10 Animals in Yellowstone – Viewing Tips

Imagine packing your bags, grabbing your camera, and setting off on an unforgettable road trip to Yellowstone National Park.

With these essential tips for viewing 10 magnificent animals now a key part of your Yellowstone itinerary, you’re not just planning a trip; you’re crafting an adventure of a lifetime.

Excitement fills the air as you embark on a journey where nature’s wonders are not just seen but experienced. From the majestic grizzly bear emerging from hibernation to the elusive cougar prowling in the twilight, every moment is a treasure waiting to be discovered.

Yellowstone Guidebook Top Tips

This article will guide you through the essential insights that should be on every wildlife enthusiast’s itinerary, enhancing your photography opportunities and your overall experience in Yellowstone.

So, let’s dive into this adventure together, exploring the beauty of nature and the wildlife that calls this park home.

 

1. Grizzly Bear

• Sighting Chance: Low – Moderate

Season/Months

Grizzly bears are most often seen between March and May in Yellowstone National Park – just as they emerge from hibernation. Sightings are also reported during fall, as the bears begin fattening up for winter.

Hibernation generally occurs from November until February, meaning the bears are absent during these months.

Time of Day

Peak activity times are around dawn and dusk, with grizzly bears using these times to feed. They can be seen during the middle of the day, although most individuals spend this period sleeping.

Where

Despite being thought of as forest animals, grizzly bears are regularly sighted in upland meadows. North-eastern Yellowstone is the best place to see them, with the Lamar Valley and Yellowstone Lake being hotspots, as well as Hayden Valley.

You don’t have to do backcountry hiking to spot them. Drive through the valleys and stop at one of the pullouts to check the area for grizzlies.

Interesting Facts

Grizzly bears are well known for their size and power, with the largest individuals weighing up to 800 pounds (363 kg). Their formidable appearance disguises their love for berries and fruits, which make up the majority of their diet. However, they also feed on animals, with elk and bison being common food sources during spring.

Speed is one of the grizzly bear’s key weapons, with these animals capable of topping 30 mph in pursuit of prey. 728 individuals were recorded in greater Yellowstone during 2019

 

2. Black Bear

• Sighting Chance: Moderate

Season/Months

The spring months are the best time of year to see black bears in Yellowstone, as they emerge from their dens in late March. They move to higher altitudes during the summer but become more visible again in fall before disappearing back into their burrows in November.

Time of Day

Black bears mainly forage at night. However, they can be seen at any time of the day. Most sightings tend to be around dawn and dusk.

Where

Black bears are often seen around Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Junction, although they are present in many of Yellowstone’s valleys.

Interesting Facts

Black bears are opportunistic foragers, meaning they eat whatever they can get their paws on. Typically, their diet consists of berries, roots, and rodents, although more adventurous bears have been known to raid campsites in search of food.

Black bears track down meals using their incredible sense of smell, which is seven times more powerful than a domestic dog’s. Black bear numbers in Yellowstone are unknown, but they are quite commonly seen.

 

3. Bison

• Sighting Chance: High

Season/Months

Bison can be seen all year-round in Yellowstone, tending to stay at higher elevation during the summer before moving lower down as winter arrives. Calving occurs from April until June.

Time of Day

Active throughout the day, bison typically graze in the morning and afternoon, resting in between.

Where

The Hayden and Lamar Valleys are home to bison year-round, while the Madison River is a popular spot during winter in Yellowstone.

Interesting Facts

Bison are the heaviest land mammals in North America, with bulls sometimes weighing in at over a ton. For such large animals, they are surprisingly quick on their feet, able to reach speeds of 40 mph. Bison are very social and live in large herds of about 20 individuals, often led by mature females.

Almost 5,000 bison are estimated to live in Yellowstone in total. In the fall, the grasslands echo with the bellows of large males as they fight amongst each other during the annual rut.

 

4. Gray Wolf

• Sighting Chance: Low

Season/Months

Gray wolves can be seen at any time of year in Yellowstone. However, they often move to higher altitudes during summer to avoid the heat, making winter the best time to see them.

Time of Day

Dawn and dusk are the two favorite times of day for wolves. While it’s possible to see them at other times, they often rest during the middle of the day.

Where

Wolves are most common in northern parts of Yellowstone, with the Lamar and Hayden Valleys being good places to see them.

Interesting Facts

With their solemn howls being one of the most iconic sounds in the wild, gray wolves are one of the most popular animals in Yellowstone. Hunted to extinction here in the 1970’s, they have since made a comeback and there are now more than 500 wolves in the greater Yellowstone region.

They live and hunt in small packs, using their teamwork and endurance to take down prey as large as elk and even bison. Although greatly feared, they almost never attack humans.

 

5. Moose

• Sighting Chance: Moderate

Season/Months

Moose can be seen at any time of the year in Yellowstone National Park but are most obvious during September and October when the males call loudly to attract females. Calving occurs in early summer.

Time of Day

Generally active throughout the day, moose are most likely to be seen around dawn or dusk, as they forage for food.

Where

Moose spend much of their time in or around water, meaning rivers and ponds are the best places to find them. Willow Park wetland and Mammoth Hot Springs are prime locations in the park.

Interesting Facts

Growing to over 7 feet tall, moose are the largest members of the deer family. Bulls can be identified by their large antlers, which they keep for most of the year, before shedding after the breeding season.

Unlike other deer species, moose are solitary animals and spend much of their time alone, feeding on aquatic plants such as duckweed. There are fewer than 200 individuals in Yellowstone, with the population decreasing due to hunting in nearby regions.

 

6. Elk

• Sighting Chance: Almost Guaranteed

Season/Months

Although they are seen all year-round in Yellowstone, elk are most obvious in summer, when their herd sizes swell to thousands of individuals. In the fall, males engage in violent clashes during the annual rut.

Time of Day

Elk are active during the day, with peaks around dawn and dusk. This behavior is an adaptation to avoid Yellowstone’s large predators.

Where

Elk are found throughout Yellowstone’s valleys, with Mammoth Hot Springs being one of the best locations for sightings. They tend to migrate towards the north of the park during winter.

Interesting Facts

Elk are the most common large animals in Yellowstone, with herds numbering as many as 20,000 individuals during summer. Males produce loud, eerie calls during the breeding season – a behavior known as bugling.

Their antlers grow to an impressive size, sometimes weighing as much as 20 kg, a feature that can make them majestic animals to see. Elk are also known as wapiti – a native American word that means ‘light-colored deer’.

 

7. Pronghorn

• Sighting Chance: Good

Season/Months

Pronghorn can be seen at any time of year in Yellowstone, although they often move further north during winter. Calving occurs during late spring and early summer.

Time of Day

Being crepuscular animals, pronghorn are most active at dawn and dusk. Despite this, they can be seen throughout the day and spend much of their time grazing.

Where

Pronghorn favor Yellowstone’s open prairies and grasslands. In summer, the Lamar Valley is the best place for sightings, with the North Entrance being a popular spot in winter.

Interesting Facts

Closely resembling antelope, Pronghorn are built for speed, able to reach more than 50 mph over short distances. This makes them the second-fastest land animals on the planet – an ability that helps them escape their predators.

Young pronghorn are just as athletic and can walk within 30 minutes of birth, being able to out-run a human at just a few days old. There are just over 500 individuals within Yellowstone, with the population thought to be increasing.

 

8. Bighorn Sheep

• Sighting Chance: Low

Season/Months

Although bighorn sheep can be seen at any time of year in Yellowstone, they spend the summer months on high mountain slopes. Thus, they are easier to see in the winter when they move to lower elevations.

Time of Day

Bighorn sheep are primarily active during the day when they feed and rest intermittently. They also come out on moonlit nights.

Where

Steep mountain terrain is the best place to see bighorn sheep. They can usually be found on the slopes of Mount Washburn or in regions surrounding the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Interesting Facts

The bighorn sheep lives up to its name, with the males flaunting large horns that weigh more than all of the bones in their bodies combined. These impressive weapons are utilized towards the end of fall, with males clashing on mountain slopes in a struggle for supremacy.

Bighorn sheep are closely related to goats, and they are incredible climbers, with their split hooves giving them an excellent grip, even on cliff faces. Almost 350 individuals live in northern Yellowstone, making them rather scarce.

 

9. Bald Eagle

• Sighting Chance: Good

Season/Months

Bald eagles can be seen year-round in Yellowstone, although some migrate elsewhere during winter, meaning there are slightly better chances to see them in summer.

Time of Day

Active during the day, bald eagles are seen most often at dawn and dusk. These are common hunting times, with other parts of the day being dedicated to rest.

Where

The Hayden Valley and Madison River are two hotspots for bald eagles all year-round. They prefer being close to water, meaning the Gardner River is another good place to spot them, especially in winter.

Interesting Facts

As one of the most iconic animals in the United States, the bald eagle can be an evocative sight in the Yellowstone landscape. The park has one of the largest eagle populations in the country, with 31 active nests recorded in 2019.

Bald eagles are powerful hunters, using their keen eyesight to pick out prey from great distances. They feed mainly on fish, but they will also hunt small mammals while occasionally scavenging carrion. Being very long-lived birds, bald eagles will sometimes reach the age of 28 years old.

 

10. Coyotes

• Sighting Chance: Good

Season/Months

It’s possible to see coyotes at any time of year in Yellowstone National Park. However, they often become more visible during the winter months as they move away from higher altitudes. Pups are usually born in spring, emerging from their dens by early summer.

Time of Day

Coyotes can be active at any time of day, but dawn and dusk are the best times to see them. They also hunt at night on occasion.

Where

They tend to be seen in grassland regions, although they are present throughout Yellowstone, even close to very busy areas.

Interesting Facts

Famed for their wily nature, coyotes are intelligent animals who rely on their opportunistic behavior to find food. They feed largely on small rodents and young elk, but they will also raid bins and steal human food if given the chance.

Coyotes are common in Yellowstone, however, their population has decreased with the resurgence of wolves, as the two species compete for territory and food. They are one of the most vocal large mammals, communicating with distinctive howls and barks.

 

SPECIAL ANIMAL: Cougar

• Sighting Chance: Very Low

Season/Months

Cougars can be seen all year-round in Yellowstone National Park. However, most sightings are during the winter months when they move to lower altitudes.

Time of Day

Cougars are considered to be nocturnal and crepuscular, being very secretive by nature. Dawn and dusk can be the best times to spot them.

Where

Rocky areas and dense forests are the preferred habitats for cougars, meaning they tend to be present in northern regions of Yellowstone. You’re far more likely to come across them in remote areas.

Interesting Facts

Cougars are among the most seldom-seen creatures in Yellowstone, as they typically prefer to avoid humans as much as possible. On top of this, the population is very low – only numbering around 40 individuals – mostly due to the historic impacts of hunting.

Cougars are ambush predators and stalk their prey from the shadows, overcoming them with a burst of speed and power. Deer make up most of their diet, but they will hunt smaller mammals as well.