General description: A large, blocky wild sheep, covered with a thick coat of hair, not wool, brownish to grayish brown in color with a creamy-white rump. Males with massive horns which curl back, out, downward then forward and up. Females with more slender, short and slightly curved horns. Total length five to six feet, 38 to 42 inches in height at shoulder and 200 to 300 pounds in weight. Females smaller.
Terms: Male—ram; female—ewe; young—lamb.
Where found: Summer in higher mountain ridges especially around Mt. Washburn, Quadrant Mountain and on Sepulchre Mountain. In winter they usually migrate down lower especially to the Mt. Everts section between Mammoth and Gardiner. They are often seen in the vicinity of the junction of the Lamar and Yellowstone Rivers and occasionally near Oxbow Creek. Of recent years the Yellowstone population seems to be declining. The population has changed from an estimated maximum of about 400 to an estimated minimum of 170.
BLACK BEAR
Ursus americanus
The question most frequently asked by the park visitor is, “Where can I see a bear?” For this natural born clown of the woods is probably our best known park animal. The black bear is smart and quickly adapts himself to a life of comparative ease. Why rustle for a living when a few antics and a little begging about the camps or along the roadside will produce a nice array of scraps or sweets, thinks he.
That is when the trouble starts for both bear and visitor. For Mr. Bear, regardless of how friendly he may seem, is a dangerous, wild animal, capable of inflicting severe injury by one blow of his powerful paw or a bite from his well-armed jaws. A visitor who feeds or even approaches a bear too closely not only is risking injury to himself but is contributing to a condition that may cause the injury of an innocent visitor in the future. He also is violating regulations which have been established in an attempt to provide protection for the visitor and the animals.
Once fed, the bear continues to expect food. He prowls around the camps and a smell of food is an invitation to break into cabin, tent or car, which he can and does do with comparative ease. The offenses he commits pile up—injuries to persons, damage to property—until the offender must be either taken for a long ride or shot. One less bear for a visitor to see, yet the visitor has done much to cause this by his failure to observe the rules against feeding these animals. Every year a long list of personal injuries, varying from slight to serious occur. Property damage incidents accumulate in ever-increasing numbers. For your safety, for the safety of other visitors and the sake of the bear do not feed, molest, tease or treat him as a pet. Help to keep them as a natural part of our wildlife.
The cinnamon and brown bears of this country are simply color phases of the black bear, the blonds and brunettes of the family. The various graduations of color are frequently intermixed in the same family; hence it is a common occurrence to see a black bear female with brown cubs, a brown and a black cub, or even all three colors.
The bears hibernate during the winter months, usually from late October or November to March or April depending upon the weather conditions. In the fall they put on a thick layer of fat which furnishes the needed nourishment during the winter. During this hibernation they are not in a deep sleep as has sometimes been thought; they remain conscious and although sleepy are frequently restless and move around occasionally. Hibernation dens are usually in caves, or under windfalls, buildings or other protected places.
