CODY, Wyo., March 15, 2017 – Spring is a time of rebirth, and many wildlife species in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country embrace that idea literally. Although the first official day of spring is March 21, for most residents of northwestern Wyoming’s Cody – situated east of Yellowstone National Park – the season truly begins when the babies make their debut. For some species, that is still a couple of months away.
“When the first bear cub or bison calf is spotted, you know that spring has finally bumped winter aside and wildflowers, songbirds and summer-season visitors are close behind,” said Claudia Wade, executive director of the Park County Travel Council, the marketing arm for the region. “Around here the arrival of Yellowstone Country’s next generation is a time for celebration.”
Observe safely
Wade advises visitors to keep binoculars handy and to strictly observe recommendations to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and 25 yards away from all other wildlife. “Every year we remind visitors throughout Greater Yellowstone to keep their distance from wildlife for their own safety and for the safety of the animals,” said Wade. “While most visitors respect these common-sense rules, there occasionally are visitors who are injured or whose behavior causes the injuries of animals, so these rules bear repeating.”
Tours and tips
The best place to start when embarking on a Yellowstone Country wildlife excursion is the Draper Natural History Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in downtown Cody. Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, the museum offers award-winning exhibits that showcase the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem and provides travelers with knowledge about what to look for and where to look.
Cody is home to several tour companies that offer wildlife tours in Yellowstone National Park and throughout the region. Visitors who prefer to self-guide are guaranteed a scenic ride along one of the five wildlife loop tours from Cody.
Travelers will find an array of overnight accommodations, from boutique inns to guest ranches, that provide a comfortable home away from home.
Yellowstone Country wildlife
Bison calves are often the first of the young ones to make their debut. Reddish-colored, fuzzy-furred bison calves are quick studies, and they can keep up with their mothers as soon as two hours after birth. It takes a village to protect a bison calf, and all adult bison surround young calves when predators such as wolves and bears are near.
Black bear cubs were born during the winter, and they spend the first couple of months of their lives nursing and dozing while their semiconscious mamas continue to slumber in their dens. The bear cubs finally see daylight around the month of April. Mothers spend the next 16 to 18 months teaching their babies how to survive in the wild.
Moose cows aren’t quite as patient with their young. Once they give birth to a new calf – typically in May or June – they chase away the previous season’s calves. While not known for their intelligence, moose are predictably unpredictable, particularly when protecting a calf. Moose cows will chase human observers and other wildlife if they perceive a threat. Moose are frequently spotted near the northeast and east entrances to Yellowstone.
Bighorn sheep produce one or two lambs annually. Born in May or June, the lambs immediately begin the multi-year process of growing their horns. For this species, size matters. The horns on male Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep can weigh as much as 40 pounds, and the size of horns can influence a ram’s rank in the herd.
Elk thrive throughout Yellowstone Country, particularly in East Yellowstone Valley along the north fork of the Shoshone River. Usually born in late May and June, elk calves like most ungulates can walk within an hour or two of birth. An elk cow’s protective strategy when predators are near is to run away in hopes the predator will follow her and not notice the newborn lying motionless in the grass.
Wolf pups begin appearing in April and May, and their packs will remain with them for three to 10 weeks as they learn bit by bit how to be a wolf in Yellowstone. Their playful antics with their littermates make wolf-watching in spring especially fun. While wolves roam throughout the greater Yellowstone region, the best sightings are often in the Lamar Valley inside the park.
River otters are also born with an entertainer’s spirit, but they are a little harder to spot. Born in March and April, these aquatic nomads stay with their moms for a year as they learn how to find fish and other food and swim underwater for minutes at a time.
Eagles emerge in mid-April and fly from their nests three to four months after that. This remarkable once-endangered bird is one of 19 raptor species in the park. Northwestern Wyoming is home to bald eagles and golden eagles. Bald eagles feed on fish, and their nests can often be found in trees close to water. Golden eagles are more frequently spotted in valleys where they can accommodate their preference for rabbits and other small