Yellowstone National Parks

Yellowstone National Parks

My wife and I visited the Yellowstone National Park almost every year from the late ‘80’s up through the early 2000’s. We went back the year after the ‘88 fire, and it was incredible to see that more than 50% of the 2.2 million acres inside of the park had been destroyed by fire of ‘88. That fire, however, created lots of new vista’s and wide-open spaces, which created lots of opportunities to see and observe the large diversity of wildlife that call the park home.

This was an era when the grizzlies were still on the endangered species list, and wolves were not a part of the greater Yellowstone eco systems. You would frequently encounter large herds of elk, pronghorn, bison, bighorn sheep and then occasionally see a grizzly, mountain goat, moose, and/or a mule deer. Coyotes were almost everywhere along with all the smaller mammals that live in the park.

This park is a fascinating geographic and geothermal wonder, attracting huge numbers visitors and scientists for decades. This park features the “largest intact temperate-zone” ecosystem in the world. This diverse land features abundant wildlife, hydrothermal pools, lakes, rivers and even a petrified forest. The following are just a few interesting facts about Yellowstone National Park.

• The Greater Yellowstone Eco System encompasses nearly 18 million acres, which equals approximately 28,125-square miles. Yellowstone Park is 2.2 million acres, these lands include ownership in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, with most of the park lying within Wyoming’s state boundaries.
• Yellowstone is home to the one of the largest elk herds in all North America. Yellowstone is also the home to the largest free-roaming herd of bison in the U.S. outside of Alaska. There is more than 60+ mammals that live in the park. YNP has the most diverse wildlife population anywhere in the lower 48 states.
• The park’s ecosystem is driven by volcanic activity, which in turn affects the species that thrive in the area. With several different climate areas and vegetation zones, the park faces many challenges, including trying to preserve threatened wildlife species.
• YNP host nearly five million visitors annually, with most people visiting between June and August.

It was exciting to recently return to the parks after nearly two decades. The changes were significant, but this National Park is truly national treasures. I trust that you have enjoyed your visit, and hope that you return real soon. In the meantime, I invite you to Follow me on Instagram.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

Fog at Artist Point

Mammoth Hot Springs

Firehole River

Raven

Sunset in Lamar Valley

Sunrise over the Madison River