Tag: Jackson Hole

Spring is the season for babies here in Jackson Hole!

This year, I have been lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time for many of them. The babies come in all sizes and shapes: from Grizzly cubs to some of the smallest furry critters, and fuzzy feathered tots to Bison’s red dogs. This page contains a cross section of this year’s youngsters.

Grizzly Sow 399 reappeared with cubs on opening day of this year’s COVID-19 truncated season.

399 is now 24 years old! She has had triplets before, but never quads. As you might expect, the large family has been a popular attraction. Another Grizzly sow, “Blondie” appeared this year with one cub.

Some of the babies, like these young Raccoons, are just “too cute” for words.

As with any of the babies, they grow rapidly.

Some of the first “Red Dogs” can be first seen in May in Jackson Hole. I usually hear of a few born earlier in Yellowstone, but by June baby bison are fairly common.

By mid-June, some of their red fur starts turning dark brown. It not uncommon to see late season babies.

Most Bison cows have only one baby, but I believe I have seen twins a few times.

Little Canada Geese start appearing around the 1st of June. By the time the last set of goslings are born, some of the earliest babies will be quite large.

I usually see the goslings at the park on the north side of the Visitor’s Center on North Cache.

A gaggle of newborn geese can range in numbers from a couple to a dozen or more.

It’s hard to beat a behavioral shot of a mother and her babies!

Fawns from both Elk and Mule Deer around here are harder to find than you might think. They are usually born deeper in the forests and not always near people.

This mother Barrow’s Golden Eye had 17 babies! They were already diving for food on the bottom of the pond as Schwabacher Landing.

This little Long-billed Curlew was walking alongside the gravel road north of Kelly one morning. Right now, its beak is still fairly short.

By the time they are adults, the beak will have grown considerably to match their namesake.

Red Foxes can snow up in the southern part of the valley in mid-May or even sooner. In the northern portion of the Park, they can still be tiny in early June. This female was shedding her winter fur at the time I took this photo.

Foxes find relative safety near houses and businesses. Coyotes and Badgers are know to kill them, but tend to stay away from humans.

These two siblings were part of a litter of four. They spent a lot of time playing with each other, but were quick to retreat to safe holes at any sign of danger.

As the babies grow older, they become a bit more independent and stay out more. This litter was seen on the “West Bank” of the Snake River.

I watched this little Fox practice with the dead mouse or ground squirrel.

Owls are always sought after subjects, whether they have babies or not. The babies are inquisitive and always fun to photograph, if you can find them!

As the babies mature, they begin to “branch” and later fly from tree to tree.

Baby Owls can be quite animated. I had my best luck with these late in the day.

Of the larger prey animals, Pronghorns are some of the last to give birth. I photographed this newborn on June 18th.

It doesn’t take long for the fawns to be able to run and keep up with it’s mother.

Moose are some of my favorite subjects. The cows usually have their babies in secluded, dark areas. It can take a while for the mothers to move them into the open.

Jackson Hole has a reputation for cows with twins. Biologists are not sure if this is genetic or just a byproduct of good habitat.

The calves nurse for quite a while, but quickly learn to strip willows.

Baby Moose grow fast. Most are born in the last week of May or the first week of June. By late June, they are stout, yet agile.

While most Grizzlies are seen in the northern portion of the valley, Black Bears range almost all areas. This family was photographed along Jackson Lake. They are known to roam the east side of the Tetons and even on Snow King Mountain here in town.

This group of five baby Uinta Ground Squirrels popped out of a hole at the Mormon Row barns. They are common in almost all zones and are a popular food source for Coyotes, Badgers, Weasels, Foxes, Owls, Hawks and Eagles.

By the time some of the babies, like this Yellow-bellied Marmot appears, they look a lot like miniature versions of the adults.

You have to be paying attention, you might notice an adult bird bringing food to its babies in a cavity nest. The babies are in the nest, but will not be visible for a while. Sapsucker, Flicker, and other Woodpecker babies will often have their heads out the hole waiting and begging for food.

All of the photos on this page were taken in 2020. In previous years, I’ve photographed baby Great Gray Owls, newborn Moose, young Badgers, and so forth. I’d love to find baby Snowshoe Hares, baby Hummingbirds, baby Weasels, and baby Hawks. Maybe next year!

I am accepting photo tours for the summer and fall…with modifications!

Normally, I drive my tour clients around in my vehicle. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve opted to offer tours by letting clients follow me in their vehicles. This allows for ample social distancing. I purchased several pairs of walkie-talkies to allow me to communicate while driving when cell service is ineffective. Masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes will be provided. If you have questions, please ask!

The goal is to keep both of us safe, yet cover most of the same areas of the park.

Photo tours help me pay bills and continue to add content to this site. Keep me in mind if you are going to be in the valley! My tours are licensed by the National Park Service and National Elk Refuge.

I offer year round photo tours in Grand Teton National Park. Seasons are changing! Book now! Click the image for additional information.

Client Comments: “As a published and passionate photographer, I recognized Michael Jackson’s extraordinary skills as a photographer. Today I learned more about composition and creative technical ideas than I ever could have imagined.” G.S., Jackson Hole.