I think I may have hinted that this next post was to feature many of the wildflowers that have adorned the park over the last two months.  However, we had a rather interesting bear sighting the other day that I must talk about while the details are fresh.  So, wildflowers or bears?  I had to go with the bears.

From time to time we have groups who use the Superintendent’s Camp which, while not part of Indian Creek Campground, is still within our Ranger’s area of responsibility.  This past Friday we had a group of YMCA volunteers from Illinois using the camp for one night.  Among other things this group was to do some work for the Pica Research Team.

Generally when we have groups using this remote site the Indian Creek Campground hosts visit the site once in a while to make sure proper food safety precautions are taken and that the camp is being kept safe from bears and fire.

When this group from the YMCA left on Saturday morning I was heading down to the camp on the golf cart we use in the campground.  I am always on high alert as I make the near one mile journey down this little- used track as there is always something of interest to see.  On this particular day I spotted two Bald Eagles perched on a dead tree.  I stopped the cart as soon as I was able to identify them as eagles and snapped a few pictures with my point and shoot camera which is with me at all times.  After getting the photos I moved forward halving my distance to the tree where I stopped for more photos.  After a second move forward I decided that I needed to move to my east to get the sun in a better location for better images.  So, I got off the golf cart and moved down a short hill where I could get a better angle.

This is one of the Bald Eagles I was focused on.  This is also one of the last photographs taken before…

After snapping a couple more pictures I heard a commotion to my left.  There was a Raven making a ruckus, but something much bigger was also moving.

As I looked away from the tree with the eagles I saw a grizzly bear making a retreat to the east.  I didn’t see exactly where he had come from, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t that far from where I had been standing.  As I watched the bear I was able to grab one quick photo before starting my own retreat to the golf cart.

I have to apologize for the quality of these photos.  I had my point and shoot stretched out as far as it would go and I was less than fully steady of hand at this point.

The bear nearly disappeared behind the cut in the bank.

As I moved forward I could see that the bear had a dead elk in the creek that he was feeding on.

I called Connie on the radio and told her where I was and what I had encountered.  As it turned out our Ranger had just arrived as part of his daily routine, so Connie briefed him and he started making his way towards me.  I took some more photos while I waited.

One thing they tell you is to avoid making eye contact with predators.  I have to say that is a very difficult thing to do..

As I watched I was able to observe that the animal was just about as skittish as I was.  He kept a close eye on everything that moved or made a noise.

His attention did not wane for long and he took massive bites from his prize.

When Ranger Bush arrived we both observed the bear’s behavior for several more seconds before he instructed me to return to Indian Creek Campground and get some “Area Closed” signs and start posting the perimeter of the area so an unsuspecting fisherman or hiker wouldn’t wander into the area.

Before I left, and with the ranger vehicle as a shield, I got a little closer for one more round of quick photos.

From this angle you can see what he was being so protective of.  You can also see how expertly the elk was being dismantled.  I think we are looking at a hind quarter here, but I cannot be sure.

I did as instructed and posted the north boundary of the scene well out of view of the animals.  This meant placing a sign across the footpath that branches off a very popular back country trail that has its trail-head near our campground.  I also walked that now closed trail towards where the bear was feasting to make sure there were no other humans who may have made their way via the trail.  Ranger Bush had placed a second sign much closer to the Superintendent’s Camp and had instructed me to terminate my trail clearing walk at that point.  Later in the morning the good folks from Bear Management came out and completed posting the perimeter.

Columbine on Mount Washburn

Stay tuned.  I hope to identify all my flower photos during our next work rotation and then get the blog article posted.