The wildlife is exploding in the park…
Once mid-May arrives, it’s as if a light switch has flipped on. It’s time for everyone to raise babies, much to our viewing pleasure. Bison calves skip and hop along with the herd, the first bear cubs follow along with mom, mimicking her every move, and goslings toddle along the riverbanks. A wave of international visitors have converged on the park–migratory birds from Mexico, South America, and as far away as Argentina. The first flowers are popping out, and we greet them like old friends: buttercup, pasqueflower, shooting star, spring beauty, larkspur. Ephemeral ponds born from melted snow are everywhere, which means the chance to see cinnamon teal, ruddy ducks, widgeon, pintail, and many other waterfowl.
We are so excited to share some of the glory of spring with you.
While the cacophony of spring is almost overwhelming, it’s a fantastic time to observe animal behavior. What are the animals doing when they are doing ‘nothing’? What does it look like when they change behavior? In our own backyard yesterday, the frantic alarm calls of the local magpies clued us in to a raven that was trying to rob their nest.
If you notice what animals are doing, and ask questions about that behavior, you’ll discover interactions you never would have noticed before. Recently, we watched a small herd of bison resting peacefully and chewing their cud suddenly start standing up and looking in one direction, while a cow ushered her calf away from the group. Why did they change their behavior? Soon we noticed a sow grizzly with two yearling cubs approaching nearby!
You don’t have to be in Yellowstone to witness wildlife interactions. Try it with your local robins, sparrows, deer, or squirrels. Get to know their regular behavior, and notice when it changes. George had a former student discover a bobcat was prowling the hedgerows by watching the bird behavior in her yard. Have you noticed something like this? Send us an email and let us know; we’d love to hear your story.
For more about spring in Yellowstone, see Yellowstone Spring Babies, Height of Spring, Exploring Hayden Valley in Spring, and Our Top Five Yellowstone Spring Favorites.
Video ©Jenny Golding
