Here’s Brownie, 399′s cub, wandering around near Pilgrim Creek. Look at the size of that paw!

He turned and walked calmly straight at the highway, apparently wanting to cross the road. I stayed in my car and kept shooting, knowing that members of the ‘Wildlife Brigade’ were on scene making sure that people stayed safely in their cars too.

To my surprise, Brownie suddenly appeared very frightened and took off running.  A Park Ranger had thrown a handful of rocks at the bear (I thought wildlife harassment was against Park regulations?).  I’m not a bear expert but it seems to me that throwing rocks at a grizzly might agitate it. And maybe change it’s perception of humans as being threatening. Both of which seem to be bad things to me.

Did I mention that a great gray owl is my favorite thing to photograph?  I finally got to shoot one this year.  It has been many, many months since I’ve seen one so it was grrrrrreat.  Very dark, but great.  Cranked up the ISO (3200 in the first shot, 6400 in the second shot) and fired away.

The last part, I promise…

Mary’s Bay Grizzlies. I believe that that locals have named this sow ‘Blaze’ and the cub ‘Hobo’.  I shot them last spring in the same area, if anyone remembers the sow standing up with the cub sitting next to her…  Anyways, they were in the sagebrush gnawing on a carcass, then they decided they needed a drink so they walked over to a little pond.

After having a drink, they were nice enough to walk right along the shoreline giving me a nice reflection. Thanks!

They just kept wandering until they disappeared into the forest. Then I got into my car and drove home. Sweet!

The end. I think I might have to go back up there next week to try for some wolves! Ahem…