Trail Log 1995-1997 - Lamar at Colorado State University

Back out to look around. There was a subadult grizzly female, first digging at a tree across a
meadow, then out in the meadow. The lighter girth band was evident. Watched her an hour, the
closest about 50 yards. This was the closest I was to a grizzly on the trip, and I heard no more
reports of her in the stay there.
This would be grizzly no. 23.
Drove up toward Mud Volcano and ate supper in picnic area.
If you can see the claws, grizzlies have much longer claws.
June 2, Monday. Up at 5.45 and out by 6.15. This was a cold night, I should have slept in long
johns. Good frost on the windshield. This is 7,700 feet high.
Drove to Hayden Valley. There was heavy ground fog in the valley, and you couldn't see a thing.
Mergansers. Pelicans. Scaup.
Returned to Fishing Bridge, and drove out Pelican Valley way. Quite clear and sunny hear. On
return, there was a black bear in the timber. I first saw it in the rear view mirror! -- and backed up
to find it in the woods. Watched it ten minutes, alone. No one else happened along. This one I
spotted alone and watched alone.
Returned to Fishing Bridge. Two splendid pelicans flew over the bridge low just as I crossed it.
Shaved in the store and back to campground. Jogged around campground. Shower, and lunch
at shower parking lot. Visitor center.
Grizzlies can be black. The hair is often silver tipped, hence, partially, the name.
The hump is muscle, used in frequent digging.
Tundra swans (formerly whistling swans) migrate through here spring and fall and look much like
trumpeter swans.
Black bears' ears stick out overhead in profile. Grizzly's ears may not. They are smaller and more
lost in the profile. In face view, you can see the ears sticking out, but they are still shorter than
black bears.
Posturing can make a black bear appear to have a hump.
Large black bears can appear at time to have a concave facial profile.
Grizzly claws generally show in the tracks. Black bear claws generally do not. Unlike humans, the
big toe is on the outside.
Drove through Hayden Valley. Elk and bison. Supper at north end of valley in picnic area by the
river. On return coyote across the river. Drove back out the East Entrance Road where I saw the
bear this morning. Nothing. Dark about 9.00 p.m.
The River of No Return is from the salmon, the spawning salmon do not return.
June 3, Tuesday. Up at 5.45. Cold night, even more frost than the night before. Scouted as
before. Elk. Snipe calling. Drive out East Entrance Road, then up Hayden Valley, which was clear