This morning I find a text from Fay and Dale that I missed yesterday, saying they headed back home early, due to a family matter.

Well, beside the fact that I'll miss their company, it now looks like I’m the only wolf watcher with a radio left in the Park.

The still-dark morning is 26 degrees and partially clear overhead. There is only a trace of overnight snow.

The local fox patrols the road between upper and lower Baronette.

I make my usual stops to listen. When I reach Canyon west, there is enough light to scope, so I set up.

I see no wolves, though, and call over my radio, hoping a guide or two might have something.

To my surprise and delight, my friend Jeff A responds to my call. He’s at Hellroaring with nothing, but he has just heard from Doug M to come to the Blacktail!

By the time I get to mini-north Butte a small group of hardy watchers has already been watching Rescue wolves for a good half hour.

I climb up and soon have wolves in view myself.

At least five members of the Rescue Pack are currently feeding on their bison carcass. Several others, likely pups, can be seen sporadically as they play chase in the meadows left of the carcass.

They dash through the gaps in the branches, having a great time, leap gracefully over downed timber.

Still others can be seen in different gaps, bedded and resting. Doug counted at least 15; I manage to count 10 total with 8 blacks and 2 grays.

Two of the blacks are definitely pups judging from their size and rambunctious behavior. Two dark blacks are collared; I think one of these is the alpha female 1490F.

I also recognize another black near the carcass as my “gold stripe” wolf, now a yearling.

Over the next hour, wolves come and go from the carcass, tugging and chowing down. Jeff is back from a week away and he is eager to try to find the Junctions.

So, we head back to our cars to attempt that task.

I learn later that later in the morning the Rescue wolves retreated north and 1048 was seen having another solo feast.

Jeff and I scope at Hellroaring, where we find the herd of about 60 elk. They are marching in an almost single line up a steep hill out of the Yellowstone corridor.

We try Elk Creek next, but alas, most of Specimen is shrouded in falling snow. So we scan the closer areas, though, including Flat Top, Junction Lake, and the areas around the Trough. We find no wolves.

Next, we move to Slough and climb Dave’s Hill. This spot offers excellent views all around but we find only bison and a single bald eagle.

On east we go to Dorothy’s where we see more bison, plus some hikers who have gotten across the Lamar and are exploring lower Amethyst creek.

Our last stop in Lamar is up on Trash Can hill, where we see more bison and a pair of elk high on Mt. Norris. I spot another bald eagle sitting on the bank above the Lamar.

Light snow showers fall off and on throughout the day, sometimes shrouding the areas we want to scan. The day never really warms.

A bit before noon we decide to head back to Blacktail. I go straight there while Jeff stops at the Big Lot to peek at the black bear in its den.

At mini-North Butte I see movement on the carcass right away, but after adjusting the focus, I see I’m watching bears, not wolves!

A grizzly family has taken over the carcass: mom and two healthy-looking cubs of the year.

Mom rolls on the carcass on her back, feet in the air (twice) while her cubs feed. I can imagine them rolling their eyes at her antics.

There are a few wolves nearby, though; I count four blacks bedded in a meadow, visible in a gap in the trees to the left. A gray wanders past them.

I don’t see 1048 but he could be just out of sight.

Jeff soon joins me, along with a few others, enjoying the bears and wondering when the wolves might make a move to get their carcass back.

It take another half hour but soon all the bedded wolves get up and move towards the bears. Another gray appears so I now have four blacks and two grays.

They move slowly and soon surround the bears, hoping this show of force might entice the bears to leave.

Mama bear charges the closest gray, then wheels to rush the nearest black. Both wolves avoid her easily. They stop and stare at her, perhaps suggesting that her cubs are not safe.

The cubs scurry behind Mom, rising on their hind legs. They lean forward against her, peeking over her back at the wolves. It’s very cute but I guess it’s actually a bit scary for the cubs.

The wolves seem reluctant to take further action. Most bed down to wait.

We look around for 1048 but don’t find him.

Some of the wolves get restless and appear to be considering another attempt to get their carcass back. But then heavy snow arrives, along with a stiff wind, pushing snow crystals in our faces.

Worse, though, is that the snow obliterates our visibility. I can no longer see the line of trees, much less any animals. Hmm. Is this a squall that will pass or something steadier? We look at the sky and see only solid gray/white.

At 1:20 we give up and head down to our cars.

I drive back east.

At Phantom Lake I see a three-car jam for a pair of handsome bull elk grazing very close to the road.

In Lamar, I manage to achieve my three-dog-day with a lone coyote in the flat south of Exclosure.

In Silver Gate, I watch the snow continue to fall as I begin to pack up for my departure tomorrow.

Today I saw: 3 grizzly bears (including 2 cubs), bison, a coyote, a bald eagle, elk, a fox, pronghorn, 11 wolves (1048M and 10 Rescues wolves (including 1490F, a second collared black, gold stripe, two grays and at least two pups) and the spirits of Allison, Richard, Jeff and Chloe.