Yellowstone National Park Introduction

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Grizzly bears began emerging
Grizzly bears began emerging from winter dens in mid-March with the first bear observed on 3-15-08 up above Mammoth Hotspring. A second grizzly bear was observed across from Hellroaring creek feeding on a bison carcass. Since then many more grizzly bears have been spotted including one walking through the Old Faithful Inn parking lot at mid-day. Bears do not all emerge from winter dens at once, but slowly over a period of about a month depending on weather conditions and the condition of the individual bear. Sows (females) with newborn cubs emerge last, generally in mid-April. Early morning and late afternoon are the most active periods for most wildlife, but is more critical for bears and wolves.
Posted by Kevin Sanders (not verified) on Tue, 2008-05-13 08:10
Wolf packs denned on or
Wolf packs denned on or about April 12 this year, with the alpha females giving birth to pups. We have observed several pups at one den site in the last week. Most den sites are not viewable to us due to terrain. The best time to view wolves is winter but summer visitors are sometimes lucky with distant views of wolves. As spring arrives, and traffic increases the wolves tend to move farther away from the road and will often move their pups in early June to a quieter, safer location. Crack of dawn and late afternoon will give you your best chance of seeing wolves. A good spotting scope is best for viewing due to distances. Talk with other visitors and check with the rangers at any Visitor Center for the latest information regarding wolf sightings. Or better yet, hire a guide who specializes in wolf viewing tours!
Posted by Kevin Sanders (not verified) on Tue, 2008-05-13 08:17
Winter snows in Yellowstone
Winter snows in Yellowstone are at near record levels this year. The best snow we have had in 12 years! Hikers should be aware and plan ahead this spring and early summer for wet trails, deep pockets of snow, and over flowing streams and rivers. Before hitting the trail, all hikers are encouraged to check with the nearest Visitor Center/Backcountry Office for trail and river conditions. With the increase in snow this year, as that snow melts and pools up in the forest the mosquitoes will probably be bad this spring and early summer until things dry up. Bring Deet!
Posted by Kevin Sanders (not verified) on Tue, 2008-05-13 08:23
The bears are out! In the
The bears are out! In the last 24 hours, with the warmer temperatures all bears have now emerged from winter hibernation and are now being observed all over the Yellowstone Ecosystem. The first sows (females) with cubs were spotted yesterday--Friday 5/16/08 with two seperate groups in the Southern portion of Yellowstone Park. There are bears, both black and grizzly being observed all over the park right now. In fact, there is not a location in the park where there are no bears. We have even had grizzly bears in the back parking lot of Old Faithful Inn. Everyone, not only hikers should pay special attention to the area they are about to walk into, make plenty of noise and take your time. Don't stare at the ground while hiking or walking. Visitors could encounter bears on the boardwalk at Old Faithful as easily as they can on a backcountry trail right now. The grass has just started to green up and the bears now have something to feed on---bears in Yellowstone are primarily vegitarian, but there are still many winter kill carcasses lying around which the bears will be taking advantage of. If you see a carcass or smell one, back out of the area while making plenty of noise. A good spotting scope and tripod or at least a pair of binoculars will make your viewing more productive. The biggest mistake visitors make when visiting Yellowstone is attempting to capture full frame, full face pictures of wildlife with small camera's, and get too close. Let the pro's with $30,000 camera lenses get those shots and just buy the post card in the gift shop. Air horns are illegal in Yellowstone Park, but bells are ok to use however the responses of grizzly bears to the sound of "bear bells" has not been studied and you should not rely on bells. Yelling and talking loudly work the best and is a proven technique. Bear spray is recommended and all hikers should have at least one can. Visit my page for more information on how to deal with bear encounters and the use of bear spray. Stay safe, be prepared, and keep your eyes open. Most importantly enjoy your visit to Yellowstone. Keep in mind, the odds of being mauled by a bear is very low. By following a few simple steps you can lower the odds even more. Now, get off that chair and enjoy our wild parks!
Posted by Kevin Sanders (not verified) on Sat, 2008-05-17 06:18