'Yellowstone' Recap: 'Summer'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

I have to admit, that the more time I’ve had to think about the series premiere of Yellowstone on BBC America, the more I’m coming to appreciate this particular documentary for one reason and one reason alone; it doesn’t pull any punches. Because the harsh winter that the last episode of this series helped us explore was truly a harrowing and sobering tale that really spoke to the resiliency of the wildlife in that area and it was my hope that the next episode in this fascinating tale was going to keep that tradition going and let me tell you now, ‘Summer’ certainly did not disappoint.
 
Because as it turns out, even summers in this beautiful place are hard on wildlife, but not for reasons that one would expect. After all, it would make sense for brutal heat to punish the animals that live here, but ironically, heat, or the lack thereof in this case, is precisely why summer is a tough time in this place. Because summer in Yellowstone really doesn’t start for quite some time, thanks in large part to the elevation of the park, since being that high up means the cold sticks around longer than most of us are used to, which means there’s still snow on the ground when most of the animals that migrated away during the winter return to their usual stomping grounds.
 
But, the good news is, once that snow is gone, it’s nothing but sheer beauty and vibrancy in Yellowstone, and the food is plentiful for every single animal in the park. There are green pastures to feed the mighty bison and plenty of fish in the water for bears and even otters to feast upon and we even learned that a rare hummingbird makes its way up from Mexico to enjoy the wondrous bounty of flowers that grow during this season. However, despite the fact that it’s June in this magical place, snow can still fall in great amounts since a minor disappearance from the sun can allow for cold air to pour down the mountains and into the basin that is the park and it was extremely wild to watch a blizzard come down in a month where most of us park ourselves in front of an air conditioner.
 
Yet, the bounty and beauty of summertime doesn’t last for long. For once late summer arrives, the heat finally becomes a factor as the grass begins to dry out, and of course, wildfires become a risk as well for wildlife since those blazes not only ravage shelter for animals, but ruin their food supply as well, likely costing many animals their lives once winter returns. And speaking of the impending cold that is on its way, many a creature begins preparing for the winter in August, like the bears that roam the park, who climb high into the mountains to find moths that are rich in calories so they can begin to build their hibernation bodies before the snow begins to fall.
 
If anything, this was quite the fascinating look into a different kind of summer. Because in our world, it’s hikes and barbecues and everything in between and we admire the beauty of the season for quite some time before we have to worry about any snow. But up in Yellowstone, it’s a race against time to be ready before the punishing winter returns again and it was just incredible to see all of these animals work quickly to raise their young and prepare them for the cold to come and well, it’s a shame that there’s only one episode left in this magnificent series, but alas, there’s only one more season to explore, the fall, and that’s where we are headed in next week’s series finale and I cannot wait to learn more about how life here truly races to a wintery finish line to survive that brutal season. Until next time. 

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