Ultimate Guide for Wildlife Watching in Yellowstone National Park

Welcome to America's first national park — Yellowstone.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a mesmerizing tapestry of geothermal wonders, vibrant landscapes, and abundant wildlife.

According to the National Park Service, wildlife at Yellowstone includes 300 species of birds, 16 species of fish, five species of amphibians, six species of reptiles, and 67 species of mammals. Included in this menagerie are the park’s unofficial big five: bison, elk, bear, grey wolf, and moose.

The local fauna calls out to nature lovers and photographers alike. But catching a glimpse of these animals can be tougher than you’d think.

Read on for our top tips to maximize your chances to scope the local wildlife and to have a great time doing so.

3 Yellowstone Wildlife Watching Tips

Exploring Yellowstone offers curious travellers an experience in a land of wilderness, adventure, and beauty. But local expertise is the key to maximizing your time and spotting the local wildlife.

Travellers on our small group Montana: Exploring Big Sky Country tour benefit from having a Tour Manager by their side and an expertly planned itinerary designed to bring them closer to local culture. But there are still more tips to increase your chances of successful wildlife watching in Yellowstone National Park.

Explore Early in the Morning

Wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk, the National Parks Service says. This is when animals are out to feed, so it’s the best time to see wildlife in Yellowstone.

Early mornings are a great time to spot moose, deer, wolves, bears, and elk.

2. Ask Park Rangers

Park rangers are a huge asset to those visiting America’s national parks. These dedicated employees are curious about the world around them, too. They’re dedicated not only to protecting our parks, but sharing their stories.

Plus, they’re invaluable in your search for seeing Yellowstone’s wildlife.

Park rangers have up-to-date information on the most recent wildlife sightings in the area and can point you in the right direction in real time.

3. Use Visual Aids

For the safety of the animals, yourself, and fellow park explorers, it’s important to remain a safe distance from animals.

Photographers will have the advantage of having a zoom on their devices, but an additional zoom lens can help you get an even sharper look at the animals.

If you’re a birdwatcher, you may already have a pair of binoculars handy, but this is a great addition for any traveller in the national parks.

Setting Expectations for Your Yellowstone Wildlife Search

Collette tours are scheduled to set travellers up for success in finding animals in Yellowstone National Park, but wildlife viewings are never certain. The beauty of exploring a creature’s natural habitat is that the animals are truly living wild and free.

As humans, we need to adjust our behaviour to get closer to nature. Here’s two tips to keep in mind and remain positive on your search:

Dress Appropriately

The weather can be just as unpredictable as the wild animals of Yellowstone.

Dress in layers to be prepared and comfortable amid changing weather conditions. It’s always a good idea to have rain gear on hand, too. The perfect Yellowstone outfit? A mix of short- and long-sleeved shirts, pants, broken-in walking or hiking boots, and a waterproof jacket.

Be Patient and Quiet

Animals are out in the wilderness of Yellowstone National Park. You just have to wait to see them. Patience is a virtue when you’re looking for Montana wildlife.

Remember: You’re in these creatures’ home. They may become startled by loud, unfamiliar noises and hide. It helps to stay quiet and still to increase your chances of seeing animals.

Yellowstone Wildlife Watching Etiquette

There’s one thing that every traveller in Yellowstone National Park has in common: You’re a visitor in this natural wonderland.

Here are some tips to follow the rules of the national park and to be a courteous guest in Yellowstone:

Respect the Wildlife

Collette works with ANIMONDIAL, an expert in the travel industry, to assure that all the nature travel we offer aligns with our high standards for animal welfare. We believe that all animals we interact with during our travels should have these five freedoms:

1. Freedom from hunger or thirst
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury, or disease
4. Freedom to express normal behaviour
5. Freedom from fear and distress

By following the rules of the National Parks Service and remaining respectful of the local wildlife, we support these freedoms.

Always keep a safe distance from the animals. The official rule from the National Parks service is to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards away from all other animals.

That can be tough to gauge, so use the "rule of thumb" – if you can cover the animal with your thumb at arm's length, you're at a safe distance.

Follow National Park Regulations

It is courteous to remain respectful to your fellow travellers, the park rangers, and the wildlife, but there are official park rules and guidelines to ensure your safety and the protection of wildlife. Here are the basics:

• Don’t stay near or approach wildlife, including nesting birds, within any distance that disturbs or displaces the animal.
• Don’t hunt or feed wildlife.
• Don’t travel off boardwalks or designated trails in hydrothermal areas.
• Don’t throw anything into thermal features.
• Don’t remove natural or cultural resources such as wildflowers, antlers, rocks, or arrowheads.
• Don’t imitate elk calls or wolf howls.

Five of the Best Places to See Wildlife in Yellowstone

Some parts of the Yellowstone National Park are known for excellent wildlife viewing. Here are our tips for some excellent spots to check out, including the types of animals that you can often find there:

1. Mammoth Hot Springs

This area is known for its resident elk population. You can often see them grazing around the hot springs and historic buildings.

2. Yellowstone Lake

The shores of Yellowstone Lake are excellent for seeing waterfowl, otters, and the occasional grizzly bear. The lake's ecosystem supports a diverse range of wildlife.

3. Old Faithful

Whilst the geothermal features are the main attraction in this area, they also create unique habitats that support various wildlife species.

You may see sightings of elk, bison, and occasionally, bears.

4. Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone provides stunning vistas and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities. Its rugged cliffs and forested regions are inhabited by a variety of species, including bighorn sheep, osprey, deer, and elk.

5. Grand Prismatic Spring

The area around the Grand Prismatic Spring is good for bird watching.

Look for species like ravens, swallows, and various waterfowl.

Book Your Yellowstone National Park Trip with Collette

It can be tough to figure out when and where to find wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. You should just be able to spend your energy enjoying nature.

That’s part of the reason why travellers book Collette’s small group Explorations tour to Montana – to let experts take care of all the details.

When you’re ready to book your Yellowstone tour, call us or see your travel professional and ask for Collette.