Although Yellowstone's infamous and beloved Number 6 is sadly absent from the scene this year--the result of his tragic death--the annual elk rut continues full swing in Mammoth Hot Springs this fall. Bull elk bugle loudly and tussle over females, while park visitors watch from a safe distance. Below are some photos and video highlighting the elk activities of this past week.
Xanterra Parks & Resorts installs solar panels in Death Valley to reduce greenhouse gas emissionsXanterra Parks & Resorts partnered with eleven other major U.S. companies and the non-profit World Wildlife Fund in sending an open letter to the U.S. Senate that urges government to take immediate action on climate change.
“With this joint letter, we wish to make clear to the American public and their elected officials that leading voices in the business community believe it is in our interest for the U.S. to act swiftly to address climate change.”
The companies sponsoring the letter—Bumble Bee Foods, Dell, DuPont, FPL Group, Google, Hewlett Packard, Johnson & Johnson. Johnson Diversey, Levi Strauss, Nike, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Xanterra Parks and Resorts—all have implemented reforms to address the growing challenges of climate change. They also believe these reforms translate into good business as well: “America can and must prosper in the face of growing climate change. Our companies have taken the first step by showing the economic opportunities of strong climate action.”
Xanterra Parks & Resorts strongly believes that sound environmental practices translate into good business as well. Xanterra’s President and CEO, Andrew Todd, thinks “we really have no choice: businesses must learn to succeed both financially and ecologically. Otherwise, we jeopardize our irreplaceable natural resources, as well as the future generations that depend upon them.” As the company manages concession operations in National Parks across the country, including Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Death Valley, Crater Lake, Grand Canyon, and Zion, it takes its role as an environmental steward very seriously.
In all of its locations, Xanterra has taken ambitious steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce its environmental impacts. In 2008, it installed a solar power system in Death Valley that generates enough electricity to power more than 700 American homes per year—and it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 23,000 tons over its 30-year life. In Yellowstone, the company diverts72% of its solid waste from landfill disposal through an aggressive recycling program and engineered a system that allows it to burn used cooking oil to heat the historic hotels in the park.
Park visitors explore the BioBlitz discovery tentThe elk herd that frequents Mammoth Hot Springs remained conspicuously absent, perhaps sensing their star status had been supplanted—at least for the day—by Yellowstone’s smaller creatures.
Hundreds of Yellowstone visitors young and old gathered around the Yellowstone BioBlitz tent eagerly peering into microscopes at red water mites or watching a display of carnivorous aquatic beetles. Volunteer scientists from across the country, all of whom had just spent an exhausting day counting the flora and fauna in the Mammoth Hot Springs area, enthusiastically related stories of their discoveries.
Mycologist Bob Antibar, who had traveled from Ohio for the event, proudly displayed a colorful array of mushrooms at his table and cheerfully fielded questions about the strange-looking fungi. He was pleased with the results of the BioBlitz: “We did pretty well for such a dry area of the park, counting almost a hundred species of fungi.” Cathy Cripps, from Montana State University, explained her important work in using beneficial fungi to foster the health of the whitebark pine tree, which is threatened in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
A Columbia spotted frog collected from the fieldIn contrast to the numbers of the fungi-enthusiasts, the herpetologists were disappointed in finding only Columbia spotted frogs and two snakes. Since only four species of amphibians and six species of reptiles live in the entire park, finding three species is still quite an accomplishment in itself. Visitors did not seem to be keeping score and delighted in viewing the live Columbia spotted frog and garter snake the herpetologists had gathered from the field.
At the insect table, a microscope revealed dozens of tiny creatures wiggling among leaf litter. Beetle expert Michael Ivie proudly showed people the tiny featherwing beetle, the smallest beetle in Yellowstone and one of the smallest in the world. The size of a pinhead, the beetle had to be viewed through a hand lens.
Dr. James Halfpenny with his animal track collectionDr. James Halfpenny, a scientist based in Yellowstone, had a full collection of mammal track casts on display and shared photographs of his group’s exciting find; while searching for pika, his team encountered a marten scurrying among the rocks. “We must have taken over 400 photos of the marten between us,” he said and laughed.
Overall, a total of 956 species had been identified by noon on Saturday. The scientists will continue to study their findings and publish the final results on the Greater Yellowstone Science Learning Center website. The first Yellowstone BioBlitz not only provides an important biological inventory, but also helps scientists understand how to maintain the health of an ecological system. With climate change, pollution and other environmental ills threatening our public lands, studies like these will be crucial to the future of Yellowstone and other national parks.
Visit my Examiner page for a slideshow of the event.
The Yellowstone River meanders gently through the soft, verdant grasslands in Hayden Valley. Wildflowers color the hillsides and cumulus clouds lazily drift overhead. This pastoral setting is the perfect place for romance—even for bison.
Approximately 3,000 bison call Yellowstone home, and in late July through August every year they journey to the two primary breeding grounds in the park, one of which is scenic Hayden Valley. Bison bulls, who remain solitary or in small bachelor herds for most of the year, seek out females during the rut by grunting, bellowing, wallowing, and fighting with the competition.
Visit my Examiner page to read the full article and view a slideshow.
Bison, wolves, bears, and elk may usually take center stage in Yellowstone, but this weekend its smaller inhabitants get top billing in the park’s first BioBlitz.
The noted Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson developed the concept of the first BioBlitz to catalog the life around Walden Pond. His life work has stressed the importance of biodiversity: “We're coming to realize how terribly important the great population diversity of small organisms are that are the foundation of the ecosystems, and these are the little things that run the earth.”
Over a hundred top scientists—including ichthyologists, ornithologists, mammalogists, entomologists, herpetologists, and botanists—from across the country will spend an intense 24-hours on Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29 counting as many species of plant and animal life as possible in the Mammoth Hot Springs area. Exciting new discoveries may emerge as a result of the event.
On Saturday, August 29 from noon to 3:00 pm the public can visit with the scientists in the Discovery Field Lab in front of the Albright Visitor Center in Mammoth Hot Springs to learn about the results of the BioBlitz. A variety of educational programs for adults and families will also be held at that time.
Sponsors of this important event include Big Sky Institute at Montana State University, the National Park Service, Canon, the Yellowstone Association, Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit, and the Sonoran Institute.
President Obama in Yellowstone National Park“Oh, that’s pretty good. Cool.” President Obama commented after watching Yellowstone’s famous geyser erupt. Old Faithful did not keep the First Family waiting long and burst into the blue sky more or less on schedule at 12:16 p.m.; hundreds of park visitors gathered across the boardwalk and cheered when the president arrived.
For those of us who work in Yellowstone, having the First Family visit the first National Park was an honor. As an environmental professional who has worked in support of parks for over a decade, I sincerely appreciated the President recognizing the importance of “America’s Best Idea” with his special family trip to Yellowstone. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Yellowstone Superintendent Suzanne Lewis also joined the president for his tour.
My company, Xanterra Parks & Resorts, provided a special lunch for President Obama and his group, and I felt lucky to be selected to assist with the event. While the presidential party toured the mystical moonscape created by the unique geologic activity of Black Sand Basin, our crew readied the Old Faithful Snow Lodge for the meal. Working with the Secret Service, we watched as they conducted three different security sweeps (“sanitizing” is service lingo)--one sweep included an adorable and energetic bomb sniffing dog.
For the rest of the story and a slideshow, visit my Examiner page.
Imagine Yellowstone National Park without grizzly bears roaming through its forests. Or desert bighorn sheep missing from the landscape of Arches or Canyonlands.
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) just released the report “Climate Change and National Park Wildlife: A Survival Guide for a Warming World.”The report features profiles of eleven wildlife species in parks and the serious threats they face from climate change. Mark Wenzler, director of clean air and climate programs at NPCA states: “The effects of climate change on wildlife are already visible in our national parks. If we don’t begin to act, many species may go extinct.”
In Yellowstone, a tiny beetle may decide the fate of the kingly grizzly bear. Whitebark pine nuts provide a valuable food source for the bears. A beetle that destroys the whitebark pine tree has gained a considerable foothold in Yellowstone because of the effects of climate change. In some parts of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, beetles have destroyed up to 90 percent of the trees in whitebark pine forests. Removing this important component of the grizzly bears’ diet puts considerable stress on the species that could ultimately lead to extinction.
Although the report raises the alarm about the perils grizzly bears and other wildlife face from climate change, it also promotes a call to action and proposes solutions. The introduction lists five steps needed to safeguard America’s wildlife from climate change, and each wildlife story outlines specific strategies to combat the problem. Mark Wenzler also views this crisis as an opportunity for positive change: “Decisive action now can help bring about a more hopeful future for wildlife and ourselves.”
You can view the full report on NPCA’s website.
Andy, my pronghorn buddy, is doing fine. He continues to hang out around my home and assert his loner status from the herd. Here's some recent photos. For those of you new to the Andy story, check out my prior blog entries. I love seeing Andy every evening when I arrive home--he's a very dependable and cheery neighbor.
Yellowstone employee serving fries--and creating green energyNext time you enjoy an order of french fries while visiting Yellowstone National Park, you’re not only satisfying your appetite, but you’re also helping provide green energy for heating the park’s hotels.
Xanterra Parks & Resorts, a concessioner in Yellowstone, recently designed innovative new equipment for its boiler system to allow for the direct burning of used cooking oil for fuel.
Yellowstone’s operations include a sizable food service component. On a typical summer’s day, Xanterra prepares over 22,000 meals in seventeen restaurants and eight employee dining rooms. On an annual basis, food preparation generates between 9,000 to 11,000 gallons of cooking oil. In the past, the used cooking oil has been shipped offsite almost 250 miles for recycling.
To read the rest of the story visit my new Examiner site.
Boreal chorus frog calling in YellowstoneYellowstone is not known for being prime amphibian habitat. Frogs—not unlike myself—prefer a less harsh environment than the endless winter of the Northern Rockies. Within Yellowstone’s borders live only four species of amphibians, which include two species of frogs: the Columbia spotted and the boreal chorus frogs.
Despite the shortage of frog species, I’ve experienced enough sightings recently to keep even a frog-o-phile like me happy. The frogs—again like myself—are making the most of this wintry spring and taking advantage of the small doses of sunshine and warm weather.
A couple of weeks ago I spent an hour at a small pond near the Canyon junction in the park listening to the almost deafening music of a gathering of boreal chorus frogs. These male frogs, probably newly emerged from hibernation, had arrived at their breeding site and were calling for some female companions. For such a small animal (adults are usually less than two inches) to sing so loudly is remarkable—even more incredible is to witness the frog calling as its body almost doubles in size with the expansion of its throat. Also, in a single minute the frog may give up to twenty calls! Watch this amazing spectacle in the video below.
On a run up Old Gardner Road yesterday I was lucky enough to spot a single Columbia spotted frog resting in a small stream. Peterson and Koch write in their book Amphibians & Reptiles of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks that the spotted frog can live up to ten years. Spotted frogs lack the loud, distinctive call of the boreal chorus frog and instead take a softer approach to courtship with a faint croaking.
Columbia Spotted Frog on Old Gardner Road
Although snow is still falling in some parts of Yellowstone, early wildflowers are experiencing spring fever at the lower elevations. Near my home at the North Entrance the delicate pink bitterroot (Montana's state flower) decorates the hillsides like earthly pink stars.
Bitterroot Lewisia
If you are interested in exploring how Yellowstone's unique geography influences its wildflowers, I recently wrote an article for the Yellowstone Association entitled "The Geology of Wildflowers." This link will give you a preview--you need to be a member to view the full article. Please consider joining and supporting a great non-profit!
An excerpt from the article:
"With freezing temperatures possible every month in the year, and snow accounting for a large portion of the precipitation, the growing season for most of Yellowstone is brief—June through August. Additionally, the majority of Yellowstone’s terrain derives its moisture source from the melting snowpack and spring precipitation, not from summer rains—another factor shortening the growing season.
As a result, the park’s wildflowers experience a botanical spring fever, knowing the days of plentiful sunshine and water are in short supply. Some of Yellowstone’s wildflowers attest to the truth of the Chinese proverb—“spring is sooner recognized by plants than men.”
Even before winter has fully retreated, the impatient marsh marigold (Caltha leptosepala) emerges from hibernation, seeking sunshine by extending its blue-tinted buds through the melting snowbanks, which blossom into showy white flowers within forty-eight hours. Montana’s state flower, bitterroot lewisia (Lewisia rediviva) also appears anxious for spring. As the snow recedes, the fleshy leaves sprout excitedly from the ground, followed shortly by delicate, rose-pink flowers."
The last couple of weeks I have been traveling in a mad rush around Yellowstone as part of my work, but I made time for capturing some springtime photographs.
Yellowstone Lake
Cecropia Moth
Three Bighorn Lambs
Black Bear near Tower
Watching Old Faithful Erupt from the Crow's Nest
Snowshoe Hare in motion
Bison Grazing in Hayden Valley
Grizzly Near Washburn
On a rocky slope overlooking the Gardner River today, two newborn bighorn sheep lamps discovered they could run. Back and forth they leapt and trotted on the rocks, delighting in their newfound revelation of speed. While I watched, I envisioned them singing the Peter Pan song, "I Can Fly, I Can Fly!"
Photos and a video are below (sorry for the bumpy video--it's been very windy in Yellowstone and I don't always have a tripod with me).
Over the weekend I watched bison calves play. Today, I gazed at frisky bighorn sheep lambs. Cast your vote--who is the cuter Yellowstone baby?
Two Little Bighorn Sitting in a Tree......
I Feel the Need For Speed
Look, Mom, No Hands!!!
My quest in Yellowstone today--a search for the boreal chorus and columbia spotted frogs. I ventured out to Lamar Valley and wandered around dozens of wetlands and ponds. Those little guys remained elusive--at least by sight--as I listened to the distinctive call of the chorus frog at several ponds.
Despite the lack of frog sightings, my travels in the park were not in vain as my photo diary below demonstrates. I encountered five grizzly bears, observed bighorn and bison mingling, watched a red-winged blackbird bathing, and an osprey fly over the Lamar River. I also spent a delightful hour watching the most adorable bison calves play together--you can view the video below, but beware as you may overdose on cuteness!
Bison Fun
Video: Bison Friends Playing in Yellowstone
Spring in Lamar Valley
Grizzly Near Slough Creek
Bee on Wyoming Kitten-Tails
Bison Skull and Horn
Beartooth Range
American Coot
Osprey in Flight
Red-winged Blackbird Bathing
Regular readers of my blog will recall my pronghorn friend, Andy, who hangs out near my home in Yellowstone. Andy's been away for his winter vacation, but this week he returned to his old haunts. I took a photo of him napping this afternoon. I'm glad to see that Andy survived another winter--he's a tough old guy.
Andy's Back
Today is National Endangered Species Day. I've included some photographs of my favorite endangered or threatened species below. Take a moment and visit the National Wildlife Federation's website to learn more about some of the species on our planet that sadly may soon vanish forever. Do we really want to let these wonderful creatures disappear on our watch?
Grizzly Bear
Wolf
Pika
Mountain Yellow-legged Frog (from mylfrog.info)Visit the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog Site for more information.
Watch this great informational video as well:
Today I had to conduct several environmental trainings around the park, so I drove most of what's referred to as the Grand Loop (except for the Beartooth Pass which is still closed). I welcome long drives in Yellowstone as there is always something interesting to see. Baby bison greeted me in the morning, and a few minutes later I watched a grizzly bear--his paw hurt from an encounter with a porcupine--foraging in a meadow.
As I drove into the park's interior, I also moved into winter. A blanket of snow still covers Hayden Valley and Yellowstone Lake's smooth, frozen surface shows not even a hint of blue water. I also made sure to catch an eruption of Old Faithful--it never fails to elicit a child-like delight in me even though I've seen it erupt dozens of times. Visit the live streaming webcam of Old Faithful to watch it remotely. I waved hello and said happy Mother's Day to my mom in Massachusetts on the webcam today.
I've posted a selection of photographs and videos below from my Yellowstone field trip.
Old Faithful on Mother's Day
Old Faithful Video
Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear With Hurt Paw From Porcupine Encounter
Grizzly Bear Video
Frozen Yellowstone Lake
Two Baby Bison Crossing Road
Hayden Valley
Chipmunk Watching Old Faithful
John Muir wrote, "A thousand Yellowstone wonders are calling, 'Look up and down and round about you!'" Being lucky enough to live and work in the park, I experience these wonders on a daily basis. Today was no exception. On my drive to Old Faithful, I witnessed adorable baby bison nursing and a mighty grizzly scrounging for food. I took some photographs and video to share (please excuse my poor filming skills--it was freezing and very windy!).
Grizzly Bear at Swan Lake Flat
Bison Calf Nursing Near Midway Geyser Basin
This morning a bison gave birth in or near my front yard on the north entrance of Yellowstone. Although I didn't get to witness the event, my wonderful co-workers captured the newborn in some photos for me. Living in Yellowstone affords us some remarkable experiences--truly everyday in this park is a gift.
Adorable is the only word that describes this little guy (or gal). So begins the season of cuteness in Yellowstone. Spring brings bison calves, Canadian geese goslings, wolf pups, elk calves, and bear cubs. It's hard not to overdose on cuteness here!
Bison Newborn in SnowJust another day at the office. A bison rested with her newborn calf behind the Mammoth Hotel today, close enough that I could watch the pair from my window. This is the first calf I’ve observed this season—last year I delighted in watching their antics while they frolicked in meadows throughout Yellowstone.
Bison babies don’t resemble their parents at all—although I find adult bison magnificent, it’s a stretch to call them cute. But bison calves are pretty darn adorable. The calves stark difference in appearance from the adults—especially the brick red color of their coats—has caused some park visitors to ask about the “little orange dogs” running with the bison.
Bison and Calf in Mammoth Hot SpringsA bison usually gives birth to one calf after a nine and a half month gestation period; twins occur occasionally. For the first few days, the calf spends most of its time resting, but soon becomes energetic enough to explore its surroundings. The orange-reddish coat typically fades after a month, gradually darkening until it transforms into the dark brown hue of the adult bison.
Yesterday at the north entrance of Yellowstone, I watched from my front porch as staff herded some wandering bison back within the park boundaries. I made a quick video of the round-up.