Grand Tetons and Great Wildlife

---

Gena and Bob fixed us all a hearty breakfast of sweet rolls, bacon, and scrambled eggs with sausage. What a feast! After breakfast we set out to see Grand Teton National Park. Our first stop was Willow Flats, where last night we caught our first glimpse of elk in the distance. This morning, nothing, so we went on.

We turned onto Teton Park Road and stopped by the Jackson Lake dam, where we watched people fishing off the bank and others launching drift boats. We drove up Signal Mountain Road for views of the Snake River Valley and the south end of Jackson Lake with the mountains beyond. We stopped at numerous turnouts and overlooks along the Teton Park Rd because the mountains are so beautiful that we just had to stop and take pictures.

We strolled a little way along String Lake then went to the Jenny Lake overlook for views of that beautiful blue lake and the snowy mountains behind it. The Jenny Lake visitor services area was very crowded as Jenny Lake seems to be one of the most popular areas of the park.

Near Taggart Lake trailhead we noticed a jam of cars and people and knew there must be some wildlife there. There was a cinnamon-colored black bear, not very large, down by the creek working on a dead beaver. It was turning it over and over, I guess trying to find a tender spot. It looked pretty dried out. The bear seemed mostly oblivious to the attention it was getting.

We then drove down to the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center near Moose Junction. It’s a really nice and informative place. Crossing the bridge from the visitor center to Moose Jct we saw a cow moose lying down in the shade of the willows, taking her afternoon nap.

We went into Jackson for lunch and a bit of shopping before heading back towards camp. We drove up Hwy 89, again stopping at overlooks for pictures. At Snake River overlook we saw rafts floating down the river. At Oxbow Bend Turnout, by the Snake River, we saw moose tracks and an osprey flying overhead. This evening we saw a mule deer in the campground. I think it would have liked to graze a bit, but some young boys were so enthusiastic about watching it that they scared it off. The last I saw it, it was running through the campground with 3 boys in hot pursuit.

Not a bad wildlife viewing day: black bear, moose, osprey, buffalo, mule deer, and elk. Add the beautiful Grand Teton Mountains and it makes for a very satisfying day.

---

Photos

Grand Teton Mtns
one of many views

Jackson Lake Dam
and Snake River with Grand Teton Mtns

Jenny Lake
and Grand Teton Mtns

Black Bear
with dead Beaver in Grand Teton NP

Napping Moose
near Snake River in Grand Teton NP

Grand Teton Mtns
from Hwy 89

Snake River
and Grand Teton Mtns, with raft on river