Day 71

Thursday, August 4 2005Idaho Falls, ID
Miles: 7806Bears and wolves, oh my!

Since we hadn’t seen any Grizzlies (fortunately) or wolves (unfortunately) we went to the Grizzly and Wolf Preserve in West Yellowstone. The animals were all taken from the wild only under extenuating circumstances (usually as cubs whose mothers had been killed) or had been born in captivity and would be unable to survive in the wild. Basically, the only reason the animals were here was that they would have died in the wild. The focus of the exhibits was on learning to live with animals that have been viewed as threats to humans for many years and were hunted nearly into extinction. It was cool to see the animals playing in some semblance of their normal habitats and especially cool because of the non zoo atmosphere. The grizzlies also serve as a testing lab for waste management companies who wish to make a bear proof container. Basically, the containers are filled with yummy food and tossed to the bears. They had some of the failing models on display, complete with tooth and claw marks.

Our goal for the day was to get to Idaho Falls. Since we weren’t that far away, it wasn’t a terribly ambitious goal. We stopped to look at Mesa Falls and admired the very western scene of a raging river, waterfall and a beautiful canyon lined with trees, all topped off with a ludicrously blue sky with puffy white clouds. Sigh.
Once in Idaho Falls, we wandered around and tried to find a hotel. We eventually found one and settled in before going out in search of the Idaho Vietnam Veterans Memorial and some dinner. We found both and then strolled along the Greenbelt, a walkway that follows the river. Then we went nigh nigh.