Bison (Bison bison) bull demonstrating the flehmen response, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States of America, North America. James Hager/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos158271
We came across a collection of stunning animal shots from inside Yellowstone National Park. Everything about Yellowstone is cool in its own right – the geysers, waterfalls, pots, and springs – but the wildlife found throughout the park is one of my favorite things about visiting. There are just so many different kinds of animals and it’s so exciting to come around a corner and see a moose standing in the middle of the river.
Well, it’s exciting when I’m in my car and suddenly come upon wildlife. Having it happen while hiking can sometimes be scary.
Did you know that Yellowstone is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the continental United States? No fewer than 67 different mammals live in the park. Then add rodents, birds, amphibians, and reptiles, and there are a lot of creatures roaming around. On a Yellowstone website they have a whole list of animals you might come across while traveling through the beautiful Wyoming area. You have a chance to run into bears (grizzly, black, and brown), bighorn sheep, bison, wolves, moose, elk, eagles, mule deer, coyotes, and other small and large animals.
One time, we were visiting the Old Faithful geyser. Right after the geyser was done, hundreds of people were streaming back to their cars when the crowd suddenly parted. A big old buffalo was just rambling through the crowd, ignoring all the tourists taking pictures, and not putting to much effort into changing its path or getting out of the way. I’ve seen all the signs about staying away from the buffalo because they can be dangerous, but this one seemed pretty content around so many people.
Bison have an old connection with Yellowstone. Apparently by 1890, fewer than 1,000 bison remained in America. Yellowstone became a sanctuary for the creatures and by 1997 there were around 3,500 bison in the park. The numbers have gone back down again to around 3,000.
It’s still National Park Week, you can get into Yellowstone for free through the weekend (April 20-21) so if you are close enough, check out the park. Or you can just see hundreds more pictures of bison and other Yellowstone Park animals back at Newscom.
A young grizzly bear hitches a ride on his mums back in a bid to prevent his paws getting cold in these cute pictures. The months old youngster had sought refuge as his mum hunted for food in the freezing snow. Steve Hinch photographed the pair from a safe distance in the Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Solent News / Splash News/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: spnphotosthree822335
Alaskan Tundra wolf (Canis lupus tundrarum) in winter, Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, West Yellowstone, Montana, United States of America, North America. Kimberly Walker/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos155716
Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) ram in the snow, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States of America, North America. James Hager/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos143823
Bull Elk (Cervus canadensis) in snow, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States of America, North America. James Hager/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos143838
Yellow pine chipmunk (Eutamias amoenus) eating a grass head, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States of America, North America. James Hager/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos158273
Bison (Bison bison) running, Yellowstone National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wyoming, United States of America, North America. James Hager/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos158275
Trumpeter Swans in the Madison River in winter in Yellowstone National Park. Chuck Haney Danita Delimont Photography/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: ddpphotos347672
Fox in Yellowstone National Park. imago stock&people/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: imagostock103994
Bison (Bison bison), Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States of America, North America. Colin Brynn/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos101904
Beaver (Castor canadensis) feeding in Soda Butte Creek, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States of America, North America. James Hager/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos121409
You may be interested in some of these other posts from FocalPoint:
National Park Week: Celebrating a Beautiful World
Tags: bison, elk, grizzly bear, sheep, wildlife photography, wolf, yellowstone national park
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