The wildlife show in Yellowstone is second to none, and no matter when you visit, you’ll get a front-row seat.
In June, animals of all stripes raise babies, from marmots to bighorn sheep to predators like grizzlies and badgers. In July, wolf pups venture to a “rendezvous site” where they spend most of summer with wolf babysitters. Grizzlies meander up to high mountain peaks searching for moths.
The thunderous bellows of bull bison boom as the bison rut ramps up every August, and great herds gather in Lamar and Hayden Valleys. A few weeks later, pronghorn mate. The high-pitched bugle of bull elk echoes across the land by the second week of September. Overhead, migratory hawks and eagles begin their winter travels south and west. Bears return to lower elevations.
As snow accumulates in October, male grizzlies follow wolf packs to steal a few more meals, while females search for a den location. Birds and mammals that stay the winter build up deep, warm coats. Deer and bighorn sheep are at the peak of their rut around Thanksgiving. Snowshoe hare, white-tailed jackrabbits and weasels trade their brown summer fur for coats of white.
Read more about year-round wildlife watching here.
In June, animals of all stripes raise babies, from bison to bighorn sheep to predators like grizzlies and badgers. Photo courtesy Yellowstone National Park Lodges
For more information on Yellowstone National Park Lodges, visit YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com.
