Summary
Highlights
As winter strengthens its grip, wolves become more powerful. The Druid Wolfpack, one of Yellowstone's largest, attempts to hunt a bull elk, but the elk uses the freezing river and its antlers to defend itself. The pack eventually decides the elk is too strong this early in winter, but conditions will change as winter progresses.
Bison are perfectly adapted to the harsh Yellowstone winter, with thick coats and a slowed metabolism to conserve energy. They use their strong neck muscles to push through snow to graze on low-nutritional grass, needing to save energy to avoid starvation until spring.
Elk move to sheltered valleys, bringing them into the Druid pack's territory. The weakening grazers make hunting easier for wolves, who now hunt successfully about twice a week. Their play helps fine-tune hunting skills and strengthens pack bonds, crucial for hunting large prey like elk.
In February, the Druid pack reaches peak condition, and young females come into season. A lone male wolf, unable to mate with the alpha's daughters (who is their father), attempts to mate with a female. The alpha male fiercely defends his territory and pack, warning off the intruder.
Vast smoke plumes signal wildfires burning through Yellowstone's dry Lodgepole Pines. The 1988 fires burnt a third of Yellowstone, devastating forests and causing fear of starvation for animals. However, fires fertilise the soil and open up the land to sunlight, promoting new life and regeneration.
A female otter with her two pups on a lake shore takes them on a hunting trip. Yellowstone cutthroat trout gather at a stream mouth, preparing to spawn. The otters, along with osprey, take advantage of the abundance of fish. The mother otter teaches her pups to hunt, securing a large trout for herself.
Yellowstone's volcanic activity creates geysers and hot springs that sculpt the landscape. Hot water keeps forests in check, creating rich pastures where new grass grows. This provides essential food for a bison baby boom, with hundreds of new calves joining the herds.
Coyotes, though predatory, are no match for a healthy bison. Pronghorn give birth to twins, cleaned meticulously to hide their scent from predators. The mother pronghorn leaves her wobbly-legged calves to graze alone, their best defense being to lie low.
Wolves, dominant predators in winter, are less visible in summer, residing in hidden dens to protect their pups. A rare sight of wolf pups briefly venturing outside their den, showcasing a fleeting glimpse of the next generation before they return to the safety of the forest.
Exhausted male elk, after weeks of rutting, battle for access to females. A bull successfully defends his harem against a rival. As winter approaches, elk face a decision: stay and endure harsh conditions or migrate to more hospitable areas outside Yellowstone, facing human-developed landscapes.
Elk migrate to feeding grounds outside Yellowstone as winter arrives. These areas, however, are often surrounded by human development. Some refuges are set aside to provide sanctuary, demonstrating how Yellowstone's influence can extend beyond its boundaries, even fostering tolerance for wolves among ranchers.
Bighorn sheep, the toughest Yellowstone animals, gather in the mountains for their rut. Unlike elk, they relish fights, engaging in head-to-head clashes to determine dominance and access to females. The echoes of their battles signal the end of autumn.
Beavers fell trees to build and maintain their dams and ponds, creating a safe habitat. Autumn is their busiest time, as they prepare for winter. They store branches underwater for food, allowing them to survive beneath the ice, while their ponds also provide vital resources for moose.