Yellowstone Wildlife
Intro to Yellowstone
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  Yellowstone

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The greater Yellowstone ecosystem provides unique homes for wildlife species ranging from bighorn sheep to bald eagles.


Graphic of paw printWildlife

Gray Wolf
Mountain Lion
Black Bear
Grizzly Bear
Wolverine
Lynx
Elk
Buffalo

Pronghorn
Mule Deer
White-tailed Deer
Bighorn Sheep
Mountain Goat
Bald Eagle
Whooping Crane
Graphic of leafEcosystems
Alpine Tundra
Coniferous Forest
Mountain Meadows
Sage-steppe Grasslands
Riparian Areas
Photo of Bighorn Sheep

The bighorn sheep inhabits areas around rocky cliffs rarely disturbed by humans. It perhaps has adapted to this rather inhospitable habitat because there is a lack of competition as well as protection from predators. A good swimmer and an excellent rock climber and jumper, this animal has hooves that are hard at the outer edge and spongy in the center, providing good traction. The bighorn is active by day, feeding in early morning, midday and evening. It lies down and chews its cud at other times and retires to bedding spots for the night.

Related Resources

Seeking Safe Passage - Scientists are increasingly discovering the benefits of protecting wildlife corridors, like those in the Yellowstone ecosystem, that connect isolated wildlife habitats.

A Top Dog Takes Over - Exterminated from Yellowstone National Park eight decades ago, gray wolves are back — and boosting the park's biodiversity.

Rebirth of Yellowstone's Wolves - The saga of the first wolf pups born in the region in seven decades

Clash of the Carnivores - What happens when the hunters become the hunted at Yellowstone?

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