Yellowstone - A Wildlife Hotspot
A guide to Yellowstone's wildlife

If you're up for a bone-chilling adventure, head to Yellowstone National Park during winter.  With grizzly bears in their dens, wolves lay claim to the Lamar Valley and   Yellowstone becomes a world of both steam and ice.


Moose at Yellowstone NP; copyright Steven Holt/stockpix.com
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  YELLOWSTONE - AMERICA'S FIRST NATIONAL PARK

Even during the peak of tourist season, you can still discover the wild in Yellowstone.  America's first national park remains one of the best places to observe big game on the North American continent.  Pronghorn antelope, elk, moose and whitetail and mule deer all thrive here.  And if you're lucky, you may hear a gray wolf howl in the distance, see the tracks of an elusive mountain lion or watch a grizzly bear feed on a kill in the Lamar Valley.

Small mammals include porcupines, bobcats, river otters, foxes, beavers, snowshoe hares, flying squirrels and wolverines. Yellowstone also provides habitat for 290 species of birds, including the beautiful and threatened trumpeter swan.  White pelicans nest near Yellowstone Lake, and bald and golden eagles command the skies.

Trumpeter Swan, copyright Steven Holt/stockpix.com



RECOMMENDED WILDLIFE VIEWING AREAS

North Entrance: Watch for pronghorn antelopes in the sagebrush flats.
Mammoth Hot Springs:  Check for moose, deer, elk and coyote.
Hayden Valley:  Look for moose between Fishing Bridge and Canyon.
The Lamar Valley:  Elk, eagles, bison and mule deer are seen in this area.  Bring binoculars or a scope and you may be fortunate enough to see wolves, grizzlies, and bighorn sheep.  Learn more about the Lamar Valley's famous Druid wolf pack here.

To improve your chances of observing wolves and other elusive wildlife,  consider a learning vacation, field seminar or personal "ed-venture" offered through the nonprofit Yellowstone Institute.  Stay in the historic national park lodges or choose a backcountry trip far away from the summer crowds:  The Yellowstone Institute.

BEST TIMES TO VISIT

Yellowstone offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities all year.  In September and October, you'll be able to view male elk, moose and deer at their finest, while winter brings the best odds for seeing wolves in the Lamar Valley.

BIRD AND MAMMAL CHECK LISTS:

Bird Check List                                                    Mammal Check List
 
YOUTUBE VIDEO PICKS
Fox in Winter from Nature's "Christmas in Yellowstone"
 Casanova - from Nature's "In the Valley of the Wolves"


Diamond Dust (snow and elk) from Nature's "Christmas in Yellowstone" Wolves vs. Grizzlies in Yellowstone - From National Geographic

PARK LINKS

Wildlife of Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park  - NPS
Campgrounds in Yellowstone NP
Seasonal Hours/ Road Access Information
National Geographic - Birding Yellowstone

 Wildlife Hotspots by Region
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(c) Wildlifehotspots.com 2008 -  Worldwide Birding and Wildlife Hotspots, Wildlife Photography Tips and Wildlife Slideshows
Images of moose, trumpeter swan and Canada Geese copyright Steven Holt/stockpix.com. Image of wolves credit Bill Campbell/NPS. Other images with thanks and credit to Jim Peaco/NPS.