Wildlife Workshops
Wildlife Workshops
Many animals can be spotted in and around Jackson Hole. It is not uncommon to see moose, elk, bison, pronghorn, black bear, eagles, wolves, beaver, osprey, coyote, sandhill crane, red fox, hawks, grizzly bears, otter, big horn sheep, mountain goats, marmots, pika, pelican, trumpeter swans, owls, Canada geese plus ducks and birds of many kinds just to name a few. Wildlife Workshops require a bit of patience and the right photo equipment for those award winning images. Are you ready to give it a try?
Bull Moose
Both the males (bulls) and the female moose (cows) are common in Grand Teton National Park and the Jackson Hole area. Moose favor the cold weather typical of the area spending much of their time in the sage-bitterbrush meadows across the valley. After "rut" season has eneded and winter has arrived the bulls shed their "racks" to grow new ones the following spring. Native Americans called moose twig-eaters for their main winter diet.
Bison
Yellowstone is the only place in the United States where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times. Herds of bison, aka the American Buffalo, also populate Grand Teton National Park and the Jackson Hole Valley. Grazing in open grass fields and sage meadows, the bison can meander large distances each day. Calves born in the spring must quickly gain weight and strength to make it through the following winter.
Elk
Elk travel in herds and migrate large distances in and out of the Jackson Hole Valley every year. Elk are also found extensively throughout Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
Grey Wolf
The wolves more so than any other animal are the most difficult to spot. Wolves are often found in small groups of four to seven. Each wolf-pack includes one Alpha Male and one Alpha Female.
Pronghorn
The pronghorn is one of the fastest animals on Earth. Equal in speed to a cheetah, a pronghorn can out-run all would be preditors. Pronghorns are common in Grand Teton National Park.
Big Horn Sheep
Big Horn Sheep at sunset. Big horn are very interesting animals and there are many in the Jackson Hole area. Mountain goats which are white (not pictured) can also be found around Jackson Hole.
Black Bear
A black bear cub feasting in a berry bush. Bears need to put on weight each fall preparing themselves for hibernation. This black bear has come down from higher elevations just for the berries.
A bald eagle rests in an old dead tree under a full moon in Yellowstone. An abundance of wildlife thrive in Yellowstone National Park. Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley are well known for their large bison populations as well as wolves and other preditors. If you are contemplating a Wildlife Workshop, please read about the camera equipment recommended in the pages that follow. Once you spot something you will most certainly want to photograph it. Don't miss out by not having the proper gear.
Grizzly Bear 399 pictured here with her little cub Snowy. Jackson locals sometimes give names to wildlife in the parks. This bear, 399, has become well known for giving birth to triplets more than once. Everybody waits in anticipation to see what emerges from her den in the spring. Presently, 399 has two cubs now going into their second year. As tradition has it, she will likely turn them loose next spring making her available for more babies. We are hoping 399 can produce even more offspring.
More wildlife images can be seen at the Jackson Hole Photography Gallery.