A Most Interesting Game
It was a wet, wet week in Yellowstone. Probably a good thing, and it didn’t keep us off the trails. Torrential downpours, late spring snow melt, and new snow combined to turn the trails into lakes of standing water. No boots could withstand the onslaught, and luckily I brought a second pair. We saw grizzlies from the road but no bear or wolves in the backcountry. They were out and about, however, just not showing their faces to us. We know this because of the amount of scat we saw: prolific and healthy. In fact, the Park canines seemed to be playing an interesting game, the rules and purpose of which are unclear to humans. Fox, coyote, and wolf droppings lined the paths, usually together. I believe the winner of the game could say: “I was here last”, and/or “I’m bigger”. Here are some examples, but don’t continue if this would bother you.
still pungent wolf
wolf + coyote
The Most Dangerous Game
Buffalo don’t have to play this game. Everybody knows they’re the biggest.
buffalo-wolf-coyote with perhaps some fox for flavor
Sweet Planet Poems 
I think that’s right!
und dir eine gute Woche, Gislinde
Wünsche ein schönes sonniges Wochenend liebe Grüsse Gislinde
How funny – a most interesting game, indeed. A sort of a “take that!” 😀
Definitely assembled naturally, Bluebee! It does look kind of artistic, though. I don’t have the imagination – or the fortitude – to create that myself.
That’s about all we saw in the backcountry in the pouring rain, Ian, so I did what I could.
Is the last photo of a natural assembly, or your poo-art installation? 😀
Enjoyed that short tour around Yellowstone Monica
You can certainly tell a lot about animals and their habits from the droppings
Ian
That just about says it all, Laz!
The shittiest pictures ever, but i love them, Ha!
Thank you for sharing dear Monica,
Peace, x
Laz
I agree. I’ve just never seen such enthusiasm before.
It has to be some form of marking. The coyotes around here seem to feel the need to leave droppings in the trail I made from my yard to the woods all the time.
Oh Kenny, I am very sorry about the curry. I did give fair warning.
I am reading this on my phone, while eating a lamb curry. The buffalo droppings look familiar !!! 🙂