#engageyourcuriosity

Blog by YW Naturalist Erik B. Ask any naturalist guide in Yellowstone what a common question is and all of them will answer, without hesitation, “Is it bison or buffalo?” What exactly should we call the iconic wild bovines roaming the Yellowstone landscape?” The answer is: both!  While the species is American bison (bison bison),…

Blog by YW Naturalist Jesse Gifford You have just arrived at Yellowstone National Park and cannot wait another minute to see some wildlife! Excitedly, you take a trail that leads you deep into the woods, where you envision an open meadow teeming with all manner of animal life. The plan seems perfect: get away from…

Blog by YW Lead Naturalist Aleksa B. When visitors think of Yellowstone National Park, most visitors imagine dense forest, wide open valleys, and boiling, steaming geyser basins. We have mountains as well, but they often serve as a simple and beautiful backdrop to the “more exciting” landscapes right in front of us. However, if you…

Blog written by YW Naturalist Mads B. Before I knew I wanted to study environmental science I studied audio engineering technology. I learned how to record sounds, put them into software, and manipulate them into a pleasing-sounding sonic landscape.  When recording songs I had to keep in mind that each instrument has its own frequency,…

Blog by Yellowstone Wild naturalist Erik B. There is a certain kind of silence that only exists in Yellowstone during winter. It settles gently across frozen rivers, blankets the valleys in fresh snow, and softens the edges of mountains that have stood unchanged for thousands of years. The crowds of summer fade away, leaving behind…

Trip Report written by Lead Naturalist Laura L. Type 2 fun is the kind of fun that, while it’s happening, feels suspiciously like a terrible life decision. Your boots get wet crossing slick rocks you’ve convinced yourself you can make it across. Your shoulders ache from carrying forty pounds of equipment, and an abundance of…

Written by YW Naturalist Matthew W. When people think of Yellowstone’s predators, the gray wolf (Canis lupus), grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilus) and mountain lion (Puma concolor) are usually the first animals that come to mind. However, in the dry sagebrush ecosystem of Yellowstone’s lower elevations, lies another, oft-overlook predator capable of stopping all in…

Blog by YW Naturalist Mads Buchman Cover photo by Kyle Moon. It was a brisk June morning and everywhere I looked there were herds of brand new bison calves and their moms set against a backdrop of vibrant spring greenery. That day was a bear and wolf tour, so our main focus was on wildlife,…

Written by YW Lead Naturalist Matt D. It’s well known that Yellowstone is the world’s first and arguably, greatest national park. What’s less well known is that Gardiner, Montana, is the first and arguably greatest gateway town. Yellowstone has five entrances: North, Northeast, East, South, and West. Three of those entrances are in Montana, two…

Blog written by Parker Napolitano Peregrine Falcons are the fastest bird on Earth, full stop. Reaching diving speeds of more than 200 miles per hour while pursuing prey, this remarkable raptor has fascinated observers for thousands of years, and it’s still showing off today. A peregrine falcon in a “stoop”. Image courtesy of USFWS Evolution…