Latest news with #FTWOutdoors
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
U.S. Coast Guard boat shown speeding over whales off California
A Southern California-based photographer on Thursday shared footage showing a U.S Coast Guard boat speeding over two gray whales off Laguna Beach. Mark Girardeau, who has spent countless hours on marine mammal excursions off Orange County, shared the footage to illustrate that vessels of all types pose a threat to whales that feed or migrate in California waters. 'One of the challenges gray whales face is boat traffic, especially along the California coast where there is no shortage of cargo ships, oil tankers, personal yachts, ferries, jet skiers, search & rescue operations, etc.,' Girardeau stated via Instagram. 'All which are not actively watching for whales.' Girardeau explained that in this case, which he described as a close call, the Coast Guard vessel did not strike either of the whales, one of which can be seen diving to avoid being struck. The Coast Guard crew, Girardeau added, had been searching for a swimmer who had been pulled to sea by a current and did not survive. It's likely that the crew did not even see the whales. Girardeau told FTW Outdoors that he captured the footage in 2019 with a drone that he piloted from shore. This article originally appeared on For The Win: U.S. Coast Guard boat shown speeding over whales off California
USA Today
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Watch: Yellowstone bison dances on snow as if without a care
Watch: Yellowstone bison dances on snow as if without a care With an air of uncertainty hanging over our national parks, there remain uplifting moments that, thankfully, are often captured by photographers. The accompanying footage, captured in Yellowstone National Park by Cindy Goeddel, shows a large bison with a definite spring in its step. 'When the bison hits the dance floor in Yellowstone,' Goeddel joked via Instagram. Goeddel told FTW Outdoors that she was leading a photography expedition via snowcoach on Feb. 27 when her group spotted a lone bison up ahead. "When we saw the bison prancing and kicking his heels, we were all thrilled—it was an unexpected display of agility," Goeddel recalled. "My clients were captivated, and both the snowcoach driver and I agreed he was showing off his vitality. The bison kept up this frolicsome behavior for several minutes as we followed from a safe distance." Goeddel added that after using a pullout to get around the bison, the group looked back to see that the spectacle continued. "He actually sped up, matching our pace—we could see him through the trees, racing and watching us, which fascinated us even more," Goeddel said. "We barely got ahead of him, but his lively prancing and rodeo moves left us in awe." Reads one of the top comments beneath Goeddel's Instagram post: "The most beautiful thing I saw in weeks. The world needs his vibe." Bison are the largest land mammals in North America and can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds. Yellowstone National Park is home to about 5,000 of the iconic critters.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Yellowstone 'ghost wolf' appears in mist during surreal encounter
A guide in Yellowstone National Park on Monday shared stunning footage showing a black wolf partially obscured by mist as other wolves remained mostly hidden in the background. 'This was the most quintessential Yellowstone moment I've ever experienced,' Bo Welden stated via Instagram. 'A black wolf walking on a geothermal boardwalk while steam from a nearby hot spring shrouds the rest of the pack behind. I could not believe what I was seeing!' Welden titled his post 'Ghost wolf.' If viewers look closely, as Welden pans to his right, they'll see a light-colored wolf gazing through steam toward the camera, and a third wolf closer to the boardwalk. The mystical footage provides a captivating glimpse into the lives of Yellowstone's iconic wolves during the winter, when thermal areas provide warm refuge. Welden told FTW Outdoors that the wolves are part of the wide-ranging Wapiti Lake Pack, presently the largest wolf pack in the park. The same pack was observed recently on a bison kill in a predation event that caused a bison stampede that "thundered" through a crowd of panicked onlookers, according to photographer Jeff Vanuga. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Yellowstone 'ghost wolf' appears in mist during surreal encounter
USA Today
11-02-2025
- USA Today
Yellowstone 'ghost wolf' appears in mist during surreal encounter
A guide in Yellowstone National Park on Monday shared stunning footage showing a black wolf partially obscured by mist as other wolves remained mostly hidden in the background. 'This was the most quintessential Yellowstone moment I've ever experienced,' Bo Welden stated via Instagram. 'A black wolf walking on a geothermal boardwalk while steam from a nearby hot spring shrouds the rest of the pack behind. I could not believe what I was seeing!' Welden titled his post 'Ghost wolf.' If viewers look closely, as Welden pans to his right, they'll see a light-colored wolf gazing through steam toward the camera, and a third wolf closer to the boardwalk. The mystical footage provides a captivating glimpse into the lives of Yellowstone's iconic wolves during the winter, when thermal areas provide warm refuge. Welden told FTW Outdoors that the wolves are part of the wide-ranging Wapiti Lake Pack, presently the largest wolf pack in the park. The same pack was observed recently on a bison kill in a predation event that caused a bison stampede that 'thundered' through a crowd of panicked onlookers, according to photographer Jeff Vanuga.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
Yellowstone cougars 'saunter' across ridge in rare sighting
A guide in Yellowstone National Park last week captured footage of rarely seen cougars traversing a snow-covered ridge as if out for a Sunday stroll. MacNeil Lyons of Yellowstone Insight told FTW Outdoors that he was leading a photography tour with a guest from the U.K., who was 'extremely excited' to observe cougars for the first time. Understandable, considering that most visitors to Yellowstone do not see cougars, or mountain lions. Although the park is home to perhaps a few dozen of the large wildcats, they're famously stealthy and elusive. Lyons shared the accompanying footage via Instagram, writing: 'High in elevation, between craggy peaks these two sauntered on the ridge line with a backlit 'bluebird' sky! As the lions went out of view from one vantage point, I read the landscape and moved a few miles down the road to try a different vantage point. RELATED: Yellowstone bison stampede toward snow coach in thrilling encounter 'Our luck continued as we picked them up as one sat and peered over the edge of large snow cornices. We had our time with them for at least 20 minutes.' Lyons told FTW Outdoors that he captured the footage in the northern range from more than a mile away, with an iPhone attached to a Swarovski spotting scope. He said the cougars might be the same pair – perhaps a courting pair, or a mom with a subadult offspring – that was spotted recently on a ridge hunting mountain goats. According to the park, cougars are native to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem but were nearly eradicated throughout the Lower 48 states during predator-removal campaigns in the early 1900s. They survived in the West largely because of their preference for remote, rugged habitat, and their elusive nature. Lyons, who has documented an astonishing 37 cougar sightings in 25 years of living in Montana, expressed concern for the future of the park and surrounding region in light of new or proposed laws that could jeopardize wildlife. He concluded his Instagram post: 'We need these Wild Places. But more importantly the entire 4-legged, feathered and scaled community needs this wild space. Pay attention to new state & federal laws that lessen the protection of our Public Lands. 'Times are changing and seemingly not to the benefit of those without a voice… the animal community. Be their voice for protection and ethical stewardship of these wild spaces. 'Thank you to all that are keeping up the Good Fight.' This article originally appeared on For The Win: Yellowstone cougars 'saunter' across ridge in rare sighting
