Wolf Watching. Some thing to read, but I have not finished writing. Just a teaser!

It started off like any other trip to Lamar; the alarm going off and my body saying to sleep more. Regardless, I shook the sleeping dust from my eyes and pulled myself together to get some food before the long trip ahead of me. My battery was charged, space on my SD card and I was ready to go to the EDR for breakfast. 

Upon arrival, I noticed Melissa was no where in sight but I was 30 minutes early. I sat down with my coworkers, who all thought I may be a little crazy to wake up at such an early time on my Sunday. But two of us, one that was not there, knew that it would be a good trip, just not to the extent that really happened.

We left the EDR at about 6:30 in the morning and returned before noon and considered it a great day. It was dark and cold outside and the road seemed a little more icy than usual. The pace of the car was slow and steady but we both know now that that paid off. We passed some bison on the road early in the trip and stopped at Hell Roaring Overlook to listen for some wolves but had no luck. The clouds above the horizon were turning pink and the sound of metal scratching the road was in the distance. Peaceful to the eyes yet not the ears. With the sun rising slowly, the camera had remain in the bag until I thought it would be the right time. We took a left at Roosevelt and headed down the road to Little America. 

As we passed the Yellowstone River I started to get the camera ready for anything and everything. We entered Little America and drove for some time not seeing any wildlife; including bison and elk. We were almost to the Lamar Bridge in Little America and my eye caught an image 150 yards to the right side of the vehicle.

For a moment I thought it was a bush but bushes don't run; that's when I said, "Stop, stop, stop...STOP. That's not a coyote, that is way too big to be a coyote!" With excitement the car came to a stop somewhat in the middle of the right lane and we exited the car to watch a wolf run. As I started to take pictures, the camera was shaking from the cold and excitement. There is a video below for the best possible quality.

This wolf was running to another wolf but turned around and said, to hell with it, and disappeared to the west.

 While still parked in the road, there were wolves howling all around us communicating back and forth. It was beautiful and scary at the same time. There was a wolf on the north side of the road, opposite of the one I spotted and we could not see/find it. So we were both hoping it wouldn't come find us as a meal; surly it didn't. This black wolf, with no collar, we believe chased the original one I spotted. Near this black wolf, was another white wolf, but I did not capture it. :(

 Below are pictures of Wolf 455, (Bottom right, laying on the grass), and an unknown black wolf, (Upper left) who howled at each other for some time before meeting one another.

 Below the greated, and 455 was like, "Hey girl wanna mate? It's that time of the year...", and the black wolf was like, "You gotta catch me!"

 And so 455 preceded to follow up on catching her...

 Here's a nice little sunrise as we entered Lamar.

 We went all the way to Pebble Creek to find some moose but they were out of ice cream. On the way back, we saw a van pulled over taking some photos and were hoping for a beaver. Rumors had it that a beaver liked to hang out over here, but all we found was the American Dipper.

I've got to get ready for work, I'll update this great adventure soon...(24 hours or so). Thanks for reading. Any questions about wolves and numbers please comment and I will do my best to answer them as much as I can. Also, there will be more information posted on the wolves. We watched them for a couple hours so I have a lot more to share but time is not on my side. Melissa reads the blog and comments as well, so perhaps she may help with some information about the wolves. Thanks again!