We saw the hole that “Pig Pen”, the grizzly we saw a couple of weeks ago near Grizzly Lake, had dug.  We couldn’t believe the actual size of that hole.  We call him Pig Pen because of all the dirt he had all over him – don’t know if you can see it on his face in this picture.  The snow in this area is all gone and the hill side is a beautiful green.  There is still a little snow over by Canyon but not much.

And, the wildflowers are just starting to bloom.  If we get the rain they are predicting over the next couple of days, the flowers will be beautiful.

The crab apple trees, lilacs, forsythias, etc., are absolutely beautiful and temperatures are supposed to be up around 70 all week.  Couldn’t ask for anything more!!

For all of those who come to play, we thank Heaven every day!

This picture was actually taken last spring.  We plan to get back down to the Park later this week and find even more newborn Billy bisons.  If you look closely, you can see they already have their little nubbin horns.  The ones we saw on our last trip were still so new they weren’t running and playing much.  But, hopefully we’ll find some mischievous ones this week.

Wish you all were here to enjoy the trip with us!

This, as with all of our pictures, was taken from the safety (for both us and the wildlife) of our car.

We saw our first grizzly bear of the day near Slough Creek.  He was a ways from the road so we didn’t try to get a picture but just watched him as he went down the creek bed.  There were only 2 other vehicles there to see him as a there was a “wolf jam” just before this and people were looking for wolves but not seeing any.  Little did they know just about a quarter mile further was a grizzly in plain view.  Then near Soda Butte we spotted what we think is the same grizzly we saw just a week or so ago.  He has the same really light colored cape around his shoulders.  You can see the colors in the picture even if it is a little fuzzy.

After we spent some time visiting our friends in Silver Gate we headed back through the Park.  This next photo is something I never thought I would see.  Two black bear cubs up a huge tree not too far from Hell Roaring.  Momma is down on the ground watching us to make sure her cubs are safe and secure in the tree.  What a phenomenal site those two were.  And then Momma’s picture is right beside their’s.  Of course, I’m never too sure how they will show up on the post.

We went just a little farther west and near Phantom Lake we spotted this cinnamon colored black bear.  Bears come in different colors so you can’t say it’s not a black bear just because it is red or brown.  What a beautiful color this bear is.

  And, the next photo is what I believe is the ultimate Yellowstone in spring picture.  Momma with a new born bison calf.  They are just starting to calve this year which seems like but maybe I’m just anxious for spring.

We saw so many other animals it was absolutely amazing – Big Horn Sheep (rams and ewes), Elk (bulls with new velvet and cows), Pronghorn antelope (males and females), marmot (fat little ground-hog like creature) running or waddling across the road, osprey, bluebirds, and last but not least our fox family as we were headed back home.  There were at least 7 foxes but couldn’t get them all in the picture at once.

These pictures will also be posted to our facebook page so check out http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grandpa-Grizzly/130510686978803 and become our friend!

You’ve got to come and see Yellowstone in the spring.  It’s the very (or beary) best time in the Park!!!