Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park is incredibly diverse. There are many iconic American species. From bison and elk to bears and wolves, Yellowstone’s animals are a major draw for visitors from all over the world.
Wildlife
Over the years we have seen so much wildlife in Yellowstone and The Tetons. This trip Michael’s 800mm camera lens became blurry requiring a send back to service to hopefully re-calibrate it, good thing we bring plenty of other lenses.
Bison
Yellowstone is home to the largest free-ranging herd of bison in the lower 48 states.
These massive animals are an impressive sight to see, and they can often be spotted grazing in meadows or along the side of the road. They are one of Jakes favorite animals.
Elk
Elk are another common sight in Yellowstone. These large deer are known for their bugling calls during the mating season. The males are very aggressive this time of year. Elk can be found all over the park, but they are especially concentrated in the Mammoth Hot Springs/Gardiner area.
Bears
We didn’t see any on this section of our trip, but hopefully in the next few weeks we will see some. Yellowstone has both grizzly bears and black bears. Grizzly bears are the larger of the two species, and they are known for their predatory behavior. Black bears are smaller and more common, and they are generally less aggressive than grizzly bears.
Wolves and Coyotes
This coyote has a limp after being hit by a car. Hopefully it will heal before winter sets in.
Another coyote trying to catch a meal.
There were four bald eagles on a bison carcass. A coyote was able to feed for just a bit. The carcass was very far off, so the photos aren’t high quality.
Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995, and they have since become an important part of the park’s ecosystem. Wolves can be difficult to spot, but they are sometimes seen in the Lamar Valley or the Hayden Valley. We’ve seen them at both locations. Wolves have broad snouts and shorter rounder ears. Bison eventually chased off the wolf. Others said they saw a grizzly bear the day before.
Other Wildlife
Yellowstone is also home to a variety of other animals, including moose, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and bobcats.
Pronghorn are mostly seen in Lamar Valley. They are also prevelant around the Gardiner entrance to Yellowstone.
There were Bighorn sheep in the Tower section of Yellowstone.
There are also over 300 species of birds in the park, including bald eagles, osprey, raven, trumpeter swans, hawks, sandhill cranes, ducks and other smaller birds. There’s always something to see.
