Blog: Naturalist Notes

August in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem marks the peak of summer and the hint of the fall to come. Antler growth amongst deer, elk, and moose is nearly complete, owls and other birds of prey are fledging, wolf pups are are beginning to transition from the den to rendezvous sites, and the bison rut has begun! Check back for more recent sightings from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Summer is here! Baby animals have emerged across Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, wildflowers are in full bloom, and highwater in rivers has subsided. Check back for updates as we enjoy exploring the diverse landscapes and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Summer is here in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks! June is a month of wildflowers, colorful songbirds, and baby animals! Elk and moose calves, deer and pronghorn fawns, and bighorn sheep lambs are joining the bison calves, grizzly and black bear cubs, wolf and coyote pups that are already on the landscape. The regions rivers and streams are swollen with meltwater as snowfields recede into the high country, revealing lush green vegetation. We're out touring Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks daily, check back for more highlights as the month progresses!

As COVID-19 infected the world one year ago, infectious disease experts scrambled to slow the spread and work towards a vaccine. Using a now common practice known as the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) microbiologists were able to rapidly replicate DNA, enabling the covid tests many of us have taken while helping with the development of the vaccine itself. What you might not know is that none of this would have been possible without Yellowstone’s microbial life. Thanks to the work of an exceptionally curious microbiologist in the 1960’s, the power of PCR was eventually unlocked, saving countless lives. Today we seek to better understand this groundbreaking microbial discovery and the role basic research plays in the advancement of science and our understanding of the world.

Coexisting with large carnivores like grizzly bears means taking steps to avoid conflict. Here's how to protect yourself and our wild neighbors in one of the last intact temperate ecosystems left on earth!