Its about time for our summer shows to begin and so we decided to make one last trip to Grand Teton National Park, hoping to see some wildlife. The heat and smoke from fires, has arrived and while we doubted, we would see and bears, and excuse to go to the park is a good one.
Our friends joined us and as we turned left at the Moose
Junction, a moose almost ran into our car. It had been behind a stopped truck,
and we did not see it until we almost hit it. Luckily, I was going slow, and
the moose escaped unharmed into the sagebrush.
It happened so fast that we did not get a picture and so we continued on making our first stop at the Potholes Turnoff. A man told us that four elk were walking across the flat and while we never did see the trailing pair we did get to watch as a mature bull and a spike, one with its first-year short antler growth, headed for some shade.
They finally stopped when they reached a lone pine tree and grazed there as they had escaped the heat.
We next traveled to all the usual spots, but never did see any
bears. Driving to a little-known parking, lot we decided to hike up the first
part of a trail. It was dusty and we had little hope of finding any bears,
but we all carried bear spray.
As Fred and I went first we scanned for bears, but it was Renita who found the first sign. There in the middle of the trail was a front paw print of an adult grizzly, (note the quarter for size). A little further Becky spotted a hind foot track, but it was not as detailed as the one Renita found.
Flowers were everywhere and we both posed for a picture.
As Renita and I crossed the flowers we found a huge bear scat, from a huge bear!
We were traveling in a group of four, all armed with bear spray, and making lots of noise so we felt quite safe. Bears usually attack persons traveling alone. Remember not to run.
Moose Junction is well named. The bear print is impressive. Stay safe and healthy.
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