Jan.15,16,17,18

[Connecticut Car]

Arrived in Bozeman on the 15th from Connecticut and was meet my my dear friend FrankW. After traveling around and seeing the Bridger area and Trail Creek area we had a fabulous dinner at the Rib and Chop Restaurant in Livingston. On the 16th was able to experience my first winter in Yellowstone. I must comment on how little snow there was in the Mammoth area. Most of the ground was bare with little snow. Most of the roads were actually bone dry. Proceeded to the Upper Terraces and there was enough snow to snowshoe around the loop. First stop after Canary (no rim or snow and the trees) was Narrow Gauge...beautiful as always. Then it was up to Orange Mound...water was spuing from four spots on the side of the mound; whereas it was only coming from the lower area in September is was now very high up on the side . From the side of the parking lot it appeared that 3 or 4 large pieces had flaked off the side. Traveled to Lamar...spotted coyotes, elk, bison, deer and pronghorn. Roads in Lamar is lightly snow covered and icy in spots. On the 17th we did Lamar again..what an exciting day!! Saw 5 Druid wolves up close and personal. Didn 't need a scope as they were so close they could be viewed easily with the naked eye. They were east of the Buffalo Ranch. Also there were Big horn sheep in the area and 4 Mountain goats on Hornaday Mt. Did more snowshoeing in the Pebble Creek area. A must in winter. On the 18th we went back to Lamar in the morning...no wolves this day but lots of Mule deer, elk,bison, and even a bald eagle. We had to travel to West Yellowstone that afternoon as we were taking the snowcoach into OF the following day. Dinner at Pete's that night...excellent as always.

Carolyn

[Ware]

Thanks for the reports Carolyn. How exciting, your fist winter trip - I'm envious!
What was the condition of the five Druids? There has been so much talk of them having a bad case of mange, I keep thinking of them and hoping for some good news.

Maureen

[Connecticut Car]

All the Druids appear to have mange. Some worse than others.

CC

[YSNUT]

When I was in the park a few weeks ago one of the "official wolf watchers" told me that some of the Druids have mange so bad that they will not lay down in the snow. They either look for a patch of dry grass or, in some cases, they have been seen trying to sleep standing up or leaning on a rock or tree. Apparently almost half the pack has already died.