Wildlife, Yellowstone National Park

Favorite thing: We didn't see any Bighorn Sheep on our first visit in August of 05, but on our Sept. 06 trip we saw plenty! Our first encounter with these guys was on the Canyon/Tower stretch of the Loop road. It was just past dusk and I had a hard time figuring out what they were until we drove up just next to them.
The best viewing of the bighorns was on our way out of the northeast entrance towards Gardiner.
We pulled over to spot ablout fifteen of these guys on a hilltop.
They like rocky, mountainous terrain, so look for these guys on hillsides.

4 more images

Favorite thing: I found that the most consistant area in Yellowstone to see elk is right in the middle of Mammoth Hot Springs Village. The elk are attracted to the lawns in the village, and can be seen in front of the hotel, near the Hot Springs, at Fort Yellowstone, on the median along the road by the Post Office. If fact, just about anywhere. They're not completetly predictable. So you can't say that at 5PM daily they'll be in front of the Terrace Grill. But, we stayed at the Mammoth Cabins for 4 nights, and every day we found elk grazing somewhere in the village. Plus, it seemed like most evenings just before sunset, many of the elk started up the old Gardner Road and went to the plateau overlooking the area.

3 more images

Favorite thing: If the weather is bad take a ride around the park and see what wildlife you come upon. Even if you aren't necessarily looking for wildlife, it will definately find you! We came upon this guy, on a drive up to Canyon Village.

2 more images

Favorite thing: We saw Coyotes in 2 spots in Yellowstone. The first time, we spotted a lone coyote in Hayden Valley, not far from the Nez Pierce picnic area. The second was far more exciting! We saw an entire family of Coyotes, Mom, dad and 5 little cubs. We were on our Photo Safari driving along in the area between the Fishing Bridge and the East Entrance, right along Mary Bay. Our guide had mentioned there was a family living in the area. I was the first to spot one. Soon they all emerged. We spent some time with them, They never approached too closely, but they watched our big yellow motorcoach from a distance.

Fondest memory: Some of my favorite photographs are of these little pups. It was wonderful to see them playing and flocking in the wildflowers.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/nature/animals/Coyote/coyote.html

Favorite thing: Moose are just about my favorite animal on the planet. When planning our trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National parks I would ask everyone who had visited "did you see a moose?" About 90% of the responses was yes, so I thought my odds were pretty good. Well, in all I saw 7 moose! 4 in Grand Teton, 3 in Yellowstone. 1 Bull Moose, 4 ladies and 2 babies. How exciting!
These gorgeous creatures are usually solitary animals, exceptions to that rule are during mating season and when a mother is with her calf. They like water plants so look for them munching on willows near rivers and lakes.

Fondest memory: This momma moose is having an evening snack in a little pond not far from the loop road. Just before this photo was taken her baby had stepped out of the pond.

Favorite thing: Oh the adorable Yellow Bellied Marmot! I was so happy to get a chance to see this little fella. He must have been out for a last minute snack just before he turned in for hibernation. They start their hibernation in late summer and don't emerge again until May. The Marmot is related to the woodchuck, it's approximately the same size. They like high elevations and make there burrows near rocks so they can climb on top and use them as lookout towers.

Favorite thing: Earlier in the day when we had stopped at a lookoff in Gallatin National Forest, I had commented to Lou that I would really like to see a Pronghorn Antelope. Only a few hours later my wish would come true.
The word Antelope just seems so exotic. I hear antelope and I picture African plains. Strange to think there are some in America! With the Abilty to run over 45 miles per hour, they are definately america's fastest land animal.
There is a small here of these lovely creatures in the park. Our photo guide told us that the population was dwindling and the rangers were
concerned about inbreeding. I hope they recover. They are just gorgeous.

http://www.wcs.org/international/northamerica/yellowstone/pronghornmigration

Fondest memory: Spotting this guy up on a hillside while driving down the one way Beartooth Plateau drive. I was so excited to see him.

Favorite thing: American Bison, also known as Buffalo are so prevalent in the park you may start to take them for granted. When you see people stopped on the side of the road you generally are curious, when you find out it is Bison they are stopping to see your response may be "Oh just more Buffalo..."
Lou and I would try and snap ourselves out of this train of thought. I mean they really are incredible animals.
The Herd that roams Yellowstone Park has been in the area since prehistoric times. There are thousands of them! They are the only truly wild Buffalo left.
Some of the herd has been killed in effort to protect livestock from a disease called brucellosis. This disease causes immature birth with cattle. In winter, the bison will travel outside of the park searching for lower ground to keep warm. The ranchers fear that the buffalo will come into contact with their cattle and transfer the disease to them. There are not a lot of cattle that even graze very close to the park. There is a bill in the works to protect the Buffalo. If you'd like, take a look at the links to sign a petition in favor of the bill, and to look at the bill itself.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/395560384?ltl=1126111356

Fondest memory: We actually spent 1 1/2 days in the park (next time we would like to spend more time in order to see everything) but we were simply blown away by the amount of wildlife roaming everywhere...it seemed like you could almost reach out and touch them. Whether walking along the road (bison) or relaxing in the river, it's an amazing sight to behold.

Favorite thing: With a wing-span of up to 6 ft. I never expected to see Pelicans so far inland. They nest in the park and are quite common in Hayden Valley and Yellowstone Lake.

Other birds you may observe around water are Canada's Geese, Mallards and Trumpeter Swans.