June 13, 2008
 Louis Armstrong once sang about seeing “trees of green, skies of blue” — how true that was today for our group of educator-pilgrims. After fueling our bodies with a hearty breakfast we met park ranger Beth Taylor, a native North Carolinian. She took us on an invigorating hike during which she challenged us to use our senses to experience new things — three smells, three sounds and three signs of animals. She showed us a Native American shelter, called a Wickiup, and we imagined what it would have been like to live in this place. We went towards Roosevelt and saw all sorts of wildlife — Elk, Black Bears, Pronghorn Antelope, as well as some stunning scenery and dramatic waterfalls.
 We heard from Bill Wengeler, who shared the history of wolves in the park. Wolves were extirpated in Yellowstone in 1926. At that time, they were seen as “vermin” and were killed by the park service. Views changed over time and wolves are now seen as a valuable part of the Yellowstone ecosystem. These wonderful animals were successfully reintroduced in 1995 and are now seen by many park visitors, including us!
Seeing three of the Slough Creek wolves was a fitting finish to an amazing wildlife day. We saw almost all the charismatic megafauna (large animals) species that people come here to see — three Black Bears; two grizzly bears (one that had captured a Pronghorn fawn); a bull, cow, and newborn calf Moose; Coyotes; Bison; a Golden Eagle; and several bull, cow and calf Elk.
All in all, quite a second day. We can truly say, “What a wonderful world.”
Q & A for June 13 |
