Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

After four days of driving around the park, we took a day off to explore the town of West Yellowstone. Our timing was good since we could see a lot of smoke from the Maples fire in park. We spent most of our time at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center. All the animals here are ones that could not be returned to the wild for one reason or another.

Grizzly bear from the lower 48 showing claws

Grizzly from Alaska which are significantly bigger
Ursus arctos ssp.

The bears are given a controlled diet, but then the staff hide food in an open area where bears are released for public viewing. Depending on the bear, they are allowed into the viewing area individually or in groups of two or three.

The wolves are kept in packs. Like the bears, they have a strictly controlled diet. The staff have a schedule for hiding food and scents in the viewing area as a treat for the wolves.

Staff hiding food for wolves to find

Wolf found its treat

Wolf relaxing under a tree

The center also has a small collection of birds.

Peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus

We attended a bird show. We learned why each bird could not be released into the wild in addition to the biology and behavior of the species.

Red tail hawk
Buteo jamaicensis

Saw-Whet owl that is blind in one eye
Aegolius acadicus