Yellowstone National Park is primarily renowned for its wildlife, above all else. Of course, Yellowstone is undeniably a picturesque place with abundant breathtaking beauty within its boundaries. It has intriguing landscapes, from Old Faithful to its prismatic springs to the gorgeous Yellowstone Lake and beyond. However, it is the wildlife that stands out. Wolves, bison, and elk are some of the animals the park is renowned for. But, the Yellowstone bears surpass everything else.
Let’s delve into the Yellowstone bears, what bears are up to, and everything that entails a bear encounter. We’ll go behind the scenes of some of my favorite bear photographs and how I managed to create them.
Two species of bears live in the park. Black bears, and the iconic grizzly, or brown, bear. They roam freely throughout the park, and you can encounter a bear wherever you are. The bears want nothing to do with humans; they forage and hunt as they wish, paying no attention to us. It’s not that humans are strangers to them, however. I suspect every bear there has seen humans all their lives and knows a good deal about us. They know we are likely to stand around, that we are usually not a threat to them, and that we, by and large, keep a little ways away from them.
From far away, and especially from the safety of your car, it’s easy to perceive bears as warm, fuzzy, cute, and cuddly. But make no mistake: these are some of the most formidable predators you can encounter anywhere.
Just because you are standing still looking at a bear does not mean you are entirely safe. Quite the opposite is true because you are not.
While driving through Yellowstone National Park, you often come across what is known as a bear jam. These occur when someone is driving through the park and spots a bear. The reaction is always the same: immediately hit the brakes, stop the car, and pull off to the side of the road to observe the bear.
And why not? Although bears are common in the park, only some people see one, and when you do, you want to stay and watch. I do it, too. Everyone does. The chance to observe a bear is not to be missed for anything.
But another car will inevitably come along, wonder why the first car stopped, and pull over to find out. Then, more people will stop and start getting out of their vehicles for a closer look. The initial sighting becomes a chain reaction, resulting in what is colloquially known as a bear jam. Even worse, although most people will pull off the narrow, two-lane road, some will not and instead park in the middle of the road. Now, the bear jam has turned into a complete standstill.
It’s an astonishing sight: hundreds of cars sprawled everywhere, bringing traffic in both directions to a complete standstill. But for those who have no interest in the bears, for whatever reason. I can’t fathom what that could be, but they are stuck.
Sooner or later, a ranger will arrive to manage the traffic. Yet, when people are not in their cars, there is no traffic to direct, is there?
Regardless, you could be stuck there for an hour. Probably even longer.
People will leave their cars and get as close as possible to the bear. Some are wary–as well they should be–but others are more daring, or more likely, more foolish, and see how close they can get. Some are photographers who want the best photograph possible. Others are just curious and want to get as close as possible. Some have small children in tow, dragging them near the wildlife without considering the consequences. Rangers do their best to control the situation, but the crush to get closer is always there.
And people need to recall that these bears are not domesticated. They are not in a zoo. There is no fence separating the bear from you. There’s no barrier at all. The closer you get to the bear, the higher the likelihood of something going wrong. Does it happen? Yes. Occasionally, it does, but the Rangers do an extraordinary job of keeping everyone as safe as possible.
As an aside, encounters with bison are more prevalent in Yellowstone because people mistakenly perceive them as slow and lumbering creatures that won’t do anything. Nothing could be further from the truth—absolutely nothing. Bison are incredibly swift and can instantly close the distance between them and you. Every year, a few unlucky tourists learn the lesson that taking a selfie with a bison is a hazardous idea. Bison can be cranky, and when surrounded by tourists, they are certainly not comfortable. As too many people have discovered, the bison can and will use their horns to address the situation.
As fast as bison are, bears are even faster. It’s something to keep in mind at all times. At least, I do. It’s never far from my mind how fast a bear can run; no matter how far away I am, one can reach me whenever it wants.
Eventually, the bear will wander away, visitors return to their cars, and the bear jam will dissipate. Once you have undergone a bear jam, you will never forget it.
Hmm. I went off on a tangent there but wanted to set the stage for you. When photographing bears, a great deal of preparation and luck is involved. No matter how prepared or where you expect to find a bear, it still depends on the bear cooperating and being in the desired site. Sometimes, it works out, but most of the time, it doesn’t.
Family Adventure is one of my all-time favorite bear photographs from Yellowstone or anywhere else. Surprisingly, it came from a bear jam. However, it also came from my understanding of the bear’s behavior, which allowed me to be in the right place at the right time. Let’s go back to the beginning, shall we?
It had been a peaceful day in the park, and I was in the northern area. After checking in with the rangers, they mentioned the possibility of bears in that area, so I decided to spend the day there. Spending time in locations is essential; finding bears takes time and patience. And even then, there are no guarantees, only hopes. I confined myself to a section just a few miles long, moving slowly through it, stopping often, and keeping a careful eye out for motion.
Around mid-afternoon, I encountered the remnants of a bear jam. The bear had already departed, and the traffic was unhurriedly clearing out. However, I took note of the situation because now I knew where a bear had been. Knowing where a bear was gives rise to the possibility that a bear might return to the same place. I pulled over, parked, and began my wait. I remained in that spot for what felt like an eternity, but it was only about half an hour—no sign of the bear. Eventually, I returned to my car and continued exploring.
But something kept pulling me back, so I returned to the spot of the long-gone bear jam and parked once again. I found no sign of the previous bear. Yet, I remained determined and lingered. I didn’t know if the bear would return, but I hoped it would.
As the afternoon slipped away and early evening approached, I started to consider that the bear I had hoped for might not appear. I began thinking about my options. Daylight was fading, and there wouldn’t be many more opportunities that day. Should I stay, or should I go back to my original plan? Decisions, decisions. What to do.
Before I could decide my next move, fate intervened to help me out. The bear returned!
And it wasn’t just the bear, but also her two cubs! I couldn’t believe my luck. With my camera in hand, I stood there, breathless, observing the bears to see what they would do.
But before I could even raise my camera for the consummate shot, a bear jam formed around me, complete with rangers. I no longer had the choice of the best vantage point, and before I knew it, I was part of the swelling crowd. Good grief! The perfect opportunity was slipping away before I could capture the desired photograph.
I’m no expert on bears and their behavior, but I’ve learned a few things here and there. I can’t predict what any bear will do at any given moment, but I can make some educated guesses. This particular bear gave me clues about what she might do next. I decided to use these clues to set up the photograph I envisioned.
The first inkling was when she encouraged her cubs to stay in one spot while she walked away. Every person followed the bear, but I didn’t. No Mama Bear would leave her cubs for long. She would be back. Instead, I carefully selected my vantage point slightly away from the cubs in the opposite direction the bear and everyone else proceeded. Unfortunately, the cubs were in the tall grass, making it impossible to photograph them. But I patiently waited. Mama would return, and I would be ready. The crowd followed the bear, but she stayed in the shadows, leisurely foraging in the tall grass. In the distance, I could see people trying to photograph the bear, but none would turn out well because of the shadows. Besides, the cubs are the star attraction, so I continued surveilling them.
After some time, the bear turned around and hurriedly returned to her cubs. The throng couldn’t keep up with her, but I didn’t have to because I was alone, far away from everyone else. As Mama Bear approached her cubs, they obediently fell in line with her, easily keeping pace, and headed right into my field of view.
Family Adventure captures that meeting. The bears were bathed in the warm, late-afternoon sun, providing the perfect glow. One cub stayed close to its mother while the other trailed closely behind. I also treasure how one cub’s paw is mid-air as it trots.
The hoard caught up to me moments after capturing Family Adventure. Other photographers had a spectacular view of the bears’ rear-ends. But they didn’t think like I did, making this experience and photograph uniquely mine. Yes, you can create stunning images in a bear jam. Although, it isn’t easy.
To this day, it remains one of my favorite photographs. But it’s not my only favorite one! Not by a long shot.
Momma Bear is another bear photograph from Yellowstone that I am proud of. Its backstory may be less thrilling, but it demonstrates the significance of persistence and patience. Well, sometimes, being persistent pays off.
In this instance, I had the bears all to myself. I perched atop a prominent depression, waiting for a bear to emerge from the forest’s shadows and bask in the sunlight. I had spotted what I hoped was a bear in the undergrowth and decided to wait and see what would unfold. Sometimes, it’s hard to be sure what you see, and it is all too easy to let your imagination get the best of you. I was looking for bears, so this must be a bear, right? In reality, it could have been anything or even nothing at all. There is, however, one way to find out.
The undergrowth would appear to rustle now and then, but nothing emerged. I continued my vigil. Eventually, though, my hunch was rewarded as I spied a bear. Even better for me, it emerged from the woods into a sun-lit field.
This black bear was timid and cautious. The bear remained in the shaded forest, only venturing momentarily before quickly retreating into cover. It wasn’t frightened or startled by anything; it exercised caution. This behavior continued until the bear emerged into the meadow with a cub trailing her. Ah, I thought to myself. Now, it all makes sense.
The bear relaxed and thoroughly explored the meadow, as did her precious cub, which bounded playfully in different directions. The cub frolicked through the grass and reveled amongst the flowers. Both bears, now at ease, enjoyed the meadow and the sun’s warmth.
However, neither bear enjoyed the afternoon as much as I did. Momma Bear, this photograph is my favorite from the entire sequence. The cub, nestled among the flowers, seems to gaze directly at me. I remained as still as possible, barely breathing, doing everything I could to avoid attracting attention or disturbing anything. After all, as I mentioned earlier, it is crucial to be mindful of safety as these bears are not in a zoo. So, I must remain constantly aware of the situation and closely watch everything around me.
The mother bear caught a scent, although I never knew what it was, as she sniffed the air around her and focused on something in the distance. She wasn’t looking at me, which allowed me to relax momentarily, compose the scene, and create this photograph.
I am pleased with how it turned out. It encapsulates the essence of Yellowstone—lush green grass interspersed with vibrant flowers. Momma Bear and her cub are relishing a bright, sunny day. I am proud of myself for finding these bears and being able to capture this photograph.
I watched the bears revel in their meadow and thoroughly enjoyed the timeless setting. Eventually, it was time for them to retreat into the depths of the forest, disappearing forever from my view. However, that’s all right. My persistence and patience paid off handsomely—at least, this time it did.
There’s another photograph I would like to share. This one features an early Yellowstone bear and marks one of my initial visits to the park as an “adult.” It remains a truly memorable experience.
When I say “adult,” I mean that in the sense that my parents had taken me to Yellowstone as a child. Those visits and journeys to Glacier National Park are pivotal in shaping my perspective on the world today. Yellowstone, in particular, captured my heart as a young boy, captivating me with its breathtaking landscapes and exquisite wildlife. The boyhood sense of being wild and free has stayed with me countless years later. Even after many years, I vividly recall specific places and moments in Yellowstone. As an adult, I have even revisited some of these spots, and they have the same profound impact on me now as they did.
After my childhood visits, I didn’t return to the park until I was much older. This time, however, I arrived armed with a camera. Naturally, I had an intense desire to photograph a bear. I spent days exploring the park, searching for “my bear.” Occasionally, I found myself caught in several bear jams, always just barely missing the subject of everyone’s attention. I wouldn’t say I was growing desperate, but perhaps a sense of despondency was creeping in. Nonetheless, I persevered in my quest.
The moment captured in Silhouette Bear occurred towards the end of one of my final days in the park. Dusk was settling in, and I was returning to town. My headlights were on, and I assumed the day’s opportunities had ended. By sheer coincidence, I decided to pull over at a lookout, hoping to catch a glimpse of anything before darkness enveloped the landscape.
To my astonishment, a grizzly bear emerged behind my car, crossed the road, and ascended a hill. I was dumbfounded! There it was–an actual bear–right beside me, now moving away. What were the chances?
Persistence certainly pays off, but sometimes, luck also smiles upon us.
The wildlife in Yellowstone roams freely and undisturbed. Each animal leads its life within the protection of the park, and we are fortunate enough to be a part of it, even if only briefly, and witness the majesty of Yellowstone’s bears.