River Otter Antics

For several years while visiting the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone national park we have tried to see the river otter family. Up a short but steep trail to Trout lake was to bring us amazing views of them. Never happened- until this summer. While i was at Yellowstone the temperatures were unusually high for that time of year. Hiking anytime after 10am would be tough for me in the heat. The problem was that I was getting up at 5am to go look for wolves and by the time I was done with that and my other morning wanderings it was 10am. One day I heard too many stories and decided i could do it- lots of fluids, some snacks, and a lot of stopping along the trail. 6,800 feet elevation and 1/2 mile for some of us out of shape flatlanders is a challenge!

This is a very popular trail so I parked the truck nearby on the road shoulder. Grabbed the walking stick and backpack and off i trudged, Hot, sunny, and busy trail I wandered and stopped to rest and admire the views, wildflowers, and butterflies. Talked to excited individuals who assured me the otter family were out and about near the den. Yes, they're playing near the tree, just follow the trial and you'll see the kits swimming around and an adult grooming on the lake shore.

Blurry otter tail back end

I found the spot just in time to see an adult swim parallel to the shore near me for about 5 minutes. It was an obscured view and then it disappeared into what I figured out later, was the den. That's it- no babies, no playing, nothing!

Sweet- one of many many wonderful photos of my time with these guys.

I was not giving up. I found a small log to sit on in the shade and stayed for 2 hours waiting for them to appear. I talked to many a hiker and passed the time just being present. Although, the bald eagle sitting right over my head was invisible to me and me to it until someone made a commotion and it discovered my quiet presence. Off it flew across the lake. 

My 2 hour wait was greatly rewarded with at least half an hour of fun in the sun. Four otters rolling and playing and adults cleaning youngsters were the treat of the day! Of course getting photos just makes it all the better. They stayed close to shore and the small crowd of admirers quietly followed them as they moved back and forth along the shore. 

Otter getting ready to go back in the den

They finally disappeared after the male started woofing an alarm due to some folks waving a white cloth on the hillside. He gathered and moved the young ones off back to the den and we were all left with awe. What a gift given when one waits patiently.

Den area

Badger Moments

Apparently something changed in blog spot because it's taken me 2 evenings to figure out how to get back!

 September 7, 2012 Slough Creek Yellowstone National Park
Every other step I take through the sagebrush I must stop to catch my breath. Three medications taken to abate the migraine have drained my energy causing my breath to become even more labored than usual at this high elevation. I have chosen a spot overlooking Slough Creek to make tea and force a bowl of granola down into my nauseated stomach. Bison dot the lower creek valley filling the sagebrush-scented air with their vocalizations. Bison grunt- yes these big burly critters emit grunts- kid grunts, mama grunts, middle-aged grunts, teenager grunts, and rutting male grunts; all similar but different cadences. A kingfisher rattles in the background and tires on gravel break through the surrounding grunts.

I finished my cereal, grabbed my mug of tea, and looked for a rock to perch upon. That wasn't working well- too pointed, too low, dips filled with rainwater. I decide to take a few steps down a fly fishermen trail. I look to my right at a strange looking rock in the shade of a large sagebrush- and the rock moves!

 A badger head had poked out of a den hole at the base of the sagebrush 40-50 feet away from me. My camera wasn't far away so  I moved as quickly as I could to get it and my tripod. Mind you, all I have ever seen are road-killed badgers and I have searched for a live one for years (even where the largest concentration in North America resides) with no luck. Now when I least expect it one falls nearly in my lap!

Now, I would have been ecstatic just to see a badger; being able to photograph it with my new lens is the  yummy cream cheese frosting on the cake! We watched each other for several minutes. Then he moved a ton of dirt flying out behind him. It's amazing to see their large perfectly round tunnels dug in a matter of minutes. After trying to find something nearby, he decided to move on running across the open grassy area to a line of sagebrush along the creek bank. 

He started digging vigorously again, gave up, looked around, then moved quickly staying under the cover of the sagebrush and eventually following it upstream. Waddling along close to the ground he disappeared from my view.  I was left with such marvelous gratitude I couldn't bring myself to leave.

I hung out listening to the ravens gronk in the distance, surrounded by the grunts of feeding and wallowing bison. They drink from Slough Creek, wallow in their dusty areas, and run along the creek- just because they can.
People pass by looking for the perfectly choreographed moment along the road- which rarely happens. I listen to the wolves howling far in the distance- a carcass to feast on nearby. I feel the call of nature in all her glory on this picture perfect, albeit physically challenging, day. Time to move on to the outhouse and then on to see what perfectly choreographed moment I might find next........