What do park rangers actually do? And how can you get involved?
Tune in as we – Yellowstone park rangers Jake, Brett, Miles, and Ashton – introduce the park’s brand-new podcast, “What We Do.”
Our first full episode airs March 20!
Current conditions of Yellowstone’s North Entrance Road through the Gardner Canyon between Gardiner, Montana, and Mammoth Hot Springs.
We will continue to communicate about this hazardous situation as more information is available. More info:
Happy Halloween!
For the first time since 1944, a Halloween full moon will be visible in every time zone. Make sure to look out for this rare event and enjoy the holiday - any Yellowstone-inspired pumpkin carvings out there?
Bison mating is still going on in
#Yellowstone
. Male bison are particularly aggressive right now, though all bison and other wildlife can be dangerous. Always keep your distance—25 yards from
#bison
& elk; 100 yards from all other wildlife.
#NationalPark
#WhatWildlifeDoWednesday
Pro tip: bring water when watching the northern lights. Your mouth tends to get dry when jaw is on the floor.
#Aurora
at lower latitudes is uncommon, but they appear a few times yearly in
#Yellowstone
. Did you see them where you are? Show us your photos!
Last month, park biologists were excited to find one of Yellowstone’s rarest mammals triggered a remote trail camera outside the Mammoth Hot Springs area: a wolverine!
Video description: Black and white video of wolverine running through a snow-blanketed, forested area.
Happy first day of fall! From colorful foliage, bugling elk, to cooler temperatures and even snow, autumn is a special, yet fleeting time in the park. 🍂
MISSING PERSON Gabby Petito
Petito was believed to have been in Grand Teton National Park at the time of her last contact with her family.
Contact: Anyone with possible information on Petito’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324).
And finally, our favorite photo from 2023: It’s not common to see aurora this far south, and especially not overhead. But this spring, we had a few solar storms that lit up the sky over the entire park, including over Canary Spring in the Mammoth Hot Springs area.
Happy 148th birthday to Yellowstone National Park!
On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone Protection Act into law.
#HappyBirthdayYellowstone
Twenty-five years ago today, trucks carrying wolves arrived at the North Entrance and marked the beginning of that species’ restoration in Yellowstone.
#25YearsOfWolves
Two wolves make their way through fresh snow in Lower Geyser Basin. Remember to keep at least 100 yards from wolves and bears and never approach them to take a photo. (We used a spotting scope!)
Do you remember the first time you visited Yellowstone?
Share with us your memorable park experiences!
Thank you to Emily Bartholic for sharing her dad’s reaction to his first time to the park - we absolutely love it! 🥰
We've received about 12" of snow from this storm, and it's still coming down. While our crews work hard to plow the roads, we thought we could share a few wintry photos.
#ThrowbackThursday
On Tuesday, August 25, Giantess Geyser roared back to life after a period of more than 6-1/2 years without erupting.
Watch a longer clip of this eruption or watch the Upper Geyser Basin live-stream at .
#Yellowstone
#NationalParks
#Geysers
#GiantessGeyser
(News Release) On Tuesday, March 7, a Yellowstone National Park wildlife biologist on a radio telemetry flight observed the first grizzly bear of 2023 to emerge from hibernation. Learn more:
When you think of Yellowstone artists, you might think of Moran, Bierstadt, or Holmes, but have you heard of Grafton Tyler Brown (1841-1918)? He was the son of a freed slave and considered the first professional African American artist to work in the west.
#BlackHistoryMonth
It's spring in Yellowstone, you know what that means... BABY ANIMALS!
As cute and fuzzy as they are, be sure to give wildlife room, use a zoom. Always maintain a distance of at least 100 yards (91m) away from bears/wolves, and at least 25 yards (23m) away from all other animals.
Half the park is after dark! There are still a few more days to catch comet
#NEOWISE
. Don't worry if you miss it this time, it will be back in the year 8786 AD! Thanks to Park Ranger Michael Guyant for the great shot!
A lone bull bison saunters down the road during yesterday's storm. Their coat keeps them warm in Yellowstone's extreme winter environment, which can drop to -40°F/C or colder.
Many of you have been asking how the wildlife in Lamar Valley have been doing after the flood event. We think Dr. Ian Malcom said it best in 1993, "Life, uh, finds a way."
Today, March 1, 2022, marks the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone! Tune in as rangers Christina and Jake talk about the importance of the park, our anniversary plans for the year, and how you can participate in the commemoration. Watch:
#Yellowstone150
⚠️UPDATE (6/14 @ 6:38pm)⚠️
Northern portion of Yellowstone likely to remain closed for substantial length of time due to severely damaged, impacted infrastructure. Visitors traveling to park soon must stay informed about current situation, roads & weather
Happy National Bison Day!
Join us in celebrating by learning more about the ecological, cultural, and economic significance of North America's largest land animal: .
After a snowstorm, 2 wolves crossed the road ahead. As I parked in the pullout, this wolf stopped, and we locked eyes for 10 seconds before it walked into the trees. Moments like these remind me how special this place is. Do you have a “Yellowstone Moment” to share? -Ranger Jake
We just had to share this artwork created by a 12-year-old park visitor who shared it with one of our rangers this week - how amazing is this?!
Thank you, Kylie, for finding inspiration in Yellowstone and making us smile! 🥰
Elk calving has begun! 🤗 Keep at least 25 yards from all wildlife and 100 yards from bears and wolves. Be aware of your surroundings: cow elk may bed their calves near buildings or cars. They can charge or kick people if approached, even if by accident.
As a friendly reminder: fireworks aren't allowed in the park, but there are a few other things that might keep you entertained at night. Happy
#IndependenceDay2020
!
What’s the difference between hot springs and geysers? Plumbing! Unlike geysers, hot springs do not have constrictions in their plumbing systems. A process called convection keeps water circulating and prevents it from reaching the temperature needed for an eruption.
The red fox is a superb hunter.
With their well-developed sense of hearing and ability to utilize Earth's magnetic field, a red fox can hear very low-frequency sounds of prey beneath 3 feet of snow and pounce on it with remarkable accuracy!
Learn more:
6/13/22 at 1:16 pm STATEMENT from Supt. Cam Sholly about temporarily closing all park entrances: “Due to record flooding events in the park and more precipitation in the forecast, we have made the decision to close Yellowstone to all inbound visitation."
During winter, rangers stationed in the interior of Yellowstone must learn to be self-sufficient. Groceries and medical assistance can be as much as two hours away by snowmobile! Freezing, dehydrating, and fermenting are just a few ways rangers prepare for the long, cold months.
Wishing you a
#HappyMothersDay
from Yellowstone!
The safest way to view wildlife is through a telephoto lens, a spotting scope, or a pair of binoculars.
#YellowstonePledge
And that's a wrap!
All park roads, except for the road between the North and Northeast Entrances, closed this morning to prepare for the winter season ahead. Oversnow travel to the interior by snowcoach or snowmobile is scheduled to begin December 15.
When you optimistically put away your winter clothes and hope for the best…
The Snowshoe hare's white winter coat offers camouflage in snow. By summer, its coat will be fully gray. During spring? Let’s just say it’s a bit of an awkward phase.
Be on the lookout for a full Harvest Moon tonight, scheduled to be on the eastern horizon around 7:26 p.m. MST. And for an extra special cosmic treat, mark your calendars for the Hunter's Blue Moon on the night of Halloween!
Lamar Valley was so quiet on Sunday morning you could hear the bison chewing! Remember to keep at least 25 yards from all wildlife, and 100 yards from bears and wolves.
#MondayMotivation
That moment when you pause skiing to enjoy the first light of the day shining through the trees and you look behind you to realize you aren't the only one: that's a Yellowstone moment! Share yours with us below!
Yellowstone’s trees have adapted to survive in the chilly darkness of winter with a variety of strategies. Conifers retain their needles, which extends their ability to photosynthesize. Aspens and cottonwoods drop their leaves to reduce water loss and conserve nutrients.
Give them room, use your zoom! Always keep at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from all other wildlife—especially bison, elk, and crocodiles. 📸 🐻 🐊
It's funny how you don't notice the cold as much when there is a beautiful sunset. Last week's winter solstice sunset had us feeling especially warm, even in subzero temperatures.
Have you ever heard a bull elk bugle? During the rut, which generally happens Sept-Oct, bull elk bugle to announce their availability and fitness to females and warn/challenge other bulls.
Stay away from bull elk, especially during this time of year, as they are unpredictable!
If you've ever tried walking/wading through deep snow, you know why skis or snowshoes are essential winter gear. Luckily for the Canada lynx, it comes equipped with natural snowshoes: paws that are enormous relative to its weight! Learn more: .
Fresh snow? Nope, that’s hoarfrost! When temperatures get really cold and there’s no wind, water vapor will freeze to things like grasses, trees, and rocks. The crystalline structure of hoarfrost also shimmers in light. 💎 ☀️
The long-tailed weasel works to survive Yellowstone’s winters. They can travel more than nine miles a night to find food. Impressive for a mammal that is not that much larger than a squirrel. Long and short-tailed weasels turn white but only the short-tailed is called an ermine.
Visits to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are magical in winter, especially when your timing lines up with the appearance of a light pillar. Often observed over waterfalls, light pillars are formed by a reflection of the sun through plate-like or flat hexagonal ice crystals.
Tip Tuesday: To avoid crowds and traffic, venture into the park early or late in the day (generally, before 10 a.m. and after 3 p.m.). It is also a good time to see wildlife, fog in geyser basins, or a spectacular sunrise or sunset!
(Heads Up!) On Aug. 16, an employee found part of a foot, in a shoe, floating in Abyss Pool, located in the West Thumb Geyser Basin in the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. An investigation by Yellowstone law enforcement officers is ongoing.
Enjoy this peaceful moment today for the NPS
#2020TimeOut
!
This month, we are
#FindingPeace
. Be sure to follow your favorite parks on social media today as we share more serene moments from across the country!
NPS / Jacob W. Frank
In honor of
#NationalVolunteerWeek
, we want to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated webcam volunteers who remotely steer the Old Faithful live-streaming webcam to view geyser eruptions as well as wildlife in the basin, like these wolves last February.
#NPSVolunteer
More from the archives! Winter, spring, summer, or fall, Yellowstone is home to about 5,000
#bison
. They are agile, strong swimmers, can run 35mph, and jump over objects about 5ft high. What do you want to see next?
#TuesdayThoughts
In 1931, Yellowstone hired Herma Baggley who was the first permanent, full-time, female ranger-naturalist in the
@NatlParkService
. She also co-authored the first guide to the park's vegetation, "Plants of Yellowstone National Park," which is still used today!
#WomensHistoryMonth
The pine marten adapts to winter by changing its hunting patterns! During the spring and summer, they hunt at all times of day and are most active at dawn and dusk. During winter, they mostly hunt for only a few hours in the warmest part of the day. NPS photo / Russ Taylor
While in-person visitation is on hold, we’re going to dive into our photo library and share some favorites with you. Let us know what you want to see in the comments! (NPS photos / Josh Spice)
Let’s end the week on a bright note: We are now gaining more than three minutes of daylight every day. In Yellowstone, that means you’ll have to get up even earlier to see frosty bison at sunrise, but we promise it’ll be worth it.
This holiday season might not be how many of us originally planned, but we hope we've brought you all some peace and happiness this year, no matter how small. From all of us at Yellowstone, have a safe and wonderful Christmas and holiday!
#FindingPeace
(Heads Up) A 47-year-old female from Phoenix, Arizona, was gored by a bison near the Lake Lodge Cabins on the north shore of Lake Yellowstone the morning of July 17. Always stay more than 25 yards (23 m) away from bison. Learn more: