A trip to Yellowstone National Park is like the American version of an African safari. It is full of promise to see the nation’s top predators: bears and wolves, oh my!
While mountain lions are also on our top predator list and can be found at Yellowstone, they are not quite as popular. Perhaps it is all of our childhood stories with bears and wolves as the antagonists, or perhaps it is our connection to our domestic K-9s or our snuggly teddy bears.
But, as a nation, we sure do love our wolves and our bears! Enter Yellowstone: the place to see them both in all of their wild glory.
Spotting wolves and bears in Yellowstone National Park can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it requires patience, time, and a bit of luck. It is also helpful to understand their patterns and habitats. Here are a few tips to help increase your chances of seeing these amazing animals in the park:
Visit during the right time of year
Bears are most active during the summer months when food is plentiful, so this is the best time to see them. The spring months, when the animals are emerging from hibernation, and the fall months, when they are preparing for winter, are also good times to see them. However, due to hibernation, bears are not commonly visible during the winter.
Wolves, on the other hand, are most visible during the winter months! The juxtaposition of their dark coats against the white snow keeps them from blending into their surroundings. Having said this, Yellowstone is very different in the winter, and it is necessary to do adequate study and preparation for a winter visit.
One guaranteed way to enjoy wolves during the winter months is to take a tour like the Winter Wolf Discovery through Yellowstone Forever. This is a multi-day educational experience wherein you can experience the wolves with fewer crowds and professional guides. It is certainly on my own bucket list!
Yellowstone Forever also hosts a Spring Wolf And Bear Discovery tour in May. Learn more about this guaranteed way to enjoy these apex predators here.
If you are travelling to Yellowstone National Park, and seeing wolves is high on your priority list, consider booking a private wildlife sightseeing tour.
We have seen many wolves and bears on these special “safaris” hosted by locals guides. Although it is an investment to enjoy these tours, they often create once-in-a-lifetime moments. (We love them so much that we will be taking another private sightseeing tour in July!)
Get up early or stay out late
Both bears and wolves are most active during dawn and dusk, so these are the best times to see them. Try to be on the trails or at a lookout point during these times.
I know it’s hard, especially with kids in tow, but as soon as you catch your first glimpse of these animals, you will forget about the coffee!
Go to the right place
The best places to see bears and wolves in Yellowstone are the remote backcountry areas of the park. These areas are less populated by visitors and provide the animals with the peace and quiet they need to thrive.
If you can’t be in the backcountry during dawn and dusk, consider the valleys: Lamar and Hayden Valleys. Given the vast openness of these areas, you will have a broader view of the animals in the area. Some other great places to see bears include Gardiner Basin and Tower Junction.
There are around ten packs of wolves in Yellowstone National Park, and each has its own territory. A fun challenge would be trying to view wolves from different packs all in their home territories!
Use binoculars or a scope
Bears and wolves are shy animals that are often wary of people. If you do spot one, it’s important to give them plenty of space and not get too close.
Binoculars can be very helpful in getting a close-up view of the animals from a safe distance. Especially with children, a distant view can feel frustrating and dissatisfying. Ensure you have all of the equipment to see everything about the animals that you can possibly observe, after all, it may be once in a lifetime!
Spot a Carcass
It may sound gruesome, but since wolves and bears will both eat off an animal carcass, spotting one can be your golden ticket. A large carcass, such as an eld or a bison, can feed numerous animals. Often, you will find an entire rotation of predators all gathered near the site. When one takes a break, another will appear!
You can ask a ranger or other park-goer if there have been any recent caracass sightings in the park.
This is how our tour guide knew where to take us for wolf and bear viewing!
Be patient
Spotting bears or wolves in the wild can take time, so be prepared to spend several hours in one area. If you’re not having luck, try moving to a different location or wait for a different time of day.
Another way to find the animals is to check the ranger stations and the Old Faithful Lodge. They will often keep a running list of predator sightings on a viewable whiteboard. While this may serve as warnings to hikers, it could be the insight you need to experience your first wolf or bear sighting.
Join a guided tour
If you’re new to Yellowstone or just want the best possible chance of seeing a bear or wolf, consider joining a guided tour. These tours are led by experienced guides who know the park and the animals very well and can help you increase your chances of seeing them.
Our family took a private, guided tour several Augusts ago, and it was magnificent! While we had to be up and meeting the guide before dawn, his knowledge of the wolves’ exact feeding locations was impeccable.
He knew where to take us, and each stop was as exciting as the last. He brought a scope and snacks. The best part was the knowledge he shared about the animals and the park.
It is so special to hear the perspective of locals, and he definitely shifted the way we think about our nation’s first national park!
If you are considering a guided tour, we strongly suggest that you book your accommodations based on their pick-up locations. This will save you from having to start your day an extra hour early just to get to the correct region of the park!
Spotting bears and wolves in Yellowstone National Park is an incredible experience that requires patience, time, knowledge, and a bit of luck. By following these tips, you’ll increase your chances of seeing these amazing animals in the park.
