Mark Lein's Blog

Mark Lein's Blog
Mark Lein's Blog

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Headed For Yellowstone National Park


Yellowstone National Park

Wyoming, Montana & Idaho


My wife and I are heading to Bozeman, Montana to meet with prospective new clients and then planning to travel on down to Yellowstone National Park for a few days of fun. This will be our first trip to Montana and we hope to land some business in the area. It will be our second trip together to Yellowstone.

America's first National Park, Yellowstone is situated primarily in Wyoming, but, there are also small sections of the park that lap over into Montana and Idaho. The park is truly one of the most beautiful and unique spots on the planet. What makes the park unique is the fact that Yellowstone is actually the largest volcanic caldera anywhere in the world. When you enter the park one of the first things you will discover is that the park has geysers and geothermic features and activity occurring everywhere. One of the most famous geysers in the park is of course the Old Faithful Geyser.

Live Webcam Of Old Faithful & Geyser Area


Wildlife In Yellowstone National Park

There is a wide variety of wildlife that can be found within the park boundaries. One of the most majestic are the Elk. The Elk herds roam freely throughout the park each Summer.

Elk Bugling In A Meadow


The Buffalo herds in Yellowstone are incredible. Buffalo roam all over the park and don't be surprised if you have to stop frequently while driving through the park in order to allow them to cross the road.

Buffalo Crossing The Road


Oh yeah, did I mention the park is absolutely full of bears. There are both Black Bears and Grizzlies present in the park. You will likely have to work hard to get a good photo of Yellowstone bears. Over the years the park service has worked hard to teach these critters to stay out of areas where humans are and to find their food sources in natural areas. Most of the time the bears cooperate. Sometimes they don't and you get a great photo op. Just don't let them get to close because these are apex predators! They eat meat! 

Black Bear Enjoying Some Berries


Grizzly Bear Searching For Food


One of the most iconic creatures in the park are the wolves. They are elusive and often hard to get a look at during the Summer months. They are far more active during Winter when the packs reach their peak strength during their heavy Winter feeding. 

Yellowstone Gray Wolf


The meal of choice for any predator fast enough to catch them are the Pronghorn Antelope. For the record, these Yellowstone Pronghorn Antelope are the fastest critters on the North American continent. Even so, most of the apex predators in the park do consider them part of the food chain and occasionally do catch one through stealth and ambush tactics.

 Yellowstone Pronghorn Antelope


The most elusive creature in the Park is the Yellowstone Cougar. These cougars are apex predators and pretty much feed on all of the ungulates in the park. The are abuse hunters and also possess enough quick burst speed and strength to bring down a bull Elk, Deer, Pronghorn Antelope or Bighorn Sheep, assuming of course that they can creep within striking distance.

Yellowstone Cougar Scanning The Area