I love photographing wolves and to capture the elusive wolf in Yellowstone National Park, I think it justifies it’s own post 
The one image I have always wanted to capture is of a wolf in Yellowstone. With only 2 short days at Yellowstone, the destination of choice for wolves is Lamar Valley. Lamar Valley is known for large Bison Herds and the better chance at seeing wolves then most places in the 2 million acre park. We had planned to make Lamar Valley by noon and spend a couple of hours photographing the scenery and hope for some good images of Bison and if luck was on our side see and photograph some wolves.
Our drive from Cody, Wyoming to Lamar Valley was to be about 2.5 hours via the east gate. With little traffic on a late Oct day, we where making good time and had just stopped for a quick “doggie pottie break” at Fishing Bridge, this is at the intersection for the Grand Loop Rd, up to Lamar Valley (Hwy 212). A couple hundred yards after turning onto Grand Loop Rd, I spotted something (i was certain was a wolf) in the Tall Pines about 50 yards off the road. Luck was with us, as there was a turn around right there, we turned around back to the east road and to the left saw two wolves coming through the snow right towards us.
From the vehicle I was able to get several images of one of the wolves, it had stopped to catch a rodent and then continued catching up with the other. They crossed the road about 50 feet in front of the van and off they went into the vast country of Yellowstone. From some web research via NPS, i believe these wolves are from the Mollies Pack. Unfortunately Katherine was not able to get any images, her camera had fallen out of reach and was suck behind a dog crate.
This was certainly one of those “right place, right time” moments. After continuing on the Grand Loop Rd to Lamar Valley, we arrived at the junction of Norris Canyon Rd and our route further north was closed due to ice and snow. Even a simple 2 minute stop, like a “doggie pottie break” had an impact on getting the wolf photos below.
We never made it to Lamar Valley that day, we continued on and spent extra time at Mammoth Hot Springs and photographed all the amazing features (see Mammoth post). I have crossed off my bucket list “wolves in Yellowstone” but not Lamar Valley…. looks like we are going to have to go back
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Wolf locates rodent in snow, Yellowstone National Park
Did he get it? Yellowstone National Park
YES! You can see the rodents tail. Yellowstone National Park
Wolf approaching, about 150' from us!! Yellowstone National Park
My favorite Yellowstone National Park Wolf photo
Catching up to the other wolf. Yellowstone National Park
Low traffic in late Oct, crossing the road was not an issue. Yellowstone National Park
Looking very healthy on this fall day. Yellowstone National Park
