Battling Bison
For me, there are certain images and sounds that I immediately associate with a sensation. The cry of a Red-Tail hawk, or the howl of a wolf, the sheer wildness of it--will stop me in my tracks. It is a goose-bump moment. I feel it in my bones before it hits my brain; any thinking is bypassed by this visceral reaction. My human bubble has been pierced, and something primal and wild has breached my world. I hang on to the sound, hoping to hear it again. My heart feels lifted, all my senses heightened, time has stopped.
I was thrilled about the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone. I was in whole support of it. I donated funds. I had read Aldo Leopold and found like-minded eloquence in his words. After 28 years, the success of the Yellowstone wolves fills me with hope that all is not lost in the natural world—we can make a difference. So, while it was a long shot, I yearned to catch a glimpse of these most wild of creatures during our visit.
Our guide, Steve Gettle prepared me and kept my expectations realistic, wolves are reclusive. But he is a nature photographer body and soul, and wolves draw he and his fiancée, Nicole Sudduth to Yellowstone as well. Sure enough, on our second day they spotted them, a pack of five. They were quite far, too far to photograph, on a hill top feeding on a recent successful hunt. The faithful ravens at their side.
A herd of bison grazed below them, seemingly unconcerned about the fate of their unfortunate comrade. Perhaps the bison knew they were at their safest now, with the wolves sated, and no other predator bold enough to enter their territory. At any rate, they seemed to be feeling rather frisky, and it was great fun to see them so lively.
Battling Bison
For me, there are certain images and sounds that I immediately associate with a sensation. The cry of a Red-Tail hawk, or the howl of a wolf, the sheer wildness of it--will stop me in my tracks. It is a goose-bump moment. I feel it in my bones before it hits my brain; any thinking is bypassed by this visceral reaction. My human bubble has been pierced, and something primal and wild has breached my world. I hang on to the sound, hoping to hear it again. My heart feels lifted, all my senses heightened, time has stopped.
I was thrilled about the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone. I was in whole support of it. I donated funds. I had read Aldo Leopold and found like-minded eloquence in his words. After 28 years, the success of the Yellowstone wolves fills me with hope that all is not lost in the natural world—we can make a difference. So, while it was a long shot, I yearned to catch a glimpse of these most wild of creatures during our visit.
Our guide, Steve Gettle prepared me and kept my expectations realistic, wolves are reclusive. But he is a nature photographer body and soul, and wolves draw he and his fiancée, Nicole Sudduth to Yellowstone as well. Sure enough, on our second day they spotted them, a pack of five. They were quite far, too far to photograph, on a hill top feeding on a recent successful hunt. The faithful ravens at their side.
A herd of bison grazed below them, seemingly unconcerned about the fate of their unfortunate comrade. Perhaps the bison knew they were at their safest now, with the wolves sated, and no other predator bold enough to enter their territory. At any rate, they seemed to be feeling rather frisky, and it was great fun to see them so lively.