May 16, 2012
Black Bear Cubs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yesterday was my sixth day in Yellowstone National Park, and after being released from "calf watch," it turned into the Day Of The Black Bear. I quickly found a Black Bear sow with two cubs-of-the-year and got some shots of them nursing just within shooting range. In the afternoon, I found a lone Black Bear eating in an open meadow close to the road and photographed it from the car.

Then I returned to the Black Bear sow and two cubs-of-the-year. The cubs were up a tree somewhere and I was watching the sow with some other photographers. After a while, a ranger said we could go up on the opposite ridge to photograph the cubs — fantastic! So, up we went and we were right at the cubs level just within range to photograph them. The tree, while bare, could have used some pruning.

On my way back to the RV, I spotted a cinnamon-colored Back Bear. Five new bears today, and four provided great photo ops.