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Bird Guide
Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway encompass a range of habitats, from alpine meadows to sagebrush flats, from lodgepole pine forests to mountain streams. Birds use habitats that meet their needs for food, water, shelter and nest sites. Some birds frequent only one habitat type while others occupy a variety of habitats. This guide will acquaint you with some habitat types of the park and parkway as well as specific locations to look for birds. Use it in conjunction with the park map and the various bird identification books available at any of the park visitor centers. Please report any sightings of birds listed as rare or accidental on the bird checklist.
Habitat Type
Lodgepole Pine Forests Lodgepole pine grows in dense forests covering much of the valley and the lower slopes of the mountains. Expect olivesided flycatchers, yellow-rumped warblers, ruby-crowned kinglets, mountain chickadees, white-crowned and chipping sparrows and dark-eyed juncos (especially in developed areas within lodgepole forests such as Colter Bay). Aspens occur chiefly in pure stands, often on hillsides. Many of the aspen stands in the park and parkway have rotting trunks that attract numerous woodpeckers. Sawwhet owls, house wrens, mountain and black-capped chickadees, tree swallows and violet-green swallows nest in old woodpecker cavities.
Sagebrush Flats
Sagebrush covers most of the valley called Jackson Hole. Despite the hot dry conditions existing where sagebrush grows, some species flourish. Look for sage grouse, vesper sparrows, Brewer’s sparrows and sage thrashers.
Alpine
Above 10,000 feet, severe conditions limit vegetation to low-growing forms. Birds that nest above treeline migrate south or to lower elevations for winter. Watch for golden eagles, Clark’s nutcrackers, rosy finches, white-crowned sparrows and water pipits.
Aquatic and Riparian
Numerous rivers, creeks, lakes and ponds provide habitats where Canada geese and other waterfowl nest and osprey and bald eagles hunt for fish. Common snipe, white-crowned and Lincoln sparrows, common yellowthroats nest and forage in adjacent wet meadows. American dippers search for insects in fast-moving streams.
Bird-Watching Etiquette
Enjoy birds but be a responsible birder.
Nesting birds of all species are easily disturbed. If an adult on a nest flies off at your approach or circles you or screams in alarm, you are too close to the nest. Unattended nestlings readily succumb to predation or exposure to heat, cold and wet weather.
Good birding areas often attract other wildlife. Maintain a safe distance (300 feet) from large animals such as moose, bears and bison. Do not position yourself between a female and her offspring.
Birding Hot Spots
Grand View Point
Old growth Douglas firs support Williamson’s sapsuckers, red-naped sapsuckers and other woodpeckers. Common songbirds include mountain chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, dark-eyed juncos, western tanagers and Townsend’s solitaires. Blue grouse and ruffed grouse nest here. At the summit, look up for red-tailed hawks, white pelicans and other soaring birds.
Christian Pond
Several species of waterfowl nest here. Look for ruddy ducks, ring-necked ducks, American wigeon and American coots. Trumpeter swans occasionally nest on the pond. Because human presence interferes with the swans’ nesting effort, remain on the trail on the west side of the pond, at least 300 feet from the edge of the pond, and obey all posted closures.
Willow Flats
Extensive willow thickets merge with wet grassy meadows. Small creeks and beaver ponds provide riparian and aquatic habitats. Look for cinnamon teal, greenwinged teal and American wigeon in ponds and creeks. Sandhill cranes, northern harriers, American bitterns, common snipes and soras nest here. Calliope hummingbirds feed on scarlet gilia growing near Jackson Lake Lodge. Red-naped sapsuckers and other woodpeckers abound. Frequently seen songbirds include willow flycatchers, cliff swallows, yellow warblers, MacGillivray’s warblers, common yellowthroats, Wilson’s warblers, fox sparrows, white-crowned sparrows, pine siskins and yellow-headed blackbirds. Lazuli buntings and greentailed towhees use the drier hillsides adjacent to Willow Flats.
Oxbow Bend
A slow-moving, cut-off meander of the Snake River, Oxbow Bend supports lush underwater plant growth and abundant fish, food for aquatic birds. Great blue herons and osprey nest here. White pelicans, double-crested cormorants, common mergansers and bald eagles fish in the shallow water. Because of Oxbow Bend’s proximity to Willow Flats, the birdlife is quite similar.
Two Ocean Lake
Western grebes, trumpeter swans, common mergansers and occasional common loons summer on the lake. Western tanagers, pine grosbeaks, Cassin's finches and other songbirds abound in the open coniferous forests and aspen stands surrounding the lake.
Cascade Canyon
Glaciers gouged out Cascade Canyon thousands of years ago. Today Cascade Creek carries melted snow through conifer forests and meadows of wildflowers, while the Teton peaks tower above. American dippers frequent Cascade Creek near Hidden Falls. Western tanagers, rubycrowned kinglets and yellow-rumped warblers nest near the trail. Also look for golden eagles, Steller’s jays, gray jays, golden-crowned kinglets, dark-eyed juncos and occasional Townsend's warblers. Secretive harlequin ducks sometimes nest along the creek.
Taggart Lake Trail
In 1985 a lightning-caused forest fire burned most of the trees on the glacial moraine surrounding Taggart Lake. Insects feeding on the decaying trees attract woodpeckers. Look for blackbacked and three-toed woodpeckers. Abundant insects also attract mountain bluebirds, tree swallows, olive-sided and dusky flycatchers, western wood-pewees and yellow-rumped warblers. Calliope hummingbirds frequently perch in willows near the base of the moraine.
Antelope Flats – Kelly Road
Large hayfields attract raptors that search the fields for abundant small rodents. Look for American kestrels, prairie falcons, redtailed hawks, Swainson’s hawks and northern harriers. Check fence posts for western meadowlarks, western and eastern kingbirds and mountain bluebirds. Scan irrigated pastures for long-billed curlews and savannah sparrows.
Menor's Ferry at Moose
Follow the self-guiding trail to homesteader cabins along the Snake River. Bird life abounds due to riparian habitat. Violet-green, tree, cliff and barn swallows scoop insects out of the air as western wood-pewees, dusky flycatchers and mountain bluebirds hawk for flying insects. Yellow warblers glean insects from cottonwood trees and willow and silverberry shrubs lining the Snake River. Calliope, broad-tailed and rufous hummingbirds seek nectar from wildflowers. Kingfishers, common mergansers, ospreys and bald eagles catch fish in the river.
Phelps Lake Overlook
The trail to the overlook traverses a lateral glacial moraine where mixed conifers and aspens grow. Because the trail follows a small creek, expect abundant birdlife. Look for western tanagers, MacGillivray’s warblers, northern flickers, Lazuli buntings, ruby-crowned kinglets and greentailed towhees. Listen for the sweet songs of hermit and Swainson’s thrushes. Calliope and broad-tailed hummingbirds feed on scarlet gilia below the overlook.
Blacktail Ponds Overlook
This overlook is just north of Moose Junction and is situated at the transition of three different plant communities: Sagebrush flats, the coniferous forest of Blacktail Butte, and the willow and cottonwood lined wetlands of the Snake River flood plane. Looking down on the wetlands from the overlook gives you a great vantage point to observe waterfowl such as American wigeons, blue-winged teal, mallards, and goldeneyes. Up to six species of swallows can also be seen at eye level as they skillfully fly through the air catching insects. Raptors such as bald eagles and osprey can be seen in the high cottonwoods. Strewn through out the willows, yellow warblers, song sparrows and willow flycatchers among others can be seen and heard. An occasional greentailed towhee flutters through the sagebrush near the overlook and evening grosbeaks visit from the forest.
Partners in Flight - Migratory Bird Conservation Program
Most of the birds found in the park and parkway are migratory, spending only 3-6 months here each year. Migratory birds are protected while they nest in national parks, but may lose safe nesting sites on other lands due to human activities. Migratory birds also face numerous perils on their long journeys to and from wintering grounds. Human-caused habitat changes fragment forests and remove safe feeding and roosting areas in migration corridors. Birds that migrate to the tropics may lose their winter range due to deforestation.
Bird watchers and scientists alike have become concerned about the future of migratory birds. Show your concern by enjoying birds in your backyard and in your travels! Assist scientists to measure bird population changes by participating in bird counts and surveys, such as Christmas Bird Counts, the North American Migration Count, and Breeding Bird Surveys. Find out about the Partners in Flight program in your home state. You can use your interest and knowledge of birds to help assure their future!
Mammals Guide
The diversity of wildlife communities in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway complements the spectacular scenery. Part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the two National Park Service areas offer wildlife a variety of habitats. Each habitat must supply the basic needs of wildlife: food, water, cover and living space. Familiarity with the habitats and habits of park and parkway wildlife results in increased viewing opportunities.
Habitat Types
Alpine
Wind and snow limit life above treeline (about 10,000 feet). Some plants and animals have adapted to the harsh conditions. Plants are mat-like, animals are few. Look for yellow-bellied marmots, pikas and bighorn sheep.
Sagebrush
The most widespread habitat type in the park, sagebrush flats occur on dry, porous soils. More than 100 species of grasses and wildflowers grow along with abundant sagebrush. Lack of cover makes large animals conspicuous. Look for pronghorns, coyotes, bison, badgers, elk and Uinta ground squirrels.
Forests
From treeline to valley floor, forests provide cover and food for many mammal species. Lodgepole pines dominate, but forests also contain firs, aspens and spruces. Look for elk, mule deer, martens, red squirrels, black bears and snowshoe hares.
Rivers, Lakes and Ponds
Aquatic habitats and adjacent forests, marshes and meadows fulfill the needs of many forms of wildlife. Diverse and abundant vegetation offers excellent food and cover. Water is plentiful. Look for moose, river otters, beavers, muskrats, coyotes, bison and mule deer.
Abundance categories are based on the park and parkway wildlife database, research projects and observations by biologists and naturalists.
| Insectivora (Insect-eaters) | Sighting |
| Masked Shrew Sorex cinereus | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Vagrant Shrew Sorex vagrans | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Dwarf Shrew Sorex nanus | Rare - unexpected even in appropriate habitat and season |
| Northern Water Shrew Sorex palustris | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
| Chiroptera (Bats) | Sighting |
| Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Long-eared Myotis Myotis evotis | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
| Long-legged Myotis Myotis volans | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
| Silver-haired Myotis Lasionycteris noctivagans | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
| Hoary Bat Lasiuris cinereus | Rare - unexpected even in appropriate habitat and season |
| Big Brown Bat Eptisicus fuscus | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
| Lagomorpha (Rabbits and Hares) | Sighting |
| Pika Ochotona princeps | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| White-tailed Jackrabbit Lepus townsendii | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
| Rodentia (Gnawing Mammals) | Sighting |
| Least Chipmunk Tamias minimus | Abundant - likely to be seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Yellow Pine Chipmunk Eutamias amoenus | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Uinta Chipmunk Tamias umbrinus | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season | Yellow-bellied Marmot Marmota flaviventris | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Uinta Ground Squirrel Spermophilus armatus | Abundant - likely to be seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel Spermophilus lateralis | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Red Squirrel Tamasciurus hudsonicus | Abundant - likely to be seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Northern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
| Northern Pocket Gopher Thomomys talpoides | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season | Beaver Castor canadensis | Abundant - likely to be seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus | Abundant - likely to be seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Bushy-tailed Woodrat Neotoma cinerea | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season | Southern Red-backed Vole Clethrionomys gapperi | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Heather Vole Phenacomys intermedius | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus | Abundant - likely to be seen in appropriate habitat and season | Montane Vole Microtus montanus | Abundant - likely to be seen in appropriate habitat and season | Long-tailed Vole Microtus longicaudus | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
| Richardson Vole Microtus richardsoni | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Sagebrush Vole Lemmiscus curtatus | Rare - unexpected even in appropriate habitat and season | Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season | Western Jumping Mouse Zappus princeps | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Ursidae – Bear Family | Sighting | Black Bear Ursus americanus | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season | Grizzly Bear Ursos arctos | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
| Canidae – Dog Family | Sighting | Gray Wolf Canis lupus | Accidental – out of known range, or reported only once or twice. | Red Fox Vulpes vulpes | Rare - unexpected even in appropriate habitat and season |
| Mustelidae – Weasel Family | Sighting |
| Marten Martes americana | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Short-tailed Weasel Mustela erminea | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
| Least Weasel Mustela nivalis | Rare - unexpected even in appropriate habitat and season |
| Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Mink Mustela vison | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
| Wolverine Gulo gulo | Rare - unexpected even in appropriate habitat and season |
| Badger Taxidea taxus | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
| River Otter Lutra canadensis | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Felidae – Cat Family | Sighting |
| Mountain Lion Felis concolor | Rare - unexpected even in appropriate habitat and season |
| Lynx Felis lynx | Rare - unexpected even in appropriate habitat and season |
| Bobcat Felis rufus | Rare - unexpected even in appropriate habitat and season |
| Procyonidae – Raccoon Family | Sighting |
| Raccoon Procyon lotor | Rare - unexpected even in appropriate habitat and season |
| Cervidae – Deer Family | Sighting |
| Elk (wapiti) Cervus elaphus | Abundant - likely to be seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus | Rare - unexpected even in appropriate habitat and season |
| Moose Alces alces | Abundant - likely to be seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Antilocapridae – Pronghorn Family | Sighting |
| Pronghorn Antilocapra americana | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Bovidae – Cattle Family | Sighting |
| Bison Bison bison | Common - frequently seen in appropriate habitat and season |
| Mountain Goat Oreamnos americanus | Accidental – out of known range, or reported only once or twice. |
| Bighorn Sheep Ovis canadensis | Uncommon - seen irregularly in appropriate habitat and season |
Plant Guide
Wildflowers color the Tetons as the snow melts. Warm weather arrives first in the Jackson Hole valley. Snow level gradually retreats up the mountain canyons throughout the summer. Behind the melting snow come the wildflowers, brightening valley then canyon. Eventually snow leaves areas above treeline, allowing dwarf alpine plants their time to flower.
Growing Zones
Alpine(above 10,000 feet)
Above treeline, plants adapt to wind, snow, and lack of soil by growing close to the ground. Alpine plants take advantage of a brief growing season by flowering soon after the snow melts. Some species grow only in the alpine area; others grow tall at lower elevations but are dwarfed in the alpine.
Canyons and Sub-alpine (7,000 – 10,000 feet )
Between the crags of the Tetons, Ice Age glaciers have carved deep canyons. Today the canyons contain dense conifer forests and open meadows of wildflowers. As elevation increases, wildflowers abound while trees become stunted and eventually shrublike. “Krummholz” (German for “crooked wood”) plants are dwarfed forms that are treelike at lower elevations.
Valley (6,400 – 7,000 feet)
Porous valley soils support plants able to tolerate hot and dry conditions. In addition to abundant sagebrush, numerous wildflowers and grasses grow. During June and July, a profusion of color enlivens the valley: the yellow of balsamroot, the blue of lupine, and the red of gilia. During August, sunflowers replace balsamroot.
Common Trees
Most of the trees in the park are conifers because of the short growing season. Conifers retain their leaves (needles) throughout the year and can produce food photosynthesize) on warm spring days. Deciduous trees shed their leaves in the fall and must grow new ones each spring before they can photosynthesize. Aspens and cottonwoods have chlorophyll in the bark and so can photosynthesize before producing leaves.
Lodgepole pine, the most obvious and abundant conifer in the park and parkway, grows on the lower slopes of the Tetons and on well-drained glacial soils throughout the valley. Needles are 2 – 3 inches long, clustered in bundles of two; cones are 1 – 2 inches long.
Douglas fir inhabits dry, south- and east facing slopes, although dense stands of young trees grow on some north-facing slopes. Large diameter trees have coarse, furrowed bark.
Subalpine fir occurs on wetter north-facing valley sites and at higher elevations in the mountains. Smooth bark and spire-like growth form identify subalpine fir. Needles occur singly and feel soft. Cones grow upright on branches.
Engelmann spruce occurs with subalpine fir, especially along creeks in the canyons between Teton peaks. Rough bark and abundant cones hanging down from upper branches identify Engelmann spruce. Cones have papery scales and are 1 1/2 inches long.
Blue spruce lines rivers and creeks in the valley. Cones have papery scales and are twice as large as those found on Engelmann spruce. Spruce needles occur singly and are sharp to the touch. Individual limber pines grow on open, dry valley sites. Needles grow in bundles of five. Cones are 4 – 8 inches long.
Whitebark pine grows above 8,000 feet in the mountains. Needles are in bundles of five. Cones are purple and shorter than those of limber pine.
Aspen grows in stands on level, moist sites and on dry slopes. Aspen bark is smooth and cream-colored. Reproduction is primarily from shoots sprouting from horizontal roots.
Cottonwoods, close relatives of aspens, grow along rivers and creeks in the valley and lower parts of mountain canyons. Bark on mature trees is heavily furrowed. The species that occur in the park—lanceleaf cottonwood, narrowleaf cottonwood and balsam poplar—hybridize freely, so identification of individual species may be difficult.
Common Shrubs
Big sagebrush thrives in dry habitats and carpets most of the valley floor. Plants are one to five feet tall; leaves are grayish green. Tiny yellow flowers bloom in August.
Antelope bitterbrush occurs with sagebrush in the southern half of Jackson Hole. Bitterbrush grows to three feet tall. Creamcolored flowers bloom in June.
Huckleberry grows two to four feet tall in lodgepole pine forests in the valley and mountain canyons. Purple berries are produced in August.
Serviceberry grows to ten feet tall. Showy white flowers bloom in spring, producing purple berries by late summer.
Chokecherry is a large shrub that grows to twenty feet tall. Cylindrical clusters of showy white flowers bloom in spring.
Utah honeysuckle grows in open lodgepole pine forests. Leaves are opposite. Paired cream-colored flowers bloom in early June, producing fused red unpalatable berries.
Mountain ash grows on the lower slopes of the Tetons. This tall shrub has compound leaves. Flat-topped clusters of white flowers bloom in June. In fall bright orange fruits complement vivid red leaves.
Willows occur in moist areas, especially along stream banks. Twenty species are found in the park and parkway.
Snowbrush ceanothus thrives in burned areas. Shiny, leathery green leaves are retained through winter. Clusters of aromatic white flowers bloom in June.
Books on Plants
For further information on wildflowers, consult Plants of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks by Richard J. Shaw
Vascular Plants of Grand Teton National Park and Teton County, An Annotated Checklist by Richard J. Shaw and A Field
Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers by John J. Craighead, Frank C. Craighead, Jr., and Ray J. Davis
Reminder
Enjoy the wildflowers but please leave them for others to appreciate also. Picking wildflowers is prohibited within Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway. Edible berries, plants and mushrooms may be gathered by hand for personal daily consumption. Please be certain of plant identification before eating parts of any wild plants.
Wolf Guide
Wolves in the Tetons
In October of 1998, the howling of wolves could be heard in Grand Teton National Park for the first time in over fifty years. Two years after being reintroduced to Yellowstone, wolves began expanding their range south to encompass the sagebrush flats, forested hillsides, and river bottoms of Grand Teton National Park and the valley of Jackson Hole. Their return represents the restoration of an important part of this ecosystem.
Although their present distribution is limited to Canada, Alaska, and a few isolated areas in the northern United States, wolves once roamed the tundra, forests, and high plains of North America from coast to coast. By 1930, human activities, including extensive settlement, unregulated harvest, and organized predator control programs, had pushed the gray wolf to the brink of extinction in the United States. The last known wild wolf in the Yellowstone area was killed in the 1940s.
In 1987, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service recommended establishing three core wolf recovery areas in the Northern Rocky Mountain region: northwestern Montana, central Idaho, and Yellowstone. Biologists suggested allowing wolf populations to recover naturally in northwestern Montana while reintroducing wolves in central Idaho and Yellowstone.
In accordance with this plan, wolves captured in Canada were transported to the U.S. and released in central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park in 1995 and 1996.
Wolf Ecology
The gray wolf is a critical player in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which encompasses Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and surrounding National Forests. Wolves are highly efficient and selective predators, preying on young, old, weak, and sick animals. By culling the herds of their prey species in this manner, wolves are important agents of natural selection, encouraging survivorship of those animals best suited to their environment—the fastest, strongest, and healthiest.
In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, wolves usually prey on elk, although they will occasionally take moose, bison, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and beavers. Wolf populations are naturally regulated by prey availability, which prevents decimation of prey species populations.
Although wolves do make surplus kills when convenient, the carcasses do not go to waste. They are either cached for later consumption or left for scavengers, including coyotes, ravens, magpies, golden and bald eagles, crows, bears, wolverines, fishers, mountain lions, and lynx.
Wolf Biology
The gray or timber wolf, Canis lupus, is the largest wild canid in existence, ranging from 60 to 175 pounds. Despite its common name the gray wolf may be white, silver/gray, or black in color. Wolves have been clocked at speeds in excess of thirty miles per hour and have been known to travel over a hundred miles in a day, although travels are more often ten or twenty miles per day. Wolves may live up to fifteen years in the wild.
Wolves are highly social animals, functioning primarily in packs. The social structure of the pack is based on a breeding pair comprised of an alpha male and female, followed by a hierarchy consisting of betas (second rank, males and/or females), subordinates, pups, and occasional omegas (outcasts, generally recipients of aggressive behavior from other pack members).
Because only the alpha pair breeds, subordinate wolves of reproductive age must disperse from their packs and form new associations in order to breed. Pack size is ultimately determined by hunting efficiency, which in turn depends on the size, type, and density of prey species available. Wolf packs average five to ten members.
Wolf packs defend home ranges of up to several hundred square miles. During the spring denning season, wolves are especially aggressive in defending core territories around their den sites. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, wolves generally breed in February and give birth in late April, after a gestation period of about 63 days. The alpha female usually remains at the den site with the pups, while the alpha male and other pack members bring food back to the den. When pups reach approximately two months of age, they are moved to an outdoor nursery referred to as a rendezvous site. By October, pups are usually traveling and hunting with the rest of their pack.
Wolves Eradication History
Wolves have long been the target of aggressive eradication efforts by humans. In 1630, the Colony of Massachusetts enacted the first bounty on wolves in what is now the United States. Wolves were effectively eliminated from the eastern United States by the end of the eighteenth century. With settlers' westward expansion, populations of predator and prey species were greatly reduced due to human development and unregulated harvest.
The decline in wild prey populations, especially bison, led many people to believe that wolves posed an unacceptable threat to domestic livestock. These beliefs fueled government-sanctioned, bounty-driven efforts to destroy the wolf in the west. From approximately 1850 through 1930, thousands of wolves were trapped, shot, and poisoned each year in the western U.S.
Government hunters destroyed the last known wolf in the Yellowstone area in the 1940s. By 1930, wolves were virtually absent from the contiguous U.S., except Minnesota and remote areas of northwestern Montana. Sizeable wolf populations remained in Canada and Alaska.
Recovery in the Tetons
1973 marked the passing of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), a pivotal event in the history of wildlife preservation. Under the ESA, the gray wolf is listed as endangered throughout the contiguous United States except Minnesota, where it is listed as threatened. The ESA defines an endangered species as one "in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant part of its range" and a threatened species as one "likely to become endangered" in the foreseeable future.
The Endangered Species Act requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to create recovery plans for all listed species. In 1987, the FWS published a recovery plan for the gray wolf in the Northern Rockies, which recommended establishing three gray wolf populations, in northwestern Montana, central Idaho, and Yellowstone, respectively. Biologists predicted that wolves from Canada would naturally recolonize northwestern Montana. However, because central Idaho and Yellowstone were isolated from existing wolf populations, biologists determined that it was impractical to expect natural recolonization of these areas in the near future. Therefore, the Fish and Wildlife Service recommended reintroducing wolves into central Idaho and Yellowstone, while encouraging natural wolf recovery in northwestern Montana.
In 1995, wolves captured in Canada were transported to the U.S. and released in central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park. Because the central Idaho and Yellowstone area wolves are reintroduced populations, they are defined as "experimental" according to the Endangered Species Act. This designation allows more flexibility in managing these populations than is normally allowed for populations of endangered species.
Delisting/Reclassification of the Gray Wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountains - The minimum criteria for removal of the gray wolf from the endangered species list requires the establishment of ten breeding pairs, about 100 wolves, in each of three northern Rocky Mountain population areas (Yellowstone, central Idaho, and northwestern Montana) for three consecutive years. As a prerequisite for delisting from federal protection, the individual states within the recovery area must establish wolf management plans approved by the FWS. These state plans could allow for wolves to be managed in a manner similar to that in which individual states currently manage other large predators, such as bears and mountain lions.
Wildlife managers predicted that recovery goals for the northern Rocky Mountain region would be achieved by the year 2002 or 2003, and it seems that the restoration program is on track. In 1998, there were nine breeding pairs/packs in the Yellowstone area, ten in central Idaho, and seven in northwestern Montana.
Visitor Interaction
As with all wildlife, it is smart to keep your distance from wolves in order to avoid disturbing the animals or endangering yourself. Many wild animals will attack people if provoked. However, according to wolf expert L. David Mech, there has never been a documented case of a healthy, wild wolf killing or seriously injuring a human in the Western Hemisphere.
There have been five documented cases of pets being killed by wolves in the Yellowstone area since the reintroduction, and rates of wolf attacks on pets have been similarly low in other areas inhabited by wolves. Grand Teton National Park regulations restrict pets to areas open to motorized vehicles, and require that pets be restrained on a leash at all times.
Books:
Lopez, Barry H. Of Wolves and Men. Charles Scribner's Sons; New York, NY: 1978.
Biology, mythology, history of human attitudes toward and interactions with wolves
Mech, L. David. The Way of the Wolf. Voyageur Press; Stillwater, MN: 1991.
Review of wolf biology and ecology with color illustrations
Mech, L. David. The Wolf; The Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species. University of Minnesota Press; Minneapolis, MN: 1970.
Technical scientific information about all aspects of wolf biology, written by the nation's foremost expert on the subject
Phillips, Michael K., and Douglas W. Smith. The Wolves of Yellowstone. Voyageur Press; Stillwater, MN: 1996.
Web Sites:
Yellowstone National Park - access to wolf annual reports: http://www.nps.gov/yell/web/wolf
United States Fish and Wildlife Service - biological information about wolves, also information about the wolf recovery program: http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/wolf
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