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WILDLIFE
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Coyote
Elk
Mountain Lion
Pronghorn Antelope
Wolves
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VISITOR INFORMATION
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Belgrade, MT
Bozeman, MT
Gardiner, MT
Livingston, MT
Red Lodge, MT
Virginia City, MT
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Yellowstone N.P.
Yellowstone National Park Wildlife
Wolves
The gray wolf (canis lupus) has returned to Yellowstone National Park following an absence of approximately sixty-nine years. In 1995, wolves from Alaska and British Columbia, Canada were brought to the park as part of a program to repopulate hunting areas in the western and northwestern states. Today they flourish and have become one of Yellowstone's most popular species of wildlife.
Wolves in North America can range in color from black to the solid white coat of the arctic wolf, although gray is the most prevalent color. The adult male can be up 38 inches at the shoulder and have a body length (not counting the tail) of up to 58 inches. Females will usually range up to 20 percent smaller than the male.
Wolves, like all canines, have olfactory organs that give them the ability to locate and identify scents at great distances from their source. This sense of smell is the first tool a pup uses to identify a food source immediately after it is born and greatly facilitates its success in hunting later in life. Hearing is the next strongest sense for the wolf. They can hear at much higher frequencies than humans and when combined with other assets such as strength, stamina, speed and the ability to cooperatively work within a pack, their acute hearing makes the wolf a formidable hunter. Food sources for the packs include elk, bison, deer and moose.
At the end of 2005, there were approximately 118 wolves living in 14 identified packs in Yellowstone. Most of the packs are identified and named for the area in which their hunting range is located. Although scattered throughout the park, Lamar Valley, in northeastern Yellowstone is considered one of the best places to view wolves in their natural habitat.
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Compass
American Guides: Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, 1st Edition by
Brian Kevin. Fodor's Compass American Guides have a new design and
practical information you need to make the most of your visit to
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Easy-to-use practical
information you need to get around and experience the best of Yellowstone
and Grand Teton National Parks.
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The
Concise Visitor's Guide to Yellowstone by Matt Bolton. Sized perfectly for
backpacks this guide offers specifics on food, what to see, children's
activities, weather, wildlife, seasonal road closures, ranger programs,
visitor centers, what differentiates each section of the park and more.
Filled with information, phone numbers, web sites, and detailed maps this
is the tool to use when planning a trip to Yellowstone.
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Moon
Spotlight Yellowstone National Park by Don Pitcher. 80-page compact guide
covering must-see attractions and maps with sightseeing highlights. This
lightweight guide is packed with recommendations on sights, entertainment,
shopping, recreations, accommodations, food, and transportation, as well
as easy-to-read maps.
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National
Geographic Park Profiles: Yellowstone Country by Seymour L. Fishbein.
Yellowstone Country tours the stunning region that includes Yellowstone
and Grand Teton National Parks, a mosaic of national forests, wilderness
areas, wildlife refuges, countless waterfalls, hot springs and two-thirds
of the world's active geysers.
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