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Mammals of Yellowstone |
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Click here to view the Yellowstone National Park mammals in scientific order.
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Winter in Yellowstone |
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Its Cold Out Here! Berrrrrr, Issus
Winter, as most of us understand it, is not the same thing that people or animals experience in Yellowstone. For most of us, winter is an inconvenience, for life (human and animal) in Yellowstone it can be deadly and often is.
If you were in Yellowstone today (Friday, January 27, 2006), conditions would not really be that bad, winds are calm, the temperature a relatively balmy -6 Centigrade with moderate snow fall expected.
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Yellowstone Winter, Part II |
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Well let’s get into this with two general statements. In response to a question from a class I said a Universal Rule #1 of Mother Nature is that There Shall Be No Slaughter in nature.May I suggest Universal Rule #2? How about, “There Shall Be No Waste.
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The Yellowstone Wolf Project: Observing Denning |
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Research by Linda Thurston
 Particularly with the monitoring of endangered species and, in general, to know more about a species, denning behavior helps us to understand reproduction and pup survival. The reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone provided one for the first opportunities scientists had really observe wolf denning behavior in the wild.
Previous studies on wolf behavior were done on captive wolves, but because wolves in the wild are able to travel up to 40 miles a day, confinement can alter the behavior of these mobile, highly social animals. The Yellowstone Wolf Project has taken advantage of this opportunity by collecting rarely observed behavioral data.
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What did the other “important” animals have to say about it? |
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Should the gray wolf be welcomed back into Yellowstone? OK, this is the situation; a group of humans in about 1986 got the bright idea of reintroducing wolves into Yellowstone National Park. This ignited a serious debate (as well as screaming and name calling) among the humans. But (to make a long story short) in 1995 gray wolves were invited back. We have all kinds of surveys as to how the humans felt about this, but few have ever heard of what the other animals thought. Well, luckily we do have some feedback as to how they regarded this idea. But before we tell you that, how do you think the other stake-holders in Yellowstone felt about this development? So tell us yes, no, or no opinion for several other key species. Put yourself in their paws or huffs (they are not into shoes exactly).
Yes: why not, it would be fun to see some excitement around the place. Anyway, I see it as good for me. I say give the big dog a break
No: is someone losing their mind, what can you be thinking? Next someone will argue we should build playgrounds on super highways. A dog? It’s a serial killer with fur.
No opinion: hey, it’s no fur (or feathers) off my back.
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Mammals of Yellowstone National Park |
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Yellowstone National Park is home to the largest concentrations of large and small mammals in the lower 48 states. While some species are rare or occasional visitors to the park, 60 different mammals are listed as present here. Seven species of ungulates are native to the park - elk, mule deer, bison, moose, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and white-tailed deer. Non-native mountain goats appear to be colonizing the park. |
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The Grey Wolf |
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Canis Lupus - Basic Fact Sheet:
As the ancestor of the domestic dog, the gray wolf resembles German shepherds or huskies. The wolf is the largest member of the canine family. On average, wolves stand 26 to 32 inches at the shoulder and weigh 55 to 115 pounds. Females are usually slightly smaller than males. Wolves range in color from grizzled gray or black to all-white.
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