Trail Log 1995-1997 - Lamar at Colorado State University

One bear seen at great distance high across the valley. Others said they saw two, and said it was
a counting pair, presumably a grizzly, but I could not have verified this. Then we drove down to
Slough Creek and saw presumably the same bear, or its mate, briefly again, at much distance.
However, later in the week we saw no such courting couple.
May 27, Tuesday. Up at 5.30, quick breakfast and out.
Sow grizzly and three cubs across the river on the bench, and moving right along at a trot, stopping
from time to time. Watched her ten minutes, then moved the Jeep back to the ranch driveway and
watched her half an hour. Marvelous, the first time I have clearly and indisputably seen a grizzly.
There was a really conspicuous hump on her back, though none that evident on the cubs. She
stood up on hind feet to look around several times. Sunshine came and went and there was good
light. She eventually disappeared into the woods.
At Slough Creek: a carcass with ravens on it, and three eagles, immature balds. One unidentified
coyote or possibly wolf at considerable distance on the hillside, never seen that well.
Drove up to Slough Creek campground. Barrow's Goldeneye ducks on the creek. Ring-necked
ducks on a pond. Ground squirrels. Several hundred elk, 150 bison, one herd running fast.
Lunch. Class started 1.00 p.m. Gene Ball is instructor. He spends about half the year in Texas,
includes some teaching at Elder Hostels, including some at Mo Ranch. Lecture on optics and
ethics. Then out for a hike to Trout Lake. One bighorn ram on the skyline. We hiked up to the
lake, about a half mile up, hoping to see an osprey, but not found. Lomatium, Biscuit-root.
Returned to van. Then we watched three wolves, a dark one and two tan ones. They worked their
way down from Soda Butte, and we moved the van three or four times to keep up with them. Nicely
seen through the scopes.
A prairie falcon (with "dirty armpits") was harassing a golden eagle, as well as were some ravens.
We grabbed some snacks at the ranch at were back out at 7.00 p.m. We watched the same wolves
some more, now opposite to Lamar Ranch. They chased into a herd of 60-70 elk and split the herd
into half, but caught none. They eventually disappeared into the trees. These wolves are said to
be 38M, 40F, and 42F, the Druid Peak Pack, introduced in 1996. The pack contains 5 wolves.
Coyote seen in the meadow further down. Grizzly sow and three cubs seen at great distance.
Another sow and two cubs seen also at a distance. These would not have been recognizably
grizzlies, except that we saw the same bears closer on other occasions.
Total so far 7 different grizzlies, 4 wolves.
May 28, Wednesday. Up at 4.15, off at 5.30 a.m. In Sough Creek area, an elk calf and mother seen
in distance but seen well. The cows come into the sagebrush to have their calves, where the calf
is hidden and lies alone most of the day. The mother comes to nurse it now and again. The calves
are scentless, though the bears learn to roam the sagebrush searching for calves at this time of
year. In three weeks or so, the calves will be up and running.
No bears, no wolves.