Wildlife Wonder - Grizzly Bears In The Grand Teton National Park

(Moose, WY) 34 degrees, snowing

Seeing a grizzly bear takes your breath away. We were told in the early spring you can sometimes see a grizzly bear in the Grand Tetons National Park before they wander up high into the mountains.  Oxbow is a famous birding hot spot and it also turns out to be a grizzly bear  hang out.  Last week we went out in the early evening to see if one was there.  Just as we arrived John said "quick, there he is".  I grabbed my camera and got it focused just in time to see his rather plump rear end go down the hill.  Sheesh!

We were pretty sure that was all we were going to see but we hung around awhile in hopes he'd return. It was our lucky day.  He did come back and traveled along the river bank.  A lady observing with  us said he was about three years old and had just recently left his Mom.  He seemed timid and unsure about the water in the lake.  He'd dip his paw in and quickly jump back from the shock of the cold water. He moved quickly and in an erratic fashion trying to find something to eat.

He crossed the road right in front of where we were parked.  By now he had attracted some attention from onlookers and stopped traffic on both sides of the road.  

And then he did the most amazing thing after crossing the road.  He stopped, sat up, and looked back at all of us.  He seemed as curious about us and we were about him. Then after about ten minutes he went on his way.  Life is good!

Tonight we were coming home from work and the snow was falling down in big flakes. Weather can change quickly here.  Suddenly, just before our campground we saw a mother bear and two cubs along side of the road.  We think the mama bear is called 399.  She is so famous that she even has her own Facebook page. I'm not joking-google it.  From the car we watched them and John went back later after the snow stopped and got some fantastic photos.

Mama Bear #399 has had many sets of cubs in the past.  And, I think the grizzly we saw last week @ Oxbow,  if I'm reading what's on the internet correctly, was one of her cubs too.  How cool is that!

What a great way to end the day.  We'll just have to be a little careful around the campground for awhile until she moves onto another location.