Once I made my way out past Yellowstone Lake, I stopped at a spot frequented by the Ten Mile Subadult, also known as Jam. Jam is the 4 year old daughter of Raspberry, (the Lake Butte Sow,) who is the queen of grizzlies in this specific area. Raspberry is also the mother of 9 year old Snow, officially known as the Nine Mile Sow.
I noticed a few vehicles pulled over and folks looking up a small ravine, so I decided to make my way up the road to Lake Butte Overlook. A very nice gentleman pointed out where Jam had been all day, after killing an elk calf that morning. She truly blended into her surroundings, and I was grateful for this man’s generosity. I was able to watch Jam feed on the elk calf, and she even got silly a few times by rolling around in the brush grabbing her paws. While I appreciate any time I’m able to see a bear, especially sweet Jam (who in reality is most likely NOT sweet,) I was chomping at the bit to try to see Snow and her yearlings, who evaded me all of 2023.
I went back down to the highway and only had to drive for about 10 seconds when I noticed movement high on the ridgeline. I pulled off the road and glassed the hillside, following a small herd of cow elk who were on high alert. As I traced the path they were looking, I spotted a blonde grizzly with two little ones in tow: SNOW! Jumping out of my vehicle and setting up my spotting scope, I was able to watch her lazily chase some of the elk around while her yearlings ran behind her. This tactic of lazy hunting is common in early summer, when grizzlies are on the hunt for stashed elk calves. Cow elk will lick their calves clean of any scent and hide them in the brush and deadfall while they graze. Grizzlies will then attempt to flush out the calves or chase the cow elk away so they can search for the hidden calves.
I was shocked no one else pulled over as I had my scope out at the hillside. Shocked, but content. After not having seen Snow at all in 2023 I was happy to have this first encounter of 2024 all to myself. After about 20 minutes, the trio began to move over the ridge, heading straight towards all the humans with their backs facing her while they were watching Jam. I scrambled into the car and went back to the overlook road, warning everyone out of their vehicles. Soon after, Snow and cubs came into view and began to come down the hillside towards Jam. At this point she was about 150 yards away but didn’t seem bothered. Snow was still focused on finding elk calves. Bears can smell up to 10 miles away depending on wind, and these two sows (Snow and Jam,) are somewhat used to being in the same general vicinity as each other. I’ve previously watched them only a few hundred feet away from each other, minding their own business.
Jam was unconcerned, and it wasn’t long before Snow and her cubs went back over the ridgeline towards the larger herd of cow elk. Several of us stopped to observe them from a safe distance as the sun went down. I slowly made my way back to Island Park and got lucky on my way out of the park with a coyote mousing in a field.
Any time spent in Yellowstone is meaningful, and any time spent with bears is magical.
Enchanting story. Thank you for sharing it with us. The nature of Yellowstone is truly magical! Thank you for reminding us how nature nurtures our soul.