national parks – Syndication Server

Rarely seen Yellowstone wildcats appear boldly on ridge

Footage shows the normally elusive mountain lions traversing a snow-covered ridge as if out for a Sunday stroll.

A guide in Yellowstone National Park last week captured footage of rarely seen cougars traversing a snow-covered ridge as if out for a Sunday stroll.

MacNeil Lyons of Yellowstone Insight told FTW Outdoors that he was leading a photography tour with a guest from the U.K., who was “extremely excited” to observe cougars for the first time.

Understandable, considering that most visitors to Yellowstone do not see cougars, or mountain lions. Although the park is home to perhaps a few dozen of the large wildcats, they’re famously stealthy and elusive.

Lyons shared the accompanying footage via Instagram, writing:

“High in elevation, between craggy peaks these two sauntered on the ridge line with a backlit ‘bluebird’ sky! As the lions went out of view from one vantage point, I read the landscape and moved a few miles down the road to try a different vantage point.

“Our luck continued as we picked them up as one sat and peered over the edge of large snow cornices. We had our time with them for at least 20 minutes.”

Lyons told FTW Outdoors that he captured the footage in the northern range from more than a mile away, with an iPhone attached to a Swarovski spotting scope.

He said the cougars might be the same pair – perhaps a courting pair, or a mom with a subadult offspring – that was spotted recently on a ridge hunting mountain goats.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFZPuDixW3Q/

According to the park, cougars are native to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem but were nearly eradicated throughout the Lower 48 states during predator-removal campaigns in the early 1900s.

They survived in the West largely because of their preference for remote, rugged habitat, and their elusive nature.

Lyons, who has documented an astonishing 37 cougar sightings in 25 years of living in Montana, expressed concern for the future of the park and surrounding region in light of new or proposed laws that could jeopardize wildlife.

He concluded his Instagram post:

“We need these Wild Places. But more importantly the entire 4-legged, feathered and scaled community needs this wild space. Pay attention to new state & federal laws that lessen the protection of our Public Lands.

“Times are changing and seemingly not to the benefit of those without a voice… the animal community. Be their voice for protection and ethical stewardship of these wild spaces.

“Thank you to all that are keeping up the Good Fight.”

Yellowstone bison stampede toward snow coach in thrilling encounter

Footage shows several bison sprinting toward a snow coach, causing one tourist to ask, “They’re not going to hit our vehicle, are they?”

A spectacular highlight for snow-coach passengers in Yellowstone National Park is to share the road with giant bison.

The accompanying footage, credited to David Wall via Viral Hog, shows more than a dozen bison stampeding toward a snow coach and providing an adrenaline rush for wide-eyed passengers.

“They’re not going to hit our vehicle, are they?” one tourist asks in the footage.

The bison spread around the snow coach to pass, although one slightly bumps the vehicle while navigating its passage.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFXLtTpo6tb/?igsh=NjZiM2M3MzIxNA%3D%3D

Yellowstone has about 5,000 bison and they utilize roads for easier commutes during the winter, so encounters are not rare. However, encounters with stampeding bison are far less common.

The footage is reminiscent of footage captured in February 2019, showing a very large bison sprinting at full speed past a snow coach in a “Holy Jesus” moment. (Click here to view that clip.)

Adult bison, which weigh between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds, can run 30 mph so watching them charge toward you with full heads of steam can be as intimidating as it is impressive.

Yellowstone bison make tracks across snow in surreal footage

When temperatures dip below zero in Yellowstone National Park, tourists are scare but the park’s 4,500 bison carry on out of necessity.

When temperatures dip below zero in Yellowstone National Park, tourists are scarce but the park’s 4,500 bison carry on out of necessity.

The accompanying footage, courtesy of Yellowstone Forever, offers a surreal glimpse into the life of the legendary critters in extreme weather.

“Bison herd making tracks and shadows this past weekend in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley at about -20 degrees F.,” the nonprofit stated Wednesday via social media.

Yellowstone National Park is the only destination in the lower 48 states to have boasted free-ranging bison herds since prehistoric times.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFbbubhvZCr/

They can be found year-round in Lamar Valley in the park’s northern range, and in Hayden Valley to the south. In the winer, when temperatures can dip below minus-40 degrees, bison might also be found near thermal areas in the western portion of the park.

Bison feed mostly on grasses and grass-like plants, and during the winter they often use their massive heads to shovel snow while traveling and searching for food.

Their only predators are grizzly bears, which are currently hibernating, and wolves, which like bison must carry on despite the cold.

Trump hiring freeze puts hold on seasonal jobs at national parks

At least 400 seasonal positions have been rescinded, but the number could be much higher as parks prepare for the busy season.

The National Park Service might have to make do without hundreds of seasonal employees this spring and summer because of a hold placed on those positions by the Trump administration.

The Washington Post reported Friday that about 400 job offers have been rescinded. National Parks Traveler reported that the number was closer to 1,400 positions.

The National Park Service, which typically hires about 7,500 seasonal employees for peak tourism seasons, had not issued a statement regarding the issue at the time of this post.

The move apparently was part of a national hiring freeze announced by Trump on Monday, despite claims by the Office of Management and Budget that seasonal jobs would be exempt.

Kristen Brengel, senior vice president at the National Parks Conservation Assn., told National Parks Traveler that “people all over the country who had been hired as seasonals for many, many parks got a notification over email that their job offer that they had was rescinded.”

Brengel expressed “extreme concern” that the National Park Service will not be able to adequately fulfill the needs of visitors without seasonal employees.

“If they don’t fill the positions that had been opened, this could be so problematic for the parks,” Brengel said.

Seasonal employees fill many critical roles, from park ranger to traffic control to park maintenance to visitor services.

The Washington Post obtained a form email from the NPS, issued to seasonal employees. It reads:

“Your job offer has been rescinded at management request. Should the bureau be able to fill the position again, another announcement will be posted in due course.”

One person whose job offer was rescinded stated via Reddit: “Just signed a lease and I’m supposed to move across the country in three days. I’m feeling so panicked and confused. I really hope we at least get some guidance moving forward soon.”

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Rare footage shows Yellowstone cougar stalking mountain goats

Extremely rare footage shows the cougar, or mountain lion, attempting to gain an edge on several goats perched on a cliff.

An ecotour company that specializes in wolf-sighting expeditions in Yellowstone National Park has shared extremely rare footage showing a cougar stalking mountain goats on a snowy slope.

“Look carefully above the mountain goats to see a cougar stalking them along the mountainside,” Yellowstone Wolf Tracker stated Thursday via Instagram. “Our Winter Wolf Watch was lucky enough to get a rare glimpse of this big cat at work but the mountain goats survived in the end by perching on a tall and narrow cliff, leaving no room for the cougar to attack.”

The accompanying footage is grainy but viewers can see the goats holding positions as the cougar, or mountain lion, ranges back and forth before exiting the frame.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DE50LfgRzcS/

Cougar sightings are rare in Yellowstone, with an estimated population of only 34 to 42 animals residing in the park’s vast northern range. The stealthy cats prefer rugged terrain and prey primarily on mule deer and elk, plus smaller mammals, notably marmots.

Mountain goats reside in the park but are not native to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Popular national park vandalized, perhaps by troubled visitor

Rocks and trees in West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park and Preserve were covered with red paint, sparking anger and concern.

Authorities in West Virginia are seeking help from the public in identifying the person who painted over rocks and trees at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

“The park continues to request that anyone with information regarding the defacement of Long Point on or around 12/23/24 reach out,” the park stated Wednesday via social media.

Anyone with potentially helpful information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers West Virginia or telephone 304-255-7867.

Images shared by the park show extensive vandalism in the form of painted words, most of which are smeared. The most legible message reads, “Why me,” which caused some on social media to be concerned for the perpetrator.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DE2wWrVyXcr/?img_index=2

“This looks like it could have been done by a depressed juvenile,” one follower remarked via Facebook. “Hope that kid’s okay, if so.”

Another follower echoed this sentiment, but far more people expressed anger and bewilderment.

Painted message on rock surface. Photo: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

The most popular comment on the park’s Instagram page:

“I can’t understand the rationale of someone who thinks, ‘What should I do today? I know, I’ll go somewhere beautiful to hike. And, I need to grab some spray paint to make it ugly!’ Please explain if you are one of those people.”

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is named after the scenic New River and famous for its stunning views from the river or the park’s many hiking and biking trails.

Can you spot the ‘moose head’ amid the snow in Yellowstone?

Moose sightings are fairly rare in Yellowstone National Park, but this “moose head” is commonly spotted in the northern range.

A hiking guide who leads excursions in Yellowstone National Park paused for a photo opportunity recently and later asked his Threads followers:

“Do you see the ‘moose head’ in this picture from Yellowstone National Park?”

Douglas Scott, who runs The Outdoor Society, allowed the use of his image so we also ask: Can you spot the moose head referenced by Scott?

Our only hint – not that one should be needed – is that this is not your typical Yellowstone critter quiz.

Before we reveal a closeup to confirm your guesses, a few facts about Yellowstone’s moose population:

– Moose are the largest members of the deer family in the park. Adult bulls can weigh nearly 1,000 pounds and stand nearly 8 feet at the shoulders. Female moose are nearly as large.

– Moose that inhabit the park are part of a subspecies that range from British Columbia to southern Colorado (Alces alces shirasi). They’re smaller than other types of moose in North America, and well-adapted for survival in the snow.

– Bull moose typically shed their antlers each winter to conserve energy in harsh weather.

– Fewer than 200 moose inhabit the park. Because they’re largely solitary and prefer to remain concealed, sightings are fairly rare.

– The “moose head” Scott photographed is in the park’s northern range, visible from a Lamar Valley-area rest stop. Below is Scott’s closeup image.

“Moose head” growing from rock in park’s northern range. Photo: Douglas Scott

Intrepid baby bear takes on rushing creek in adorable footage

Newborn black bear struggles to cross creek, but triumphs in the end. Grizzly bear cubs facing similar obstacle also are featured.

Your National Parks on Tuesday shared footage showing a newborn black bear attempting to cross a creek, perhaps for the first time.

The footage, posted below, is titled, “Baby bear vs. creek.” It shows the tiny cub pausing before a riffle, then leaping for a boulder opposite the creek but falling just short.

After a brief struggle in swift water, the bear climbs onto the opposite shore and scampers off, presumably to catch up with mom.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEPsG4qxl97/

The footage is reminiscent of a scene I witnessed in Yellowstone National Park in 2023, involving two first-year grizzly bear cubs navigating a narrow creek while trying to keep up with momma bear.

That footage is posted below and, as viewers can see, both cubs land in the water during their tiny leaps, but quickly cross and take up positions behind mom.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Csm-2UBgVC1/

To be sure, keeping up with a momma bear is often difficult. But overcoming obstacles like rushing creeks builds strength and confidence.

As Your National Parks stated: “Bear cubs learn new skills through a combination of instinct, observation, and play.”

Yellowstone landscape is pretty, but can you spot the bear?

During the summer bears roamed the Yellowstone landscape, but weren’t always easy to see. Image will test your spotting skills.

*Editor’s note: A version of this post was published by ForTheWin earlier this year.

Bears in Yellowstone National Park are hibernating, but during the summer they were spread across the landscape and often visible from roads and trails.

But they weren’t always easy to see, and one Montana-based hiking guide used an image he captured from above the Lamar River to test his social-media followers’ spotting skills.

“I’ve been told my more recent ‘Find the Animal Friday’ posts have been way too easy,” Douglas Scott stated via X. “This one is a little more challenging.”

Can you spot the black bear? Photo: Douglas Scott

Scott allowed the use of his image for this post, so we’re also challenging readers: Can you spot the black bear in the images posted above? (Answer below.)

Hint: It’s a difficult quiz and there are several shadows that might be mistaken for the bear.

Scott, who runs The Outdoor Society, told me that he captured the image June 21 “on a perfectly clear day” in the park’s northern range.

“It was definitely a fun spot as my client was amazed I saw it so easily from so far away,” Scott recalled.

His X followers offered several guesses but in the hours after his post only one had pinpointed the bear’s location.

When I guessed, Scott informed me that I had found “the shadow of a tree.”

Another guess was met with the reply: “Unfortunately, you are incorrect. You most definitely found a non-animal shadow though!”

Yellowstone is remarkable in that visitors often see bears up close or in the distance, especially if they’re patient and use binoculars or spotting scopes.

They might also capture a landscape image and later realize that a critter is visible in the image.

In 2023, for example, I was watching bears on one side of a highway and turned to snap an image of a coyote in transit on the other side of the highway.

When I got back to my hotel room and began to inspect my images, I discovered that a smaller animal was visible, paying close attention to the coyote.

As for the black bear photographed by Scott, it’s much easier to spot in a zoomed-in version posted immediately below.

Zoomed-in version shows black bear’s location. Photo: Douglas Scott

Immediately below is an image with the bear pinpointed with an arrow.

Black bear location. Photo: Douglas Scott

As for Yellowstone bears, they’ll begin to emerge from hibernation as early as late March.

Can you spot Yellowstone grizzly bear family on the move?

In Yellowstone National Park, a distant view of grizzly bears can be as satisfying as an up-close roadside view – if you can spot them.

–Editor’s note: A version of this post was first published in June 2024, after the author’s annual spring trip to Yellowstone National Park.

In Yellowstone National Park, a distant view of grizzly bears can be as satisfying as an up-close roadside view because it requires a keen eye and the animals are in more of a natural setting.

Can you spot the momma grizzly bear and her three cubs in the image I captured in late May, from a hillside opposite the Lamar Valley? (Answer at the bottom of the post.)

Can you spot the grizzly bear and three cubs? Photo: ©Pete Thomas

The bears had been grazing on both sides of the highway and creating sporadic traffic jams, or “bear jams,” whenever they were been visible.

MORE OUTDOORS: Mystery animal near Yellowstone likely one of area’s rarest creatures

Momma bear was with first-year cubs, or cubs of the year, born during the winter hibernation period. The curious little ones did not stray far from mom while I watched from a distance of 100-plus yards.

Same grizzly bears in different image. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

During this sighting the bears ascended a hillside opposite the valley after being run off by a bison herd in a meadow surrounded by sagebrush.

(Momma bear was so preoccupied with foraging, with her head down, that she did not seem to notice how closely she was leading her cubs to several bison and their newborn calves.)

The bears were too far for me to capture a detailed image with my 400-millimeter lens, but I’ve attached a cropped version of a different image from the same sighting that shows the bears in more detail.

The bears in the top images used for the quiz are circled below.

Grizzly bear family circled in red. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

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