Bear and bison jams are common in Yellowstone, even though the rangers have done a commendable job of trying to control the massive traffic tieups that used to turn the roads into gridlock anytime that a bear came within sight. This jam, near Tower was caused when one of the many black bears in the area wandered out of the nearby forest to graze on the rich grass near the roadside. Immediately, cars screeched to a halt, often stopping a-straddle the yellow line, with little thought to safety or to other travelers convenience. Some of the point and shoot photographers rushed to within a few feet of the grazing bear, snapping away furiously with little regard to either their or the bear's safety. One car with two ladies from overseas stopped with doors wide open in the middle of the road, with both ladies exiting the vehicle in such a hurry that the driver forgot to put the car into Park. She was barely able to stop the rolling car before it smashed into a truck, likewise abandoned, right behind her vehicle. In a few minutes, a ranger showed up and got the traffic moving and persuaded the onlookers to move away from the bear. It's amazing that the rangers display so much patience in light of the constant ignorance of a handfull of Yellowstone visitors. For the most part, they good-naturedly convince the over-eager wildlife watchers to move back and to move their vehicles from the middle of the road. At times, even their patience wears thin and drivers are cited for blocking traffic. Slob photographers, such as the one arrested in Lamar Valley for harrassing wolves and interfering with researchers and wolf watchers, are now sometimes banned from the Park. That's an excellent move on the Park's part and reflects the growing trend towards protecting the wildlife of Yellowstone.

In the photo below, bison wander slowly up the middle of the road near the Virginia Cascades turnoff. When driving at night in Yellowstone, it pays to remember that these huge beasts often weigh close to a ton, and that they are extremely hard to see on a dark night. They have little fear of anything, alive or inanimate, and they'll get out of your way when they're danged good and ready to get out of your way. I once watched as some idiot in Hayden Valley rushed his little Ford Escort right up to the edge of a large herd that was crossing the road near Grizzly Point, impatiently blowing his horn in an attempt to hurry the beasts on their way. One huge bull turned, and very slowly and deliberately, hooked the front left fender of the small car, pushing it sideways into the ditch before walking slowly away. The driver clambered over into the passenger seat, and was curled up on his wife's lap, screaming hysterically. It was a sweet sight...