Leaves rustle. Twigs snap. Branches sway and bend. If you’re hiking Grand Teton National Park, these sensory alerts are tip-offs to the presence of wildlife.
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which includes the Grand Tetons and surrounding national forests, is home to the greatest diversity of wildlife in the United States. During a recent trip to the Tetons, Tim and I spotted wildlife in a variety of habitats.
When one thinks of Wyoming wildlife, large animals such as bison, moose and grizzly bears come to mind. However, our most cherished wildlife sighting occurred as we walked Swan Lake Trail along Coulter bay. A golden blur dashed across the trail, then up a tree. We stopped. A furry creature peered around the trunk to check us out. A Pine Marten! This member of the weasel family is rare and elusive; it prefers old growth forests and wilderness.
The Pine Marten was trapped to near extinction in the 1800’s; the Hudson Bay Company alone killed 180,000 of these creatures one year, all because of their luxurious pelts. Their coats are stunningly beautiful, but how nice to see this healthy animal, intact and still wearing its own fur.
The Pine Marten was trapped to near extinction in the 1800’s; the Hudson Bay Company alone killed 180,000 of these creatures one year, all because of their luxurious pelts. Their coats are stunningly beautiful, but how nice to see this healthy animal, intact and still wearing its own fur.
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| The Pine Marten is simply stunning. |
The following photos document the variety of animals we saw over three days in the Tetons.
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| While walking Taggart Lake Trail we practically stumbled into a deep hole—a badger hole. This badger was nearby, waiting for us to leave. |
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| The cow and calf (above) and bull moose (below) are browsing sagebrush meadows between Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park. |
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| A ground squirrel takes a moment to check us out. |
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| As we drove by this stand of Elderberry bushes I noticed swaying branches. Sure enough, this black bear was stocking up on berries for his long winter's nap. |
If you’re considering a wildlife watching excursion to northwestern Wyoming grab a copy of Todd Wilkinson’s terrific book “Watching Yellowstone and Grand Teton Wildlife”. The book describes the habits and habitats of different wildlife species, the best driving routes for wildlife photography, and even offers a wildlife watcher’s code of conduct.
Autumn wildlife viewing in the Tetons is superb, but winter in Yellowstone provides an even better opportunity to get close to the animals. See for yourself by clicking here.
