We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals… They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time.

~Henry Beston

I went back to the Blacktail Ponds area yesterday to see if there had been any changes at the bison carcass. As I approached I saw several cars pulled over in a pullout a 1/4 mile or so prior to the one adjacent to the floating bison carcass. I thought that perhaps a grizzly was now in the area, but when I stopped I was told there was a lone black wolf out in the flats. I quickly saw it and got out the scope and camera. As I got things set up the wolf let out a long howl, a great way to start your morning for sure. This was a real treat as wolves have been scarce the latter part of this winter (at least wolves that aren’t specks at great distances). For the next 45 minutes I watched this wolf as it made its way east through the ponds area (without any interest in the carcass) and over a distant hill. I managed to stay just ahead of it by driving to different pullouts and waiting for it to appear. The wolf seemed to be paralleling the road but at a distance until it finally disappeared into a drainage that could take it away from the road into the far hills. Along the way, it stopped and howled two more times, perhaps trying to connect with its pack mates. I could not hear a response but maybe it did as it kept on a pretty direct eastward path at a decent trot.

–The black wolf trotting off, perhaps to find its pack mates

Along the way, the wolf passed by a small group of bison. They eyed the lone wolf, no doubt confident they could take this loner, but still had their tails arched as a sign of concern/anger that a lone predator would dare come so close.

Since the wolf had taken me beyond the carcass pullout (there were no scavengers on it as I drove past) I headed to another bison carcass at the far end of Lamar Valley. This one was close to the road but you had to park some distance from it and look back (park staff put up closure signs near a carcass so people don’t interfere with scavengers and to reduce potential conflicts with bears). There were a few ravens and magpies but nothing else. On a second trip later in the day there was a coyote feeding on the carcass but I didn’t stay to watch. Going back toward the Blacktail Ponds I came across yet another bison carcass with an eagle feeding on it. This was was in good view of the road so I stayed awhile, chatting with some international visitors, but nothing returned after the eagle departed. So, off I went to sit for a bit with the floating bison carcass in hopes of seeing a bear or some other scavengers.

Once I got to the carcass site I could now clearly see that the hole the coyote was head dunking in on my last visit is indeed another bison carcass that was under the ice and is now floating with the warm temperatures the past few days. It is probably a bit too far out for terrestrial scavengers like a coyote to reach but there were a couple of ravens nearby and one was sitting and feeding on the first carcass. I soon spotted a coyote headed across the ice toward the first carcass. It slowly approached and the raven seemed to know it was safe in its watery cafe. The two had a staring standoff until the coyote gave up and headed toward the second carcass, only to be frustrated again by its inability to reach it.

–A coyote wishing it had wings

Another coyote soon showed up and followed in the path of the first, but came to the same conclusion that a bear was needed to make this food available. It seemed to sadly slink across the frozen lake and soon disappeared into the sage-covered hills.

I wondered if these two coyotes were the same ones I had seen a couple of evenings earlier. On that day, I sat watching the area and heard a single coyote bark across the valley. I strained my eyes looking in that direction but didn’t see the noise-maker (it did finally show itself and trot across the valley after this next scene took place). I soon heard another coyote off to the east. I spotted a single coyote trotting toward the carcass. Then there was another single coyote bark further east. Soon, a second coyote came running toward the other, yelping along the way while wagging its tail. Obviously, these two knew each other and seemed glad to reunite. There was one other car in the pullout and, luckily, that person was quiet as this next scene unfolded. Turn up your volume and enjoy this coyote greeting.

–Two coyotes having a seemingly happy greeting

It is fitting that Coyote Awareness Week 2026 runs from March 16-22. This is organized by Project Coyote to promote coexistence, education, and protection for this species and other wild carnivores.