Part 4

Their ancient enemies are the wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats and, in the case of the young, the eagles. In Yellowstone, wolves, lions and bobcats are now rare in occurrence. These create a hazardous life for the mountain sheep. Then with the addition of man and his impact upon them they have had trouble even holding their own and in recent years are threatening to become another of our vanishing species, especially because of the keen competition with elk for forage.

General description: A large, blocky wild sheep, covered with a thick coat of hair, not wool, brownish to grayish brown in color with a creamy-white rump. Males with massive horns which curl back, out, downward then forward and up. Females with more slender, short and slightly curved horns. Total length five to six feet, 38 to 42 inches in height at shoulder and 200 to 300 pounds in weight. Females smaller.

Terms: Male—ram; female—ewe; young—lamb.

Where found: Summer in higher mountain ridges especially around Mt. Washburn, Quadrant Mountain and on Sepulchre Mountain. In winter they usually migrate down lower especially to the Mt. Everts section between Mammoth and Gardiner. They are often seen in the vicinity of the junction of the Lamar and Yellowstone Rivers and occasionally near Oxbow Creek. Of recent years the Yellowstone population seems to be declining. The population has changed from an estimated maximum of about 400 to an estimated minimum of 170.

BLACK BEAR Ursus americanus

The question most frequently asked by the park visitor is, “Where can I see a bear?” For this natural born clown of the woods is probably our best known park animal. The black bear is smart and quickly adapts himself to a life of comparative ease. Why rustle for a living when a few antics and a little begging about the camps or along the roadside will produce a nice array of scraps or sweets, thinks he.

That is when the trouble starts for both bear and visitor. For Mr. Bear, regardless of how friendly he may seem, is a dangerous, wild animal, capable of inflicting severe injury by one blow of his powerful paw or a bite from his well-armed jaws. A visitor who feeds or even approaches a bear too closely not only is risking injury to himself but is contributing to a condition that may cause the injury of an innocent visitor in the future. He also is violating regulations which have been established in an attempt to provide protection for the visitor and the animals.

Once fed, the bear continues to expect food. He prowls around the camps and a smell of food is an invitation to break into cabin, tent or car, which he can and does do with comparative ease. The offenses he commits pile up—injuries to persons, damage to property—until the offender must be either taken for a long ride or shot. One less bear for a visitor to see, yet the visitor has done much to cause this by his failure to observe the rules against feeding these animals. Every year a long list of personal injuries, varying from slight to serious occur. Property damage incidents accumulate in ever-increasing numbers. For your safety, for the safety of other visitors and the sake of the bear do not feed, molest, tease or treat him as a pet. Help to keep them as a natural part of our wildlife.

The cinnamon and brown bears of this country are simply color phases of the black bear, the blonds and brunettes of the family. The various graduations of color are frequently intermixed in the same family; hence it is a common occurrence to see a black bear female with brown cubs, a brown and a black cub, or even all three colors.

The bears hibernate during the winter months, usually from late October or November to March or April depending upon the weather conditions. In the fall they put on a thick layer of fat which furnishes the needed nourishment during the winter. During this hibernation they are not in a deep sleep as has sometimes been thought; they remain conscious and although sleepy are frequently restless and move around occasionally. Hibernation dens are usually in caves, or under windfalls, buildings or other protected places.

It is during hibernation that the young are born, usually in January. At first the cubs are very small, only about eight inches long, weighing from eight to twelve ounces and are naked, blind and helpless. The black bear usually has two cubs though occasionally one, three or four. The cubs grow rapidly and are able to follow their mother around when she comes out of hibernation. If mother is a highway or camp beggar the cubs soon learn it too and then the trouble starts. The female bear is a good mother and it is extremely dangerous to come between her and the cubs. She makes the cubs mind, spanking them vigorously if they fail to do so. The cubs hibernate with their mother their first winter and are then usually weaned by the next summer. The female black bear has a new litter of cubs only every two or three years.

These animals are omnivorous, eating anything that comes their way, grass, fruit, berries, roots, mammals, birds, carrion, grubs and ants, fish, frogs etc.

General description: A medium-sized bear, with considerable variation in color, from glossy black to cinnamon brown or yellowish, often with a brown muzzle. Claws of forefeet curved and slightly longer than those of hind feet. Its generally smaller size, straight facial profile and lack of shoulder hump distinguishes the black from the grizzly bear. Adult blacks can climb trees readily. Sexes are alike in appearance, with total length of about 60 inches, tail 5 inches, height at shoulder from 25 to 35 or more inches and weight from 200 to 400 pounds, occasionally over.

Terms: Male—boar; female—sow; young—cubs.

Where found: Throughout the park, though most frequently seen in the vicinity of camps and cabin areas. It is possible to see them any time night or day but it is dangerous to approach them too closely at any time; a mother with cubs is doubly dangerous. Extreme care should be used in parking to watch bears so that you do not create a highway traffic hazard which endangers the lives of others. Do not permit the bear to approach closely. Never place yourself or others in a position of danger with respect to these animals.

PARK REGULATIONS PROHIBIT THE FEEDING OR MOLESTING OF THE BEARS. ABIDE BY THEM.

GRIZZLY BEAR Ursus horribilis ssp.

There are probably more Grizzlies in Yellowstone Park now than in any other area of the United States. Elsewhere they have been reduced by extensive hunting. Members of this genus are the largest and most formidable of the carnivorous animals of North America. The variety found in the park is probably surpassed in size only by the Giant Brown Bear of Alaska and the White Bear of the Arctic seas.

Fortunately the Yellowstone grizzly is inclined to mind his own business and is not addicted to the panhandling or clowning traits of the black bear. He does sometimes come into the camps and cabin areas in search of food but generally is seen only rarely by visitors. In the woods, if given a reasonable chance, he will move away from your vicinity. However, a grizzly surprised at close range will frequently charge the person, surprising him. In this event a tree is the safest place to attain as the adult grizzly is unable to climb trees.

The grizzly is a large animal but in spite of this is able to travel with tremendous speed and can outrun a horse for a short distance. He is powerful enough to kill elk and other large animals and he does doubtless occasionally attack large mammals if the opportunity seems favorable. He often takes sick or feeble animals or young ones. However, the grizzly is usually content to make a diet of grass, roots, berries, fruits, mushrooms, ants, mice, rats, gophers and other small animals and any carrion he happens to find. In areas outside of the park occasional individuals have been known to kill cattle, sheep and hogs.

The grizzly hibernates like the black bear, although frequently at higher elevations, where the period is longer due to weather conditions.

Grizzly cubs are born in January and are blind, naked and helpless, and weigh possibly as much as a pound at birth. One or two, and occasionally three or four, are born in each litter. Litters usually occur every second or third year. A grizzly cub can climb trees readily until he is about a year old, after that his claws become too long and blunt and he loses his inclination for climbing.

General description: A large heavily built bear with a dished face that gives a concave profile, a broad head and a hump at the shoulders. Tail short, claws long and slightly curved with whitish or yellowish streaks. Color subject to seasonal and individual variation, yellowish brown to blackish with a sprinkling of whitish or silvery-tipped hairs. In winter the coat appears grayer with the silver hairs more pronounced, hence the name Silvertip. Underparts are colored the same except for lacking the grizzling. Sexes colored alike but the females are somewhat smaller in size than males. Males are six to eight feet in length, tail two inches, with height at shoulder from three to nearly four feet. The weight varies from 350 to 900 pounds with some individuals running to nearly 1200 pounds.

Terms: Male—boar; female—sow; young—cubs.

Where found: Throughout the park but most common near the Canyon, Fishing Bridge and Old Faithful. Usually stirring around most frequently in the evening or during the night.

COUGAR Felis concolor

Mountain Lion, Panther, Puma or Painter are other names applied to this, the largest of our North American unspotted cats.

In spite of blood-tingling tales to the contrary, under normal conditions the cougar is a harmless animal as far as man is concerned. For unless wounded or cornered it is extremely shy and is one of the most difficult of wild animals to see under normal circumstances. Physically it is quite capable of killing an unarmed person but generally its inclinations are to very carefully avoid humans instead. However, if wounded, in defending its young, or treed in the chase this cat should be respected.