Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Since their delisting from the list of threatened species in 2007, there are an estimated
150 grizzly bears living in the park, up to 600 in the Greater Yellowstone area, and likely
three to four times as many black bears. Gray wolves were reintroduced to the park (after
being entirely killed off in the area) in 1995, and today there are roughly 98 wolves living
in 10 packs in the park, plus an additional 200 outside the park but within the Greater Yel-
lowstone area. Wolverines and lynx live within the park but are rarely seen. Coyotes are
plentiful and often visible from cars. There are fewer than 25 mountain lions. Elk popula-
tions soar in the summer months to 10,000-20,000 animals compared to the roughly 5,00
elk that winter over in the park, while moose, hard hit by the fires of 1988, number fewer
than 200. There are between 150-225 bighorn sheep in the park and up to 300 nonnative
mountain goats.
Finding the animals means knowing their habitats, being willing to wait during the
edges of daylight, and oftentimes just plain getting lucky. A number of excellent wildlife
spotting guides are available through the Yellowstone Association (406/848-2400,
www.yellowstoneassociation.org
)
, but the most obvious place to start is by asking any of
the rangers at the park's various visitors centers. They can tell you about recent predatory
kills, bear and wolf activity, elk and bison migrations, and the most up-to-date sightings of
any number of animals.
As is true with nearly every feature of the park, the importance of safety in the face of
wildlife cannot be overstated. Be certain to stay at least 25 yards away from bison and elk
and at least 100 yards away from bears, wolves, and other predators. If the animals change
their behavior because of your presence, if they stop eating to look at you, for example, you
are too close and are creating a significant and perhaps even life-threatening hazard for both
the animal and yourself. Always remember that you are the visitor here and they are the
residents; show proper respect.
Geothermal Features
If the animals are what bring people to Yellowstone, the geothermal features are what trans-
fix them and lure them back year after year.
The world's largest concentration of thermal features—more than 10,000 in
all—Yellowstone bursts to life with geysers, hot springs, fumaroles (steam vents), and mud
pots. There are six grand geysers, of which
Old Faithful
is the most famous, and more than
300 lesser geysers. Throughout the park, there are a number of basins where visitors can
see all four types of thermal features, including
Norris Geyser Basin.
