By Christine Gianas Weinheimer EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Now that
spring is officially here—or what passes for spring in Montana—you may have
come down with a case of spring fever. As ski season gives way to mud season, a
drive out to Yellowstone’s Northern Range for wildlife watching might be just
what the doctor ordered.
The Northern
Range’s high density of wildlife, combined with its wide-open vistas, make it
an ideal place for wildlife watching. At its heart is Lamar Valley, nicknamed
“the Serengeti of North America” for its abundant wildlife. The area is also considered
the world’s premier location to see wolves in the wild. You can view not only a
wide variety of species here, but also see predator and prey species
interacting with each other.
“If you’ve
never gone wildlife watching in the park with an experienced naturalist, I highly
recommend you give it a try,” said Zachary Park, assistant director for the
Yellowstone Forever Institute. “Make sure they bring along high-quality scopes,
which can vastly improve wildlife viewing.”
Here are a
few more tips to help make the most of your day in Yellowstone’s Northern
Range:
Check on conditions. If entering
through Gardiner, stop at the Albright Visitor Center in Mammoth Hot Springs to
pick up a map, check on current road and trail conditions and learn of any
wildlife closure areas.
Plan your timing. If possible, plan the
majority of your outing in the early morning or early evening when most large
mammals tend to be feeding and are more easily seen.
Pack your binoculars and your patience.
You’ll need to steadily and slowly scan the landscape for movement, taking
advantage of the many road-side pullouts along the Northeast Entrance Road. Don’t
forget to look up; watch for eagles, osprey and other raptors near water
sources.
Look for spring babies. Start watching
in April for bison calves, or “red dogs.” In May you might also see bear cubs,
wolf pups or bighorn sheep lambs. Elk calves are usually the last to arrive, in
late May or June.
Hit a trail. Inquire at a visitor
center or ranger station about trail conditions. The Yellowstone River Picnic
Area Trail tends to be a good pick in spring when most trails are still covered
in snow. The easy-to-moderate trail is 3.7 miles round-trip and affords views
of the river and surrounding mountains. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep.
Take a tour. To help you explore the
Northern Range, the Yellowstone Forever Institute offers educational tours and
other programs ranging from a half-day to several days.
Stay safe. Follow park guidelines and
always stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves, and at least 25
yards from all other animals. Hike in groups of three or more and carry bear
spray, even on short day hikes.
Visit nps.gov/yell for more details on road openings and bear safety guidelines.
Christine Gianas
Weinheimer lives in Bozeman and has been writing about Yellowstone for 17
years.
