grand Prismatic Spring,

and of course, Old Faithful.

Get outside and enjoy your National Parks, everyone!