Animals of Yellowstone

On a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park, I was fortunate enough to see many animals in their native and natural habitat -- doing what wild animals do -- survive as best they can. We sometimes forget the circle of life that goes on in nature. For a bear or wolf to remain healthy they must find the appropriate meal -- either by hunting and killing another animal or feasting on the remains that other predators have left behind.

Here are a few of the animals of Yellowstone.

A red-tail hawk sits watchfully in a tree searching for his next meal.

A prong-horned antelope runs free.

A healthy bull elk surveys the pre-dawn mountainside.

A lone wolf is moving in on an abandoned elk carcass.

Success!

An eagle moves in to share the bounty.

Two wolves move in to challenge a black bear who has also smelled the carcass. They think better of it and leave.

Stocking up on protein to build winter fat.

I enjoyed watching and photographing the animals of Yellowstone. I saw many species of waterfowl, raptors, birds of the field and  many healthy mammals. The beauty of the park never ceases to amaze me and the circle of life continues.