Wildlife
One of the first spectacles in Jackson Hole to greet winter visitors is the 7,000 head of elk spread across the nearly 25,000-acre National Elk Refuge. Wildlife is abundant in Jackson Hole and spotting a moose, elk, bison or bald eagle is simply a car drive away. more info
Wildlife Listings: (add your listing)
Hole Hiking Experience
Discover the animals & birds that inhabit Jackson Hole & learn their behavior. Visit mixed habitats with a local naturalist. Great photo opportunities
(866) 733-4453
Wildlife Expeditions - Connecting people to Nature
Yellowstone and Grand Teton Park Tours. Close-up viewing of wildlife, customized vehicles, half-day, full & overnight trips. Tour & activity packages.
(888) 945-3567
BrushBuck Photo Tours - Grand Teton / Yellowstone
Providing quality private wildlife / scenic tours in Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks. Ideal for families, small tour & RV groups, and couples seeking an adventure.
(888) 282-5868
Callowishus Park Touring Company
Small group guided sightseeing tours of Yellowstone & Grand Teton Parks. Grand Teton includes a boat ride on Jenny Lake & Gondola ride at ski area.
(307) 413-5483
Charlie Sands - Scenic Float Trips
For over 35 years we've shown more people a "good time" than anyone. U-Paddle, guided trips, perfect for families & groups. Excellent safety record. Wildlife abounds!
(800) 358-8184
EcoTour Adventures - Wildlife and Hiking Tours
Customized park tours with an educated naturalist. We are flexible and will cater to your needs. Carbon neutral and we contribute to local non-profits. Create an Experience!
(307) 690-9533
Upstream Anglers & Outdoor Adv's Wildlife Safaris
Experience the "Hole Safari" in Jackson, WY w/private guide observing & photographing incredible scenery & wildlife. Also wolf safaris in Yellowstone.
(800) 642-8979
Other Related Listings: (add your listing)
Yellowstone Wildlife Tours from Flying Pig
See Yellowstone's wild animals up-close led by naturalists from the Yellowstone Association. Then, come enjoy horseback rides, cookouts, hiking, rafting & more family fun.
(866) 807-0744
Elk
© Vertical Media
The National Elk Refuge is located adjacent to the town of Jackson and stretches to the northeast toward Kelly and Grand Teton National Park.
The best time to view elk on the refuge is between November and May and visitors can take a sleigh ride ($8 for adults, $4 for youths) to see the large ungulates up close. Hour-long sleigh rides are offered beginning in late December until late March and leave the National Museum of Wildlife Art every 20 minutes. No reservations are taken. The museum is located across from the refuge on U.S. Highway 26/89 three miles north of town.
Long before humans inhabitited Jackson Hole year-round, hundreds of animal species made the valley their home. In fact, the first humans to visit Jackson Hole were Native American hunting parties and mountain men drawn by the abundant wildlife. Today, Jackson Hole is still renown for its large and diverse population of wildlife, including a number of protected species. Many visitors are surprised to learn that winter provides an excellent opportunity to view these animals. Jackson Hole is at the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, comprising Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and seven National Forests - the largest contiguous area of protected and unspoiled wild country in the lower 48 states.
While elk are the primary inhabitants of the refuge, bison usually migrate from Grand Teton National Park and spend their winter on the northeast corner of the refuge. Other animals call the refuge home during the winter, including moose, bighorn sheep, mule deer, coyotes, badgers and Uinta ground squirrels.
The Jackson National Fish Hatchery, located on the National Elk Refuge, is responsible for raising the native Snake River strain of cutthroat trout and lake trout, which are then distributed to area lakes and streams. Annual stocking from the Jackson hatchery amounts to about one million fish.
Deer
© Vertical Media
For bird lovers, the refuge is host to about 175 winged species. The best place for bird watching is at the Flat Creek Marsh near a pullout on U.S. Highway 26/89. Bald eagles, ospreys, ravens and mag pies are common here and along the Snake River. Each spring, great blue herons return to their rookery at the Oxbow Bend. Trumpeter swans, the largest North American waterfowl, build sizable pond-level nests around the valley. When ice prevails, they depend on warm geothermal springs in the region. Beavers dam streams creating ponds that benefit Canada geese, mallards and cinnamon teal, along with a multitude of summer and migratory waterfowl.
For visitors with a little more time on their hands, a drive around the valley will offer a rewarding wildlife experience.
Moose and coyotes are commonly seen along the Teton Village Road. Moose also like to hang out in Buffalo Valley, just north of Moran Junction. Bald eagles can be spotted swooping over the Snake River from Hoback Junction to Alpine Junction throughout the Bridger-Teton National Forest. More elk can be found at a feed ground on the southern end of Fall Creek Road, just south of Hoback Junction. Bighorn sheep are usually crossing the road down by Camp Creek Inn, just south of Hoback on U.S. Highway 189/191. Drivers are also asked to beware of mule deer crossing the road near Albertson's.
Visitors looking to combine wildlife viewing with a snowmobile experience can venture up to Yellowstone National Park where they will likely see several bison, among other wonders.
Yellowstone is home to the largest concentration of large and small mammals in the lower 48 states, including its newest inhabitants - the endangered gray wolves. Brought in from Canada, several wolves can sometimes be spotted in the park's Lamar Valley in the northeast corner, which remains open to vehicle traffic in the winter.
Wildflowers in an amazing variety and profusion bloom throughout the warm months in Grand Teton National Park. Sagebrush buttercups follow receding snow pack. Springbeauties, yellowbells and steerhead arrive soon after, growing close to the ground for protection from late snowstorms or frost. Brilliant color covers the valley floor during late June, the peak of the wildflower season. Meadows of scarlet gilia, balsamroot, lupine, larkspur and wild buckwheat bloom in multiple combinations of red, yellow, blue, purple and white. Following the valley display, many of the same wildflowers flourish in meadows along canyon trails. Visitors to the alpine zone discover brilliant cushions of color that hug the ground, including the official flower of the park - the alpine forget-me-not.
26FOther pages you might find helpful:
Biodiversity Conservation Alliance
Determined to preserve and protect wildlife and their hibitat in the area.
Yellowstone Wildlife Tours
Explore Yellowstone's unique and diverse ecosystem.
