Until 1995, coyotes faced few predators in Yellowstone other than cougars, who will kill coyotes feeding on cougar kills. On the northern range, the coyote population decreased as much as 50% after wolves were restored as a result of competition with wolves for food, attacks by wolves, and loss of territory to them.

Yellowstone is situated with a tectonic plate not a plate boundary.

According to Yellowstone National Park, here are a few ways the wolves have reshaped the park: Deer: It’s true that wolves kill deer, diminishing their population, but wolves also change the deer’s behavior. When threatened by wolves, deer don’t graze as much and move around more, aerating the soil.

It fluctuated between 6,000 and 7,000 as the wolf population on the park’s northern range declined from 94 in 2007 to 50 by the end of 2015. The elk count dropped to 3,915 in early 2013, the lowest since culling ended in the park in the 1960s.

Yellowstone is home to two species of bears: grizzly bears and black bears.

Yellowstone’s road system is extremely safe. You may want to avoid the road between Tower Junction and Canyon Village and don’t take the Beartooth Highway outside the NE entrance, past Cooke City. Otherwise the roads are generally quite flat, with guardrails anywhere there is even a minor drop off.

We advise against driving thru the parks at night because of the lack of lighting, low visibility and potential for large animals on the road. If you hit the wild animals it is likely to kill them and could injure you.

You can spot the Milky Way, Saturn, craters of the moon, star clusters, and nebula. Telescopes are available. Steam, Stars and Winter Soundscapes, a 2-hour evening adventure delivers the magic of winter nights in Yellowstone.

The best times to visit Yellowstone National Park are from April to May and between September and October. These shoulder months offer mild weather and fewer crowds. July and August are the most popular months to visit: The kids are out of school, and the weather is warm enough to sleep outside.

June is not quite as crowded as July or August, but it is a very busy time of year. Expect crowded roads and parking lots and make sure to book your accommodation well in advance. Old Faithful and most of the geyser basins and other popular attractions in the park will be overflowing with tourists.

Summer Visit to Yellowstone Heavyweight insulating layer: Wool, down or heavy-weight fleece jacket (especially May, June, September, and October.) Waterproof and windproof outer layer: Lightweight, and breathable if possible. Both jacket and pants are recommended.

June is the last month it regularly snows in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. During 0.9 snowfall days, Yellowstone National Park aggregates 1.3″ (33mm) of snow.

10 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone and Beyond

• Watch Geysers Erupt and See Giant, Colorful Hot Springs. Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin.
• See Wild Animals in their Natural Habitat.
• Experience the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
• Take a Hike in Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks.
• Go Rafting and Paddling.
• Go Camping.
• Live the Cowboy Life.
• Go Fishing.

Top 15 Things NOT to Miss in Yellowstone

• Old Faithful Geyser/Upper Basin. The Old Faithful area features the Upper Geyser Basin, home to the most famous attraction in Yellowstone, Old Faithful Geyser.
• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
• Hayden Valley.
• Mammoth Hot Springs.
• Yellowstone Lake.
• Norris Geyser Basin.
• Lamar Valley.
• Tower Fall.

Each and every spring season, bears in Yellowstone emerge from hibernation on a constant search for food. If you are out hiking, whether it is a tenth of a mile or a backcountry adventure, it is essential to carry bear spray for your safety.

SABRE Frontiersman Bear Spray, 7.9 oz – Walmart.com – Walmart.com.

When sprayed into the face of a person or bear, capsaicin inflames the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and lungs, causing temporary loss of sight, nasal congestion, and, in some, difficulty breathing, Rizzo says.

As you’re probably already aware, Grand Teton National Park is bear country, and is home to both black bears and grizzly bears. However, there have been only six reported bear attacks in the park since 1994 – none of which were fatal.

Grizzly Bears About 700 roam the Yellowstone region. Where to See Grizzlies: In Yellowstone go to Lamar, Hayden and Pelican valleys and Yellowstone and Heart lakes. In Grand Teton, go to Willow Flats, Two Ocean/Emma Mathilde lakes, Oxbow Bend, Cascade and Death canyons.

Health & Safety in Grand Teton National Park. Health hazards range from mild headaches to run-ins with wild animals, but the latter happens less frequently than car accidents in the parks. To be safe, you might want to keep a first-aid kit in your car or luggage, and have it handy when hiking.

Firearms are not allowed openly in Grand Teton, although unloaded weapons may be transported through the park if kept cased, packed or stored in a manner that prevents their ready use.

The Best Handguns for Hiking

• Smith and Wesson Kit Gun (Model 63) Smith & Wesson Model 63 “Kit Gun” Smith & Wesson.
• Browning 1911-22 Black Label Grey Compact. BUY NOW.
• Glock 20. Glock 20 via Glockstore.com.
• Colt Lightweight Commander. Colt Lightweight Commander Handgun Colt.

You can carry a gun in the parks (but not inside any federal building) – and only if you can lawfully carry in the state where the park is located. GTNP is wholly inside Wyoming, but YNP has little parts of it in Idaho and Montana.

Hunting is strictly forbidden in Yellowstone, as is target practice. And visitors should not use guns as self-defense against large wildlife, but rather carry bear spray and take other safety precautions. Firearms are also prohibited in facilities like visitor centers and government offices.

Self-defense is self-defense if your mental state does not allow you to think and you feel killing is the only way out than it the only way out. Also Noise will scare them off. So if you shoot don’t shoot the bear just shoot in its direction to spook it away from you. You can.

Prairie rattlesnakes are the only dangerously venomous snakes in Yellowstone.