Yellowstone Wildlife
Intro to Yellowstone
What is the Wildlife Acre program?
  Yellowstone

Explore Yellowstone title

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 Mountain Lion

The most widely distributed cat in the Americas, the mountain lion is a solitary, strongly territorial hunting species. Unlike most cats, it hunts day or night, although it is generally active by day only in undisturbed areas. A good climber and excellent jumper, able to leap more than 20 feet, this animal swims only when necessary. It feeds primarily on large mammals, especially deer, but also eats coyotes, porcupines, beavers, mice, marmots, hares, raccoons, birds, and even grasshoppers.

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?

© 1996-2009 National Wildlife Federation | 11100 Wildlife Center Dr, Reston VA 20190 | 800-822-9919
Contact Us | Jobs at NWF | Link to NWF | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use