All roads are now open, but are subject to closure.
Protecting Yellowstone is the responsibility of the American public. The larger Yellowstone ecosystem is the largest intact natural ecosystem in the continental United States. Yellowstone is known for its variety of wildlife as much as it is known for its geysers and hot springs. Managing the wildlife of the Yellowstone ecosystem in such a way that their native environment and innate interaction is preserved is an ongoing challenge. For example, as more elk inhabit the same range, the cows carry less fat and produce fewer calves, and the calves that are born weigh less and are therefore less likely to survive.