The wildlife viewing is a promising and worthwhile activity during your visit. Opportunities exist for you to discover and enjoy some 60 animal species, including black and grizzly bears, elk, moose, bison, antelope, mule deer, coyote, pine marten, badger, river otter, flying squirrel, a half-dozen bat species, and an array of ground squirrels, mice, moles, and shrews. The gray wolf has been absent fromYellowstone National Park and surrounding forests and wilderness areas for a half century, but in the winter of 1994-95, reintroduction of this magnificent predator began inYellowstone National Park. If you are fortunate, you may see or hear wolves in or near the park. Wolves are large dog-like animals whose head and body length, combined, is about four feet.
Wolves range in color, despite their common name, from almost white to black.
If you are driving at moderate speeds and in control you may be able to distinguish that difference-and you may avoid hitting some wild creature. Take proper precaution, including at least daily personal inspection of your entire body, and the use of insect repellent collars on pets. Wildlife observation is not entirely predictable. Animals move about, undergo population booms and busts, are reclusive one time yet conspicuous the next. Some animals are nocturnal or normally active only at dawn or at twilight.