Bull elk: Can weigh as much as 700 pounds
Squirrel: Maybe seven ounces?Copyright 2008 Lydia Hinshaw
WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT -- The Mammoth Hot Springs area of Yellowstone has many tourist services -- hotel, restaurant, general store, visitors center, post office, etc. The employees who work in all these businesses live in the area too
It's a pretty busy place, even in the last days of September.
For some reason, elk love Mammoth. With the rut (mating season) now in progress, there is plenty of drama to be seen and heard. Monday afternoon, three bull elk were around. One had a harem of 15-20 females. The other two were lonely and frustrated. All three of them would "bugle" now and then, making a noise that is part bellow, part whistle.
If either of the lonely bulls tried to approach the ladies, the alpha bull would chase them off. The cow elk simply grazed or rested, ignoring all this macho foolishness.
The fellow in the top picture is looking longingly toward a group of girls he can't have, at least not this year.
The lower picture is a little guy we encountered on a hike up Mount Washburn, three miles up with a 1,300-foot elevation gain. The squirrel stayed still long enough for me to get his picture because he thought we might toss him some peanuts or cracker crumbs. Not!
Disclaimer: Although these pictures and text are being posted from Montana, the elk and squirrel would like it made clear that they are residents of Wyoming.
It's a pretty busy place, even in the last days of September.
For some reason, elk love Mammoth. With the rut (mating season) now in progress, there is plenty of drama to be seen and heard. Monday afternoon, three bull elk were around. One had a harem of 15-20 females. The other two were lonely and frustrated. All three of them would "bugle" now and then, making a noise that is part bellow, part whistle.
If either of the lonely bulls tried to approach the ladies, the alpha bull would chase them off. The cow elk simply grazed or rested, ignoring all this macho foolishness.
The fellow in the top picture is looking longingly toward a group of girls he can't have, at least not this year.
The lower picture is a little guy we encountered on a hike up Mount Washburn, three miles up with a 1,300-foot elevation gain. The squirrel stayed still long enough for me to get his picture because he thought we might toss him some peanuts or cracker crumbs. Not!
Disclaimer: Although these pictures and text are being posted from Montana, the elk and squirrel would like it made clear that they are residents of Wyoming.
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