Scalloped Spring

The water level has obviously dropped over the years, most likely due from an earthquake.

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Scalloped Spring Details

Note here that the water level in Scalloped Spring has obviously dropped over the years. Most likely an earthquake occurred many years ago that rearranged the plumbing system underneath, and that resulted in a loss of its water supply. As you can see there is plenty of evidence here that animals, especially bison, have gathered very close in the vicinity of Scalloped Spring. If you look closely at the droppings, you can figure out what time of year these bison were here. That's because during the summer months when the grass and vegetation is juicy and succulent, the droppings reflect that, and will have the appearance of a pancake or a "cowpie." But during the winter the bison are feeding on dried vegetation beneath the snow. As a result the droppings will have the appearance of hard "buffalo chips," as you see here. So these bison gathered here during the cold winter months. They did this for one reason—to keep warm. You see, the ground is actually warm to the touch here. There is a unique relationship between Yellowstone's thermal basins and wildlife such as elk and bison. Here animals utilize the heat of the geyser basin to keep warm, rather than burning up their own calories. This provides just that extra small cushion that helps the animals hang on during late winter and early spring, and survive yet another cold, harsh, Yellowstone winter. And yes, sometimes animals do commit the fatal error of falling into thermal features. Evidence of that occurring is found in several pools in this basin, including Scalloped, where bones are present. Source: National Park Service, Exploring the Upper Geyser Basin, Orville Bach

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Low

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