D. Robert & Lorri Franz
Even in July the air temperature can be cool at dawn in the high mountains of Wyoming . We are standing, huddled to stay warm, at the edge of a lush mountain meadow. We anxiously watch as forms slowly begin to emerge out of the darkness. Soon these shapes can be made out to be that of moose, our primary goal for this trip. Straining to see into the dim light of early morning with our binoculars we start counting and when finished are amazed to have found 14 Shira's moose (Alces alces shirasi), eleven bulls (males) whose growing antlers are covered in velvet and three cows (females) feeding peacefully.
Even in July the air temperature can be cool at dawn in the high mountains of Wyoming . We are standing, huddled to stay warm, at the edge of a lush mountain meadow. We anxiously watch as forms slowly begin to emerge out of the darkness. Soon these shapes can be made out to be that of moose, our primary goal for this trip. Straining to see into the dim light of early morning with our binoculars we start counting and when finished are amazed to have found 14 Shira's moose (Alces alces shirasi), eleven bulls (males) whose growing antlers are covered in velvet and three cows (females) feeding peacefully.
By D. Robert & Lorri Franz
Lorri and I had located a herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep just east of Yellowstone National Park along the Shoshone River . Two majestic bighorn rams of equal size were going through all the ritualistic posturing right before our very eyes. Lorri and I were ready. Our camera exposures were calculated and set for plenty of shutter speed to stop the action. We were in the best spot to witness as well as capture one of nature's most awesome spectacles, the violent dominance battle of the bighorn sheep. As the rams slowly separated, always keeping their eyes on one another, we knew the battle was about to begin. The two rams reared up on there hind legs and began the charge toward each other. We laid on the motor drives and fired away only to be disappointed with our results. It was merely a bluff charge, the rams stopped dead after a step or two.
Lorri and I had located a herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep just east of Yellowstone National Park along the Shoshone River . Two majestic bighorn rams of equal size were going through all the ritualistic posturing right before our very eyes. Lorri and I were ready. Our camera exposures were calculated and set for plenty of shutter speed to stop the action. We were in the best spot to witness as well as capture one of nature's most awesome spectacles, the violent dominance battle of the bighorn sheep. As the rams slowly separated, always keeping their eyes on one another, we knew the battle was about to begin. The two rams reared up on there hind legs and began the charge toward each other. We laid on the motor drives and fired away only to be disappointed with our results. It was merely a bluff charge, the rams stopped dead after a step or two.
D. Robert & Lorri Franz
Hot, dusty, and discouraged I said to Lorri, "I know one more road where I've seen horses before.” Pointing to the south I added, “It leads toward the higher elevation of Green Mountain . Let's give it a try.”
Three days of hard searching had yielded nothing but disappointing results. We had come across a few smaller bands of horses but not the large bands of mares and foals we really hoped to find. Less than a month earlier, on my way to Yellowstone National Park , I had found a good number of horses in this particular area including a large band with several newborn foals. But now they seem to have disappeared. After talking with the local Bureau of Land Management (BLM) personnel who indicated that due to the ongoing drought the herds were concentrated near permanent water sources we realized our search would likely be difficult.
Hot, dusty, and discouraged I said to Lorri, "I know one more road where I've seen horses before.” Pointing to the south I added, “It leads toward the higher elevation of Green Mountain . Let's give it a try.”
Three days of hard searching had yielded nothing but disappointing results. We had come across a few smaller bands of horses but not the large bands of mares and foals we really hoped to find. Less than a month earlier, on my way to Yellowstone National Park , I had found a good number of horses in this particular area including a large band with several newborn foals. But now they seem to have disappeared. After talking with the local Bureau of Land Management (BLM) personnel who indicated that due to the ongoing drought the herds were concentrated near permanent water sources we realized our search would likely be difficult.