Otters can swim for 2 to 3 minutes without coming up for air. Eat crayfish and fish; also frogs, turtles, sometimes young muskrats or beavers. The hydrothermal basins at and around Old Faithful are a critical overwintering habitat for bison and elk. I often stop there to look at the swallows which have their nests under the bridge, and happened to see an otter. Where to see bighorn sheep in Yellowstone: Where to see grizzly bears in Yellowstone: Where to see river otters in Yellowstone: Where to see sandhill cranes in Yellowstone: Where to see trumpeter swans in Yellowstone: Although wildlife roams the entire 3,000 square miles (7,500+ square kilometers) of Yellowstone National Park, there are a number of places where they tend to congregate. Related: I went to Glacier and Yellowstone during COVID-19 and it was weird. The peak time is definitely summer when everything is open. You must show your pass at check-in to receive the discount on your site only. Want to experience Yellowstone in-depth? There are plenty of places for you to stay in and around Yellowstone. It can also make a lot of sense to use your credit card points to help offset the cost of an upscale stay near the park. River otters can be found in North Americas vast desert and cold-weather regions, but they are not found in arid deserts or treestops. margin: auto; Mammoth Hotel summer opening delayed. PO Box 168 In fact, most were full by 7 a.m. Yellowstone National Park, the oldest, one of the largest, and probably the best-known national park in the United States. They are fun animals to watch interact with their environment. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Rates in August start at $174 a night. Thanks again. The otters that are in my pics/videos I linked above were just north of Trout Creek where the river bends real close to the road. How to See the Wolves of Yellowstone. The boardwalk overlooks the Firehole River at one point and I saw otters there. There are also herds of elk that call the area home. #gallery-1 { *Do not check this box if you have an Annual Pass. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants, but haute cuisine isn't exactly a thing. Both blacks and grizzlies are often seen in this area. Find the right card for you. They're tiny, sure, but the perfect base for exploring the nearby geysers, mountains and hot springs when I stayed there in June. Its a great spot for skiing in the winter. I've been here now in several different seasons and it's always changing, always distinctly different and always awe-inspiring. } Most aquatic member of weasel family; generally found near water. Explore More Wildlife Stories; Explore More Wildlife . I saw a romp of 5 otters here and watched them for an hour and a half or so early one morning. Yellowstone has 12 proper campgrounds with over 2,000 individual spots. These showers did not close during the 2021 season and cost $5 for individual showers. No guarantees with any wildlife of course, but we will certainly try all of these out to give ourselves the best shot. 2 min walk from parking area, and beautiful. Lodges are closed and are likely to remain shut down for the remainder of 2020. Set up your tripod and spend a few morning or evening hours scanning the landscape for bears, moose, wolves, etc. Where to see wolves in Yellowstone: Lamar Valley Hayden Valley Blacktail Deer Plateau (west of Tower-Roosevelt) Canyon Old Faithful Area black wolf at Yellowstone How to Spot a Bear or Wolf in Yellowstone When bears and wolves are far away, it's easy to mistake them for a rock or bush. Females and offspring remain together until next litter; may temporarily join other family groups. NPS It is most easily seen in summer when the chicks are growing. Sandhill cranes, ducks, robins, swans, geese, red-tailed hawks, bluebirds, and meadowlarks are among the first to return. Other Yellowstone animals you might spot include beavers, river otters, trumpeter swans, bald eagles, pronghorn and black bears. If you go, definitely have a plan for the call of nature. Yellowstone is huge, so if you plan your visit with another entrance in mind, you'll have a surprise. 10/2 - You probably will not be near enough to water for good otter-y views today, lol. From the shores of Yellowstone Lake and the warmth of Old Faithful to the Lamar and Hayden valleys, these are the absolute best places to see Yellowstone National Park wildlife. World-famous Yellowstone, established in 1872, is the oldest national park in the United States and one of the most popular. Although visitors and park rangers have confirmed seeing the river otter in most of Yellowstones major lakes, rivers and large streams, theyre not commonly spotted. Consider redeeming a stash of Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book a stay at an independent property. Therefore, (parts of) this area may be closed for bear management in spring. As you can imagine, they call it that for a reason. Even last minute, there's availability on Airbnb outside the park. Keep your eyes peeled and your camera ready, and youre sure to have a memorable encounter with these charming animals. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-115042772', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Signal Mountain Lodge in June. This post about the best wildlife watching in Yellowstone National Park contains affiliate links. You can read more about ourTerms of Use / Disclosure here. I see what she means. Read our complete guide on the best times to visit Yellowstone. There are also plenty of places to bed down at the two Wyoming entrances. Otters can close their ears and nostrils, using their whiskers to search for prey. Tower Fall is a must-see, cascading 132 feet over dramatic volcanic towers into the Yellowstone River like something out of Lord of the Rings. In spring, on the other hand, the bison and elk that didnt survive winter, known as winter-kill, attract black and grizzly bears to the Old Faithful area. In all our 9 visits only ever seen Otters once, in the Madison River before Tuff Cliff and the climb up to Gibbon Falls. I often stop there to look at the swallows which have their nests under the bridge, and happened to see an otter.<<<. On the water or in the sky, look for river otters, white pelicans, bald eagles and osprey. It is well worth watching the creatures because of their fascinating and unique nature. They try out their new legs, running, jumping, and frolicking with each other as they keep up with the herds. We've seen the across the river at Cattleman's Bridge. Grizzly bears meander up to the high mountain peaks, searching for army cutworm moths sheltering under piles of rock. As snow accumulates, male grizzlies follow wolf packs to steal a few more meals before denning season, while female grizzlies search for a den location. Yellowstone is home to a wide range of animals that are not found anywhere else on the planet. This terrain, especially between Tower Junction and Tower Fall, provides the ideal habitat for sure-footed mammals such as bighorn sheep and deer. Bighorn lambs take their first steps in steep canyons and cliffs. Look for osprey on the cliffs just south of the entrance. Campsites are available from just $5 a night, and there are approximately 900 miles of trails to explore in the park just be hyper-aware of your surroundings, as you'll be sharing the territory with some fearsome predators. We saw these two otters towards the southern end of Hayden Valley in October one year. Over 150 species of breeding birds now occupy cliff ledges, tree limbs, trunk cavities, grasslands, marshes, and treetops. Located adjacent to one of the wolf habitats, this unique indoor group of displays features other native species, including Yellowstone cutthroat trout and Arctic grayling. You have to get lucky. Yellowstone National Park, which is home to more than 150 bird species, is a popular bird nesting location. There is almost always a heron on the west side of the bridge that we stop and take pics of, but oddly we never saw one there this year. In (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Alternatively, you may use, Yellowstone National Park Hotels and Places to Stay, Yellowstone National Park Vacation Rentals, Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park. for your trip to Yellowstone National Park. There are plenty of places for you to stay in and around Yellowstone. Yellowstone in February is also the heart of courtship and nesting season for great horned owls. River otters are in their element in Yellowstone's early winter. These playful creatures can often be seen frolicking in the rivers and streams of Yellowstone, and are a delight to watch. Thats likely because they spend most of the daylight hours cuddled in their dens, which they make in beaver lodges, log jams, hollow logs, bank recesses, rock recesses and even culvert pipes. Big Sky, not far from Yellowstone, is also surging in popularity. The road across the Lamar Valley, between Tower Junction and Cooke City, just outside the parks Northeast Entrance, is open throughout the entire year. Happy otter "hunting". Tough find in summer. Sightings are almost guaranteed, but remember that these are still wild animals, even if they seem accustomed to people. 201 S. Canyon St. West Yellowstone, Montana 59758 406 646-7001 I 800 257-2570. Delta has flights from Salt Lake City for about $300 in the main cabin in August or 23,000 SkyMiles plus $11.20. Otters prefer to live in areas with lots of water, such as rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. In June, animals of all stripes and colors are raising babies, from marmots to pronghorn. The closest river otters live in the surrounding states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. I strongly recommend renting a car (or an RV!) Yellowstone National Park Wildlife Watching: All You Need to Know. The easiest and closest airport is Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in Montana, which bills itself as the "Gateway to Yellowstone." You can easily pull off the road and see any or all of these animals at once. See the end of this post for tips to safely view Yellowstone wildlife. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. 1. Get a free Yellowstone trip planner with inspiring itineraries and essential information. Yellowstone National Park, Their webbed feet and powerful tails help them to easily navigate through the water. You and the kids can see live bears and wolves who can't return to the wild and learn a ton about the fearsome animals from a safe distance. Thank you all! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. There was a surge in songbirds due to increased . Of course, you can always camp inside Yellowstone. Delta offers year-round, nonstop flights from Salt Lake City and seasonal service from Minneapolis, and United has service from Denver. Bison also occasionally wander into Mammoth Hot Springs, as do black bears. Their dark coat is easy to spot against the snow and ice on the riverbank and they dont hibernate like some other Yellowstone mammals. You can find better deals if you're willing to stay at a vacation rental instead. If you want to see bison, grizzlies, wolves, moose and bald eaglesamong dozens of other speciesin the wild, theres no better place in the Lower 48 to visit than Yellowstone National Park. Jackalopes are a type of snake that is extremely rare and elusive. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Both Yellowstone bear species have denned by the end of November, but this time does kick off the best wolf viewing season in Yellowstone. On land, watch for black bears, grizzly bears and, sometimes, wolves. Snowshoe hare, white-tailed jackrabbits, and weasels all trade their brown summer fur for coats of white, to better outwit each other over the long winter dance ahead. The Yellowstone otters are facing trouble from lake trout. And everyone there realized what an amazing treat they were giving us. Look for a Great Gray Owl Hunting Mice in a Meadow. Ill start by saying that Ive seen otters a number of times but never the same location twice, lol. 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