"Winter Wildlife" Yellowstone National Park Travelogue by johngayton

According to our guide the Stag Elks keep pretty much to themselves during the winter, being neither interested in each other, nor in the females of the species. Come the fall this situation is entirely different!

The same seems to be true of the bull bisons, the women are left to bring up the calves with the bulls not even welcome!

Though this pic might look like a family unit, it is in fact 2 cows with a 1 year old. Over the course of our day we saw hundreds of bison, but not a single bull.

For most of the animals the winter is the season of hardship, however for the lucky few who have managed to get an upgrade a Nordic-style open-air sauna with some warm algae is a rare treat!

And for some a visit to the Med! "Come on in the water's fine."

Unfortunately the snow-covered bank kinda gives it away!

Bison Herd

For most of the wildlife the winter means scratching around for scant food, this is why there is a strict injunction not to disturb them. Causing them to expend energy unnecessarily uses up their winter fat reserves.

If you want close-up pics, take a camera with a decent zoom.

Elk Herd

These guys would rather just lie in the snow, dreaming of spring, than do anything energetic.

Not sure why the geese have stopped off here, must be warmer than back home?

I dont know whether this is a he or a she, but certainly is when the zoom comes in handy (despite my camera shakes!).