It’s that time of year again.
Grizzly feeding on elk. © Ken Cole
Associated Press
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Ken Cole
Ken Cole is a 5th generation Idahoan, an avid fly fisherman, wildlife enthusiast, and photographer. He was formerly the Idaho Director for Western Watersheds Project and former Executive Director for Buffalo Field Campaign.
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Is this about normal timing for them to wake up, or is it early?
It’s normal.
Is that photo recent?
I took the photo last fall. October 21.
Another reason to ban snowmobiles from Yellowstone.
More snowmobiles = less utilization of ungulate carcasses by grizzlies that could use a big hit of calories in the late winter/early spring.
This was documented in a 1970s study by Keith Aune, but ignored or dismissed by 1990s NPS winter use studies on snowmobiling.
Remember–ungulates often winter along the Madison River, the Firehole, and other riparian areas. Also in geyser basins. That’s where the roads and snowmobiles are.