Yellowstone National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🐺 Bison and Wolf Valleys
🌍 #155 Global · 3.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #12 in North America #15 in Temperate Forest
Rocky Mountains, United States 530 spp. recorded

Yellowstone is open valley between forest and geyser basin, and the openness is why the animals are so visible from the road. Bison are recorded on eight visits in ten and elk on seven, in herds that stop traffic through Lamar and Hayden.

44.581° N   110.619° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

American Bison ★
NT

American Bison

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Bison bison

90–100% · Very likely
Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

60–70% · Likely
Gray Wolf ★
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

50–60% · Likely
Elk ★
LC Endemic

Elk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

80–90% · Very likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

70–80% · Very likely
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

60–70% · Likely
Pronghorn
LC Endemic

Pronghorn

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antilocapra americana

60–70% · Likely
Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

60–70% · Likely
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

50–60% · Likely
Mountain Chickadee
LC

Mountain Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile gambeli

50–60% · Likely
Uinta Ground Squirrel
LC Endemic

Uinta Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Urocitellus armatus

50–60% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

40–50% · Likely
Yellow-bellied Marmot

Yellow-bellied Marmot

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Marmota flaviventris

40–50% · Likely
Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

American Bison ★
NT

American Bison

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Bison bison

90–100% · Very likely
Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

60–70% · Likely
Gray Wolf ★
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

50–60% · Likely
Elk ★
LC Endemic

Elk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

60–70% · Likely
Pronghorn
LC Endemic

Pronghorn

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antilocapra americana

60–70% · Likely
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

60–70% · Likely
Uinta Ground Squirrel
LC Endemic

Uinta Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Urocitellus armatus

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-bellied Marmot

Yellow-bellied Marmot

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Marmota flaviventris

40–50% · Likely
Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

40–50% · Likely
Bighorn Sheep
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

40–50% · Likely
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
LC

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Callospermophilus lateralis

40–50% · Likely
American Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

40–50% · Likely
Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

30–40% · Possible
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

30–40% · Possible
Mountain Goat
LC

Mountain Goat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oreamnos americanus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

80–90% · Very likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

70–80% · Very likely
Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

50–60% · Likely
Mountain Chickadee
LC

Mountain Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile gambeli

50–60% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

40–50% · Likely
Chipping Sparrow
LC

Chipping Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella passerina

40–50% · Likely
Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

40–50% · Likely
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Regulus calendula

40–50% · Likely
Clark's Nutcracker
LC

Clark's Nutcracker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nucifraga columbiana

30–40% · Possible
Red-tailed Hawk
LC Endemic

Red-tailed Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo jamaicensis

30–40% · Possible
Lesser Scaup
LC

Lesser Scaup

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya affinis

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
LC

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis elegans

20–30% · Possible
Gopher Snake
LC Endemic

Gopher Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Pituophis catenifer

20–30% · Possible
Sagebrush Lizard
LC

Sagebrush Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus graciosus

10–20% · With luck
Northern Rubber Boa
LC

Northern Rubber Boa

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Charina bottae

5–10% · Rare
Prairie Rattlesnake
LC

Prairie Rattlesnake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crotalus viridis

<5% · Rare
North American Racer
LC

North American Racer

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Coluber constrictor

Insufficient data
Common Garter Snake
LC Endemic

Common Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis sirtalis

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Columbia Spotted Frog
LC

Columbia Spotted Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana luteiventris

20–30% · Possible
Western Toad
LC

Western Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus boreas

10–20% · With luck
Boreal Chorus Frog
LC

Boreal Chorus Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudacris maculata

10–20% · With luck
Western Tiger Salamander
LC

Western Tiger Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ambystoma mavortium

10–20% · With luck
Plains Spadefoot
LC

Plains Spadefoot

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Spea bombifrons

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐻

Bears After the Thaw

MayJun

Grizzly and black bears feed in the meadows after leaving their dens, at their highest of the year.

American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

60–70% · Likely
Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

60–70% · Likely
🦌

The Elk Rut

SepOct

Bull elk bugle and gather harems around Mammoth and Madison, and pronghorn move onto the northern range.

Pronghorn
LC Endemic

Pronghorn

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antilocapra americana

60–70% · Likely
Elk
LC Endemic

Elk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

80–90% · Very likely
🐺

Wolves and Bison in Winter

JanFeb

Wolf packs hunt the open valleys where the snow is thinnest and bison gather to graze, both at their most visible of the year.

Gray Wolf
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

50–60% · Likely
Bighorn Sheep
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

40–50% · Likely
American Bison
NT

American Bison

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Bison bison

90–100% · Very likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
American Bison
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
Brown Bear
5–10
5–10
10–20
50–60
80–90
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
20–30
40–50
Gray Wolf
70–80
70–80
60–70
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
Elk
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
Common Raven
90–100
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
American Robin
20–30
20–30
60–70
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
50–60
50–60
30–40
60–70
30–40
American Black Bear
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
70–80
80–90
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
30–40
Pronghorn
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Canada Goose
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
50–60
Coyote
80–90
80–90
80–90
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
Yellow-rumped Warbler
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
10–20
30–40
20–30
Mountain Chickadee
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
70–80
Uinta Ground Squirrel
5–10
5–10
5–10
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
<5
<5
20–30
5–10
Mallard
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
70–80
40–50
60–70
Yellow-bellied Marmot
5–10
10–20
10–20
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
10–20
<5
5–10
5–10
Mule Deer
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
Animal Events
🐺 Wolves and Bison in Winter
🐻 Bears After the Thaw
🦌 The Elk Rut

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐺 Bison and Wolf Valleys

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
394
🐒 Mammals
109
🦎 Reptiles
11
🐸 Amphibians
16
530 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
21 Threatened 75 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
67%
📊
Coverage (132 species at ≥5% of 530 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
25%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 mammal, 5 bird)
46% Global avg
65%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
94
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
14
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
22

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Yellowstone National Park?

The most likely sightings are American Bison (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Elk (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Common Raven (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), American Robin (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), American Black Bear (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 530 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park for wildlife?

May has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see American Bison in Yellowstone National Park?

Yes — about 91% of wildlife watchers report a American Bison sighting in Yellowstone National Park, based on 3,280 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Brown Bear in Yellowstone National Park?

Yes — about 64% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Bear sighting in Yellowstone National Park, based on 888 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Gray Wolf in Yellowstone National Park?

Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Gray Wolf sighting in Yellowstone National Park, based on 520 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Elk in Yellowstone National Park?

Yes — about 85% of wildlife watchers report a Elk sighting in Yellowstone National Park, based on 2,200 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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