Exploring the Wild
Yellowstone Wildlife, Photography & Field Guides
Explore Yellowstone and beyond through in-depth wildlife insights, photography guides, and real field experience. This collection of articles covers seasonal wildlife behavior, where to find animals, and how to photograph them in changing conditions. You’ll also find astrophotography guides, location breakdowns, and practical techniques used in the field. Whether you’re planning a trip or refining your skills, this is where knowledge meets real-world experience.
The Wild in Yellowstone: Grizzlies in Hyperphagia
October is a critical month for grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park. As winter approaches, these powerful predators enter the final stages of hyperphagia, a period of increased feeding that allows them to accumulate the fat reserves needed for hibernation. Across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, grizzlies seek high-calorie foods including whitebark pine nuts, roots, berries, and animal carcasses. Their feeding behavior, movement patterns, and habitat use reflect the changing conditions of autumn. For wildlife photographers, October offers the opportunity to capture grizzly bears against golden grasslands, dark forests, and the first snow-covered ridgelines of the season. In this edition of The Wild in Yellowstone, we explore grizzly bear hyperphagia, where to look for autumn activity, and photography techniques for documenting these remarkable animals responsibly.
The Wild in Yellowstone & Grand Teton: Moose Rut
September brings one of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's most fascinating wildlife events: the moose rut. Across Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, mature bull moose shed their antler velvet, search for receptive cows, and compete for breeding opportunities as autumn settles across the landscape. From the willow-lined creeks of Yellowstone's northeastern corner to the dramatic mountain backdrops and river corridors of Grand Teton, photographers have opportunities to capture extraordinary animal behavior during one of the year's most beautiful seasons. In this edition of The Wild in Yellowstone & Grand Teton, we explore the timing of the moose breeding season, courtship and dominance behaviors, and the best areas to look for these remarkable animals in both national parks. Discover practical camera settings, composition techniques, and ethical wildlife photography practices for documenting the autumn moose rut.
The Wild in Yellowstone: Bison Rut
August brings one of Yellowstone National Park's most dramatic wildlife events: the American bison rut. Across Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley, mature bulls gather with larger herds, bellowing, wallowing, and competing for breeding opportunities. These powerful animals display extraordinary strength as they challenge rivals and follow receptive females through the grasslands. For wildlife photographers, the bison rut provides opportunities to capture intense behavior, dust-filled confrontations, and remarkable environmental portraits. In this edition of The Wild in Yellowstone, we explore the timing of the bison breeding season, how to recognize courtship and dominance behavior, and where to find the best viewing opportunities. Learn camera settings and techniques for photographing rutting bison safely while documenting one of Yellowstone's most memorable summer wildlife spectacles.
The Wild in Yellowstone: Pronghorn in June
June brings fresh green landscapes and increased wildlife activity to Yellowstone National Park's northern range. Among the most fascinating animals found across the park's open sagebrush flats are pronghorn, North America's fastest land mammals. Capable of reaching speeds approaching 50 miles per hour, these remarkable animals rely on extraordinary vision, speed, and awareness to survive in Yellowstone's open country. For wildlife photographers, June offers excellent opportunities to photograph adult pronghorn feeding, traveling, and interacting against expansive mountain backdrops. In this edition of The Wild in Yellowstone, we explore pronghorn behavior, their unique evolutionary adaptations, the best places to find them around Lamar Valley and Gardiner, and practical photography techniques for capturing these often-overlooked animals in their natural environment.
The Wild in Yellowstone: Bison in May
May in Yellowstone marks one of the most dynamic periods of the year, bison calving season. Across Lamar and Hayden Valley, newborn calves, often called “red dogs,” begin to appear alongside protective mothers and tightly structured herds. These early days of life unfold quickly, with calves standing within minutes and staying close as they navigate a landscape still transitioning from winter to spring. For photographers, this is a rare opportunity to capture powerful moments of connection, vulnerability, and resilience. In this post, we explore bison behavior during calving season, where to find them across Yellowstone, and how to photograph these iconic animals while respecting their space during one of the most sensitive times of year.
The Wild in Yellowstone: Grizzly Bears in April
April in Yellowstone marks the true beginning of spring. Following the first confirmed grizzly sighting on March 9th in Yellowstone and the first sow with cubs observed on March 29th in Grand Teton, bear activity increases across the region. Sows with cubs become more visible, movement expands, and feeding opportunities improve as snow recedes. This is one of the most powerful months to observe grizzly behavior in its most natural state. In this post, we explore where to find bears in April, what behaviors to watch for, and how to photograph them responsibly in Yellowstone’s evolving spring landscape.
The Wild in Yellowstone: Bald Eagles in March
March brings a shift along Yellowstone’s rivers. As winter begins to loosen its grip, bald eagles become more active, more visible, and more vocal. Nesting season is underway, and pairs work together to reinforce bonds, defend territory, and prepare for the months ahead. Open water along the Yellowstone River creates prime opportunities to observe hunting behavior, aerial displays, and perch interactions. In this edition of Wild Yellowstone, we explore bald eagle behavior during early spring, where to reliably find them in March, and how to photograph these iconic raptors as they move between winter and nesting season.
The Wild in Yellowstone: Coyotes in February
February brings a noticeable shift in Yellowstone’s winter rhythm. Coyotes, already one of the park’s most adaptable predators, become increasingly vocal and active as mating season reaches its peak. Pair bonds strengthen, territories are reinforced, and hunting behavior sharpens in preparation for the months ahead. Snow-covered valleys offer some of the best photographic opportunities of the year, where coyotes stand out against clean winter backdrops and display classic mousing behavior. In this edition of Wild Yellowstone, we’ll explore how coyote mating season unfolds, where to find them during winter, and how to anticipate moments that lead to compelling wildlife images — from early-morning hunts to evening howls echoing across the northern range.
The Wild in Yellowstone: Otters & Foxes in January
January in Yellowstone National Park reveals two remarkable winter hunters: the North American river otter and the red fox. While otters navigate icy rivers in search of fish, foxes patrol snow-covered meadows, listening for rodents hidden beneath the surface. Both species possess extraordinary adaptations that allow them to survive Yellowstone's harsh winter conditions. For wildlife photographers, these animals offer opportunities to capture hunting behavior, movement, and the contrast between wildlife and the frozen landscape. In this edition of The Wild in Yellowstone, we explore where to look for river otters and red foxes, how their seasonal behavior changes during winter, and the camera techniques that help capture their most compelling moments. From otters sliding across snow to foxes diving after prey, January offers stories worth discovering.
Bear Safety in Yellowstone
Montana and Wyoming are home to two of the most iconic wildlife destinations in North America: Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. These stunning landscapes are not only known for their geothermal wonders and jagged peaks; they’re also prime grizzly and black bear habitat.
Whether you're hiking deep into the backcountry or simply pulling off to photograph wildlife from the road, understanding bear behavior and practicing proper safety protocols is essential, not just for your safety, but for the well-being of the bears themselves.