Being Wild Jackson Hole

08/15/2024

Donating to Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation through Old Bill's means supporting programs like Give Wildlife A Break, Being Wild JH, Bear Wise JH, Habitat Restoration and Nature Mapping. All are key components to conservation in our region. From the mighty grizzly bear to the delicate hummingbird, JHWF is about preservation and conservation of the species that make Jackson such a special place to live.

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE! Donate to us this Old Bill's season: https://www.oldbills.org/donate

06/23/2024

Who knows what type of owl these juveniles are?

They have a fairly recognizable eye color and facial markings… but they don’t have their iconic tufts of feathers yet…

These growing fluffs will one day be full-fledged great horned owls. Great horned owls got that name from the two tufts of feathers which will poke up on each side of their head, looking like horns.

There are 12 species of owls that live in Wyoming, including the big, beautiful great gray owls and barn owls, as well as the smaller, ground dwelling species like the burrowing owls and short-eared owls.

What’s your favorite owl encounter? Have you ever seen a juvenile or baby owl?

Photograph: Paul Crook

06/18/2024

Pitch in to protect wildlife this week! Being Wild Jackson Hole shares opportunities for our visitors to connect with our wildlife and our landscapes through volunteer opportunities.

Friday, June 21 join us and the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation to observe professional bird-banders capture, band, and release songbirds. By doing this, researchers can better understand population trends in the area. You’ll learn about local birds, too!

Saturday, June 22 volunteer alongside the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation to help reduce barriers to wildlife migration. We do this by removing obsolete fences (with permission) or making wildlife-friendly modifications to existing fences.

Volunteering is one way that tourists can get to know Jackson Hole's wildlife and environments, and this is something that we highlight at Being Wild Jackson Hole

06/13/2024

It’s that time of year in Wyoming… There are lots of baby animals running around!

Bison calves are typically born in April or May. They are a pretty rust color and because of this they are sometimes nicknamed “red dogs.”

A baby bison can weigh anywhere from 30 to 70 pounds when it's born, and like many ungulates, can run just a few short hours later.

Photo: C Shii

06/07/2024

Who is planning a trip to Yellowstone this summer? There is so much to see! Make sure you are well-prepared in advance of your trip. In your time in the park there will be ample opportunity to see the popular western wildlife like bison and elk. Of course, there’s Old Faithful geyser and Old Faithful Inn.

There are other, lesser-known attractions in Yellowstone National park, like Mammoth Hot Springs, and the nearby historic district. This is a great place to stop and explore the fantastic hot springs feature, grab some ice cream, or have a picnic.

Mammoth is notorious for elk roaming the streets, so just like everywhere in Yellowstone, please be very aware of your surroundings and do not approach wild animals!

Learn more about Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District:

The Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District includes Fort Yellowstone, where 35 structures remain from the 1890s and early 1900s when the US Army administered the park

06/01/2024

Though they are not necessarily known for their camouflage abilities, coyotes sure do blend in to their natural, rocky habitat!

The coyote’s natural grayish fur with rust coloring is the perfect match for this hillside.

A good tip for wildlife watching is to just watch the landscape and look for movement. Even in this photo, the coyote is clearly visible, but it is also easy to miss if you look too quickly.

05/25/2024

These small but mighty birds are excellent at catching fish… as their name suggests!

If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the beautiful kingfisher, your best bet is to spend time around water. You’re most likely to see them perched on a fence, in a bush, or a willow, watching the water and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

The female Belted Kingfisher has a rust colored band across her chest, while the male only has one blue band. This makes the female more brightly colored than the male, which is very rare in most bird species!

Photo: Jack Bulmer

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Belted_Kingfisher/overview #

05/19/2024

Our summer volunteering opportunity schedule is posted! During your upcoming visit to Jackson Hole, give a few hours to support local wildlife and be inspired for a lifetime.

Weather we're working together to remove old fencing to help wildlife migrations, collecting native seeds with National Park staff, preserving and maintaining hiking trails, or helping control the spread of invasive species... There are ample opportunities to get out there and connect with nature through volunteering!

Learn more or register on our website.

Volunteering is one way that tourists can get to know Jackson Hole's wildlife and environments, and this is something that we highlight at Being Wild Jackson Hole

05/09/2024

Who’s been stuck in a bison jam before? When you’re visiting Yellowstone this summer, please have patience and let the bison cross the road.

Looking for traffic jams is also a good tip for looking for animals while you’re exploring the park! A common saying is to look for the cars and traffic, because that means there are animals around.

When you’re not waiting for bison (or any animals!) to cross the road, remember to drive the proper speed limit. It’s a kind way for you to do your part to help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on our roadways!

Photo: Judy Beth Morris

04/30/2024

Camouflage! Though they are not known for their camouflage abilities, bighorn sheep sure do blend in to their natural cliffside rock habitat.

Today’s bighorn sheep populations face challenges such as: a continued rebound from historic overhunting, diseases (wild sheep are susceptible to pneumonia spread by domestic livestock), and habitat loss. While Wyoming’s bighorn sheep population has partially recovered, it still falls below the objectives set by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

When you’re visiting Jackson Hole, you can play a role in supporting bighorn sheep conservation efforts. If you visit Miller Butte to view bighorn sheep, please drive cautiously along the road, as the sheep may approach humans and/or cars out of curiosity.

04/22/2024

Osprey are returning to the valley!

These snowbirds migrate South every year, for warmer temperatures in winter. They’ll go as far as Southern California and Mexico.

Soon, you’ll start seeing ospreys building or fixing up their nests. They’ll start laying eggs in May and we can expect to start seeing baby ospreys in June!

If you’re visiting Jackson Hole this spring, look for osprey near bodies of water, since they primarily eat fish. There are also various nesting platforms around the valley… which are dedicated poles (like a telephone pole) with a flat platform on the top, specifically built for osprey to create their nests on.

Photo: Joshua J Cotten

04/16/2024

Our springtime reminder that many hiking and biking trails around town open on Wednesday, May 1! This includes trails near Snow King Mountain. Even though we’re getting some warmer temperatures in the forecast, please help our wildlife this spring by respecting trail closures.

Spring is a really challenging time for wildlife, after having limited food all winter, food will not be more abundant for a few months still. Also in the spring, many animals are moving up and out of the valley, often crossing popular hiking and walking trails. Please respect the wildlife closures and give them their space at this critical time of year. Thank you for doing your part to help our local wild animals!

Learn more about trail closures on the Friends of Pathways website.
https://friendsofpathways.org/pathways/

04/09/2024

Springtime is such a fun time of year for noting wildlife changes around Jackson Hole. One of the most noticeable spring movements is the elk. Thousands of elk that winter on the National Elk Refuge will begin leaving the refuge this month. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ended the winter supplemental feeding program on March 29.

As snow begins to melt in higher elevations, elk will return to their summer stomping grounds. Many will migrate to higher elevations within Grand Teton National Park or up into Yellowstone National Park.

Photograph: Jack Charles

04/01/2024

Have you heard of the the Yellowstone Pledge? Guests are encouraged to make their Yellowstone Pledge anytime, anyplace!

“I pledge to protect Yellowstone National Park. I will act responsibly and safely, set a good example for others, and share my love of the park and all the things that make it special.”

Yellowstone National Park also offers ten tips to help you put your pledge into action. We like #1, Give wildlife room, use a zoom. This tip is helpful for remembering that you can be a good steward of wildlife by giving them proper space. If you’re taking pictures, it’s recommended to use a zoom lens so you can stay 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves, and 25 yards (23 m) from all other animals.

Learn more about the Yellowstone Pledge on their website.

https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/yellowstonepledge.htm

Photo: Jonathan Mabey

03/28/2024

There may be snow in the forecast this week, but we are seeing signs of spring around the valley!

Mountain bluebirds are known for being harbingers of spring around Jackson Hole and surrounding areas. Typically, you’ll start seeing bluebirds in the area in March. Male Mountain Bluebirds are a stunning, bright blue and the females are light gray/blue.

What other backyard birds will start returning to the valley soon? We’ll start seeing Red-Winged Blackbirds this month. As temperatures warm up in April, look for both Tree Swallows and Violet-green Swallows. With more warmth (and insects), we’ll expect to see the Yellow-rumped Warblers as well as a variety of Sparrows!

If you want to learn more about springtime birding in Jackson, check out this blog from the

Photo: John Duncan

https://jhwildlife.org/spring-emergents-and-arrivals-first-of-year-foy/

03/24/2024

The bears are emerging from their dens!

The first official grizzly bear of the season was spotted on March 3 Yellowstone National Park.

Males emerge from hibernation in early February, while females with cubs will start coming out of their dens in April or May.

As you're adventuring in bear country, please be bear aware! Always give bears space (100 yards) and be cautious when you’re out hiking or skiing this spring.

Read more in the article, below.

Editor’s Note: There are no photos of this bear. MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Wyo. — Yellowstone National Park (YNP) issued a press release announcing its first officially recorded grizzly bear sighting of 2024 occurred on March 3. An unofficial sighting was documented by a wildlife watcher in the Hayde...

03/14/2024

Well, we sure had a wintery Moose Day 2024!

Thank you so much to all of the volunteers who counted moose on March 2. We got a LOT of snow that day, so conditions were not good for wildlife viewing.

In total, volunteers counted 36 moose! This number includes moose seen in the search areas we were watching, and also moose seen by residents and friends from their homes on Moose Day. This is the lowest number of moose ever counted on Moose Day since the annual event began in 2009, which is not surprising, given the conditions.

We were excited to learn that people did download the Nature Mapping App and recorded moose observations in February and March. Every bit of data helps local biologists and wildlife managers at Wyoming Game and Fish Department better understand the population and movements of the Jackson Hole Moose Herd.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and hopefully we’ll have better luck with the weather next year! Thanks to Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation for organizing this annual, citizen science event.

02/28/2024

Last month, local online news source, Buckrail, published a story about the low snowpack and low elk population on the National Elk Refuge. The article states that this year is the lowest snowpack on the refuge compared to the last seven years!

Here’s a quick quote: “Refuge Manager, Frank Durbian shared with Buckrail that on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023 there was one inch of snowpack measured on the refuge, equating to 6.5 inches less than the average snowpack for this time of year.”

Despite the low snow, tourists and locals alike are still enjoying the Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides, run by Double H Bar Inc.

JACKSON, Wyo. — As elk slowly trickle onto the National Elk Refuge, this winter marks the lowest snowpack measurement since 2007, when comparable measurements began. Refuge Manager, Frank Durbian shared with Buckrail that on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023 there was one inch of snowpack measured on the r...