Monday, November 14, 2016

Dinner at LeHardy Rapids


 The immature bald eagle was feeding on the bison carcass at LeHardy Rapids in Yellowstone.  When he saw the grizzly bear approaching he knew he was going to have to leave his place at the dinner table.   As the bear approached, the eagle left the carcass.

In this picture, if you look closely, you can see the eagle flying towards the grizzly bear.   In the next picture you can see the eagle flying directly in front of the grizzly bear.  Although it looks like the eagle is only a few inches away from the bear, in reality it is probably about 1 or 2 feet from it.

As the eagle leaves, the bear, a six year old male, takes steps towards the bison carcass.  Take a look at those claws!
 Look at the eagle as it flies away from its meal.  It's such a majestic bird, even as a youngster.  I believe this is one of this year's chicks.  They certainly grow up quickly, but they have to in order to survive in the wilds of Yellowstone.  The eagle continues to fly away from the carcass and the grizzly bear.

 The grizzly bear watches the eagle as it flies away.
Left alone on the carcass, the grizzly bear begins to enjoy his meal.  From what I was told, this carcass laid in the Yellowstone River for 7-10 days before any animals started feeding on it.  We had seen a large black grizzly bear on the carcass the day before, but this was the first day that we'd seen this bear on it.  I believe this is bear #688, which our daughter Keri named Monty a couple of years ago.

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