Wildlife in and around Yellowstone Bears Many people do see a bear from a safe distance, and they consider it a thrill of a lifetime. The opportunity that Americans still have in Yellowstone to see grizzly--and black--bears is extraordinary. Bears tend to hideout during the day when most people are out exploring the park. The best time to see a bear is very early in the morning or late in the evening. Bears are out hunting their food at this time. With a little skill, a lot of patience, and a lot of luck you may have an experience of a lifetime. The black bear is not always black. They can be black, brown, or a cinnamon color. Grizzlies can also be brown, black, or any shade in between. So if they are the same color how can you distinguish between the two? If you see a hump on the shoulder of a bear, you can be sure it is a Grizzly. Although Yellowstone has a high concentration of grizzlies, actually seeing one is rare. Most visitors see Black bears more frequently due to their higher concentration in the park. (Cinnamon-colored Black Bear)  If you camp in the back country, never pick a site with evidence of bears such as tracks, digging, or scat. Keep your gear clean and food free and sleep at least 100 yards from your cooking area. Bearproof your food by by sealing it along with toothpaste, cosmetics and clothes worn while cooking inside plastic bags. Hang the bags at least 10 feet above the ground and at least four feet from any trunk or post. Bison Yellowstone has a history of protecting the Bison population of North America. Today, Yellowstone has the largest free roaming bison population on the world. While driving through Yellowstone you are sure to see some Bison. Yellowstone Bison are infamous for causing traffic jams. This immobilization of cars is not caused by an abundance of cars, rather bison crossing the road. Bison have been known to stand in the middle of the road and prohibit card from moving. If you encounter this rare occurrence please be patient and Stay in your vehicle. Respect the animals, remember you are a guest in their home. (Yellowstone Bison)  Elk The Elk is on eof the largest members of the deer family. There are an abundance of Elk within Yellowstone and they can be seen almost anywhere throughout the park. Most of Yellowstone’s elk population migrates from the National Elk Refuge located in Jackson, WY. (Bull Elk)  Antelope / Pronghorn The antelope is one of the fastest animals in the world. They can run at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. Antelope are prominent in the park and can be easily seen because of their white markings. Lamar Valley and between Gardnier and Mammoth are good places to catch a glimpse of this speedy animal. Moose The moose is the largest member of the deer family. Bulls can weigh up to 1800lbs and stand 71/2 ft high at he shoulder. Their long lanky legs allow the moose to traverse easily through snow. Even with their enormous bulk, the moose are excellent swimmers. The distinctive "bells" of skin on the moose’s neck is always present but seems to have no useful purpose. Moose eat water plants from ponds and streams, these plants are known as "moose muck". Ponds, streams, lakes, and swamps are the best place for moose viewing. Although moose seem calm and reserved these animals are quite aggressive, especially a cow with her calf. The mother will attack anything that she thinks will harm her baby. Never approach a moose because they can be wildly unpredictable. (Bull Moose) 
Wildlife Viewing Guidelines Adhering to a few simple guidelines will make your viewing experience (the that of those around you) even more meaningful. Jason Wilson and Debbie Lineweaver have been observing wildlife in Yellowstone for over 25 years and have compiled the following guidelines - please take a moment to read them. Everyone is excited to see wildlife in Yellowstone, but please keep all of this mind. They are intended to help the animals and everyone's Yellowstone experience. (Wolf No. 163 of the Druid Peak Pack)  RESPECT FOR WILDLIFE Do not pursue or chase wildlife, whether by foot or in a vehicle. This includes moving your vehicle into a position that effectively "blocks" wolves that are trying to cross a roadway. Wolves approaching the road are almost always looking to cross. Allow it to happen. Forcing an animal to move off or change their behavior is forbidden. Try to anticipate the movement of animals and stay out of their way! Do not feed or touch wild animals. Feeding wildlife can lead to habituation of the animal to humans which in turn can result in the animal's injury or death. A habituated animal can also pose a threat to human safety. If you encounter an animal on the road, stay in your car. Often animals are afraid of people outside their car, but tolerate vehicles. Park regulations stipulate that wildlife may not be approached closer than a distance of 25 yards. For bears, the distance is 100 yards. Honor area closures. Do not walk into areas posted as closed. Most closures are temporary and created to allow wildlife to successfully breed and/or forage. Closed areas are small relative to the areas left open, so it is the least we can do to help the wildlife in question survive. Do not disturb nests or dens. If you are aware of a sensitive location that is not closed, refrain from going there. Closures are not used in all cases where they may be needed to protect wildlife. Use your own good sense in avoiding disturbance in these situations. Howling, hooting, or other attempts to get wildlife to respond is illegal. Do not howl at the wolves. Invariably, someone has the urge to try but never hear the wolves answer. These activities can disrupt the natural flow of wildlife habits. It can also be annoying to other visitors. Drive slowly. Yellowstone Park speed limit is 45 mph or less, but frankly, 35 mph is fast enough if you want to spot wildlife. Plus, the chance of hitting an animal and causing its injury or death is reduced as you reduce your speed. This is particularly true at night, or near dusk and dawn. However, if you are traveling slower than those behind you, please pull over and let them pass. Do not remove anything from the park (rocks, flowers, antlers, etc.). With close to 3 million visitors per year, removal of objects would damage habitat. It is illegal and can lead to significant fines. (Bear Cubs)  Wildlife in Shoshone National Forrest |
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Photo Credit: Jamie Ruggles Big Horn Sheep The Big Horn Sheep [Ovis canadensis] is a large North American species with a brown coat, which turns to bluish-grey in winter. It is so named from the size of the horns of the ram, which often measure over 1 m/3.3 ft round the curve. Classification: Ovis canadensis is in family Bovidae, order Artiodactyla |
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Bobcat [Lynx rufus] The bobcat is proportioned like a small lynx, with a powerful body, short, sturdy legs, and a very short tail. Its fairly large head has large, sharply-pointed ears, tufted in some subspecies. Its buff coat fades to white on its undersides and is barred and spotted on its flanks, belly and legs with dark brown or black. The backs of its ears are black with a white "eye" spot. The bobcat may be found in most terrain, short of actual desert, of western North America from British Columbia to central Mexico. It is very territorial, where it hunts by night, from the ground or trees, and seeks rabbits, gophers, and other small animals. Prior to the settlement of its territory by Europeans, the bobcat ranged over a much wider area of the U.S. and Canada. This is the wildcat that a mountain man was supposed to be able to whup his weight in. Common Name(s): Bobcat, Bay Lynx, Wildcat Scientific Name: Felis [Lynx] Rufus Weight: 15-35 pounds Head/Body: 30 inches Tail: 6 inches Status: 1 subspecies endangered Estimated World Population: Large |
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Photo Credit: Harold Wilion Elk (Wapiti) [Cervus elaphus] North American elk are divided into six subspecies of the red deer (Cervus elaphus). It would probably be better to call these ecotypes, rather than subspecies, because their differences are due largely to what and how much they eat. There are four subspecies of Elk in North America today: Manitoban (found mostly in Canada), Tule (found only in California), Roosevelt's (found in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California), and Rocky Mountain (found mostly in the Rockies, but many have been placed in other states). Two of the original subspecies are extinct: Eastern elk and Merriam's elk (once found in the Southwest). |
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Photo Credit: Lee Snipes [Greyhawk] Mountain Goat (2 kids playing) [Oreamnos americanus] This blunt, squarish-looking animal has a narrow head with slender, black, shiny horns rising in a backward curve to a length of 10-12 inches. The coat is white and on the chin is a double beard of long hair. Weighing an average of 150-300 pounds and reaching heights of 35-45 inches, this animal is sure-footed and agile due to its hooves with cushioned skid-proof pads for grip. DISTRIBUTION - The mountain goat lives in rocky mountainous areas above the timberline throughout parts of North America. British Columbia's population is by far the largest at approximately 100,000. BIOLOGY - This animal feeds on alpine grasses and flowers to almost any tree and shrub. The rutting season occurs between November and early January and the young (often twins) is born in May or June. The greatest cause of death for these mountain dwellers is accidents and in the winter when the availability of food is decreased, they are more susceptible to disease, parasites, predators and accidents. |
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Photo Credit: Brian Wolitski Grizzly Bear [Ursus arctos horribilis] The grizzly bear, which is threatened with extinction in the United States and is vulnerable in Canada has the reputation of being the most ferocious and dangerous mammal in North America. Although grizzlies will, for the most part, avoid contact with humans, they are sometimes unpredictable and should be given plenty of room. They move with a slow shambling walk, the low-slung head swinging from side to side. They can move very quickly, however, and even horses find it difficult to evade a rushing grizzly. This powerful animal once inhabited almost all of western North America but, with the advent of the Europeans on a new continent, their numbers were reduced until now they are restricted chiefly to the Canadian Rockies and Alaska. Grizzlies vary widely in body shape, colour and in the shape of their heads. The tundra grizzly is often creamy yellow on the back with brownish legs and underparts. In the Rocky Mountains, the “silver-tip” phase is dominant. Adults weigh from 136 to 526 kg and are prodigiously strong. |
Last Updated : Juni 2010