With spring comes the return of the wildlife. Tracey and Bruce, the Rangers who wintered in Tuolumne Meadows are reporting the bears as well as marmots and goshawks, are already returning to Tuolumne Meadows.
Tracey and Bruce Tuolumne Meadows Winter Rangers: “We saw at least a half a dozen Black Bear tracks last week ranging from above 11,000 feet down to snow line. Some bears traveled many miles in a straight line while others left a criss-cross of prints in the snow. Dirty holes in the snow marked the spring arrival of one of the true hibernators, the Yellow-bellied Marmot. With a snow pack of 160% above average, the Marmots will be living off their body fat for some time. Other arrivals include Dark-eyed Juncos, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Killdeer. The Killdeer were seen at their usual spot at Soda Springs, although there are only a few square feet of ground exposed and very tall snow banks. Many of the new bird arrivals are feeding on a variety of insects, the largest of which we have seen is the Sphinx Moth. The Northern Goshawk, an Accipiter (short-winged, long-tailed) that we have seen in past winters, has remained elusive until recently. Biologist Jeff Maurer, who has studied these hawks, tells us that tree squirrels are among their favorite meals.”
Photo courtesy of National Park Service.