Beryl, the Yellowstone Grizzly

Beryl has been a Friend for Three Years

Beryl has been a friend for three years. About fifteen years old, she is a well known grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. For two years, I photographed her with her twin cubs, and this year, surprisingly, she continued to have the cubs with her as three year olds. 

Last week, when in Yellowstone, I saw her for the first time in a year. Rumor had it, she was beginning to separate from her three year old cubs. For two years, I had seen them together. She was always a caring, attentive mother, staying close to the twins, guiding them to independence. Feeding along the hillsides, they were often seen together, gaining nutrition while growing up. But now, it was time for them to move off on their own. 

I liked the way Beryl would sometimes look up, scanning the road at the throng of photographers and tourists as she played the role of a protective mother. She is a beautiful bear. Officially identified by her research number as Grizzly #980, she is named after the Beryl Springs area and easily identifiable by her whitish facial markings and exceptional maternal instincts.

So when I heard she was beginning to separate from her twin cubs, we searched while driving in the area she frequented. Then we saw a couple of photographers standing along an open field near Beryl’s home ground. Stepping from the SUV, I walked over learning that two grizzlies had been spotted about a quarter mile back in the field. 

Standing with my RMNPhotographer friend and talented photographer Marcos R. Quintana, we looked through binoculars and long lens cameras, searching the treeline, but no bears were spotted. Unwilling to give up so easily, Marcos and I wandered down the road on high alert. 

As we stood scanning the area, Marcos suddenly said, “There,” pointing to a stand of pines along the road. Emerging from the foliage, a grizzly sauntered into the open, her undeniable claws flopping one after another leading her toward us.

Our cameras were immediately up, Marcos’ Canon 200-800 lens and my 600 prime. Through the magnification, I could see it was Beryl. Full bodied and powerful, she moved closer to us in a parallel fashion. As she came our way, we walked backward, looking forward through the lens, staying ahead of Beryl. 

Then she took off running across the meadow, lumbering like a smoothly coordinated heavy weight wrestler, full bodied yet quick in her movements. It was surprising to see the speed exerted by such a 350 pound brute.

Marcos and I trotted the roadside, not so athletically in our advanced ages, but trying to stay even with Beryl’s movements. Then she slowed before stopping to feed on the lush green spring grasses. Once again, our cameras were up.

It was beautiful to watch. A grizzly bear is an intimidating animal. Large and powerful, I had never seen one stand tall, but knew when on her hind legs, she would reach a height of nearly eight feet. Tall enough to easily dunk a basketball.

As the crowd gathered around us, we found seats on a long ago fallen log. Lower to the ground, it was a better photograph perspective as if the animal was closer to us. I kept watching, commenting to Marcos that my greatest challenge was holding the monster lens. On our second day of photography, the weight of the powerful lens had begun to fatigue my left shoulder.

Suddenly, Beryl’s nose came up, sniffing. She looked to the north feeling the breeze in her face. Our cameras were clicking. She was beautiful with her deep tan coat of long hair, her white facial markings in the air. 

Something had gained her attention. We couldn’t see any other animals, but her nose was high when her shoulders came up, her front legs pushing to sit tall like my twelve pound lap dog. 

Then it happened. Beryl stood up. I had never seen a grizzly stand tall, her paws hanging in front of her, claws long and downward threatening without trying to be. She was mammoth, her large head searching the meadow. Behind the whirl of my camera, my smile was large. 

Slowly, as she lowered to all fours, from behind his camera, Marcos said, “Did you get that?” I answered, “I did.” He laughed for us both, answering, “Me too.”

Three times, Beryl repeated her search of the meadow, standing tall with menacing grizzly claws. And three times, my camera whirled, capturing the presence of this beautiful beast surveying her surroundings on two legs.

It was something I had never photographed, a grizzly standing eight feet tall. As she wandered toward the treeline, disappearing into the forest, I thanked my old friend for providing me with this special moment of photography.