![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Yellowstone1-25.jpg\")
<\/a>A pair of sandhill cranes with their colt near the Madison River. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com <\/p>\nThe animal jam was actually caused by a herd of cow elk with their spotted calves trying to nurse while the cows were feeding. The car behind us informed us that a black bear had run between us just before we stopped, but it was long gone. \u201cDang it,\u201d I said as I got back in the car.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are your goals for today, since we have to be back in West by 3:30 p.m.,\u201d asked my wife as we neared Madison Junction. <\/p>\n
\u201cI would like to go hit Hayden Valley to get pictures of some baby bison and see if the harlequin male ducks are still here,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we will have to hurry,\u201d she responded.<\/p>\n
Traffic was light as we turned north at the Madison Junction heading toward Norris, but about two miles down the road, we spotted a big mule deer buck with three does and a fawn. We turned around quickly, but the fawn and its mother had disappeared, but the buck posed for us. The road from Norris to Canyon was uneventful, but the road through Hayden Valley never disappoints, as there are always things happening there.<\/p>\n As we entered the valley along the Yellowstone River, we were greeted by a large flock of tourists gazing at a black spot about half a mile away. We came upon two groups, with one group saying it was a black bear and another group claiming it was a wolf. It finally lifted its head, confirming that it was indeed a wolf. Bull bison dotted the rolling hills, and we found a couple of small herds of cow bison feeding while their red calves frolicked in the deep swampy mud.<\/p>\n When we got to LaHardy\u2019s Rapids, we found that the male harlequin ducks had migrated back to the Pacific coast, and the females were all sitting on their nests. We did see a couple of American dippers trying to keep some distance between themselves and seven rambunctious children running on the boardwalk.<\/p>\n It was time to backtrack to meet some family members in West, but there was still some unfinished business \u2013 we had not seen a bear. Just outside of Canyon, we ran into a \u201cbear jam\u201d as a medium, brown-colored black bear was feasting on dandelions. We also saw another herd of elk.<\/p>\n It was a cool, lovely day for us; the only thing we would change would be to get to West Yellowstone earlier to beat the rush to the gate. Sitting in traffic is not my idea of fun, even if a red fox is entertaining me, but once you get into the park, we did not find the traffic bothersome.<\/p>\n Have a great and safe Fourth of July holiday!!!!<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Yellowstone4-25.jpg\")
<\/a>A black wolf near the bank of the Yellowstone River in Hayden Valley. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Yellowstone3-25.jpg\")
<\/a>A nice mule deer buck near Madison Junction. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com ![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Yellowstone2-25.jpg\")
<\/a>A herd of cow elk with their calves. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com <\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Yellowstone6-25.jpg\")
<\/a>A brown colored Black bear just south of Canyon Village, eating dandelions. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com <\/p>\n