Wildlife Viewing
With more than 98,000 square miles of terrain and one person per every 111 acres, it’s no wonder that Wyoming is one of the best nature and wildlife watching vacations in North America. Home to more than 100 mammal species and 400 species of birds, Wyoming’s wild residents include bison, mountain lions, wolves, bald eagles, grizzly bears, black bears, elk, moose, deer, pronghorn antelope and wild horses. Many of Wyoming’s wildlife reside in national forests, national parks, national wilderness areas and wildlife refuges. Guided wildlife tours are available year-round in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park, along with special winter sleigh rides in the National Elk Refuge near Jackson.
Keep Your Distance: Seeing Wyoming’s first inhabitants in the wild is an experience unlike any other. And while you may be tempted to see animals up close, always remember to observe from a safe distance. Stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards away from elk, bison and other wildlife.
Hear the Sounds of Wyoming Wildlife
With more than 400 bird species and 100 mammal species (jackalope not included), Wyoming is a wildlife lover’s dream. See if you can spot these eight critters on your next visit.
Bison
Wyoming’s state animal has grazed the geothermal expanses of Yellowstone since prehistoric times. Today, sightings are a regular occurrence throughout Yellowstone National Park, Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Kendrick Park in Sheridan, and Bear River State Park in Evanston.
Audio Credit: NPS/Jennifer Jerrett
Photo Credit: Don Mammoser
Western Meadowlark
Wyoming’s yellow breasted state bird has a song so distinctive it’s likened to a flute. Listen for its chipper calls in Wyoming’s open grassland as a signal of spring’s arrival. Its nests are snuggled amid vegetation, and it feeds on bugs and seeds, so look down rather than up when scanning for them on open space.
Audio Credit: NPS & MSU Acoustic Atlas/Jennifer Jerrett
Photo Credit: Flickr//USFWS MOUNTAIN-PRAIRIE
Bald Eagle
America’s national bird is a regular character all over Wyoming, often seen flying along the state’s most traveled roads. Their recognizable, white feathered heads and expansive wingspans make them easy to spot around Yellowstone Lake and in Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge near Green River. These kings of the sky like to feed on fish, so watch for them near lakes and streams.
Audio Credit: NPS / Shan Burson
Photo Credit: @jacobpaulphoto
Elk
With antlers that can tower up to 4 feet, elk are a majestic sight to behold. Favorite haunts include Medicine Bow National Forest outside Laramie, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and western Wyoming’s Star Valley. Many elk journey to the National Elk Refuge in Jackson each winter.
Audio Credit: NPS & MSU Acoustic Atlas/Jennifer Jerrett
Find tips on where to glimpse these wild creatures and more here.
Coyote
You’ll likely hear the soulful yips and howls of Wyoming’s coyotes before you see them, especially at night. These brownish gray canines frequent scenic areas like the Red Desert, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge.
Audio Credit: NPS & MSU Acoustic Atlas/Jennifer Jerrett
Photo Credit: Xanterra Travel Collection – Yellowstone
Grizzly Bear
Wyoming’s famed grizzly bears are so common you might see them roaming above treeline, along rushing rivers and across shortgrass prairies. Watch for them on Grand Teton and Yellowstone park land, though be sure to give them ample space. It’s recommended to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards away from all other wildlife.
Audio Credit: NPS & MSU Acoustic Atlas/Jennifer Jerrett
Photo Credit: @alex_ghanayem
Red Fox
Most active at dawn and dusk, the red fox — known for its ruddy, fluffy fur fur — favors Wyoming’s grasslands and forests. See them trot in Yellowstone National Park’s Hayden and Pelican valleys, and around Canyon Village. Grand Teton National Park’s Teton Science School, Flagg Ranch and Colter Bay Village areas are other popular spots for sighting them.
Audio Credit: NPS & MSU Acoustic Atlas/Jennifer Jerrett
Photo Credit: @kallen.wildphoto
Wild Horse
Wild horse herds, descendants of Spanish equines, roam Wyoming’s open landscape, primarily in the state’s southwest corner. See this majestic symbol of the West in the Pryor Mountains, near Lovell, around Rock Springs, and in Lander’s Wind River Wild Horse Sanctuary.
Photo Credit:@visitusaparks
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Call of the Wild Itinerary
Viewing wildlife in Wyoming provides an exciting and diverse experience for visitors.
Viewing wildlife in Wyoming provides an exciting and diverse experience for visitors.