Wilder.
Bison grazing in the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park
Photo: YellowstoneNPS, Public domain

National park · USA

Yellowstone Animal Checklist

Yellowstone is the best place in the lower 48 states to see large mammals roaming free: bison herds, elk, grizzly and black bears, and wild wolves in the Lamar Valley. This checklist covers 95 animals, including the unofficial Yellowstone Big Five (bison, elk, bear, wolf and moose). Late April to June and September to October are the richest months for wildlife watching.

Most visitors come for the geysers and leave talking about the animals. Two broad valleys, Hayden and Lamar, do most of the work, and the road between the North and Northeast entrances stays open all year.

Tick them off in Wilder Print the checklist

Free A4 PDF, no sign-up. Wilder is free to start and works offline.

See all 95 animals
The Yellowstone checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked
Animals to find
95
Where
USA
Best time
Late Apr to Jun, Sep to Oct
Yellowstone Big Five
Bison, elk, bear, wolf, moose

Yellowstone's Big Five and other headline animals

  • Bison, one of the animals to look for in Yellowstone

    Bison

    Thousands graze the Hayden and Lamar valleys, and they often walk the roads. The rut in late July and August is loud, dusty and best watched from the car.

    Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Elk, one of the animals to look for in Yellowstone

    Elk (Wapiti)

    Common across the park. In September and October bulls bugle and gather harems on the lawns of Mammoth Hot Springs, where rangers manage the crowds.

    Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Grey Wolf, one of the animals to look for in Yellowstone

    Grey Wolf

    Lamar Valley is the classic spot, at first light, scanning with a spotting scope. If you join other watchers, park fully off the road, keep voices low and don't walk towards the wolves.

    Photo: Dennis Matheson from Atlanta, GA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0

  • Grizzly Bear

    Spring is the best time, when bears feed on winter-killed carcasses and new grass in Hayden Valley and along the Lamar. Keep at least 100 yards away.

  • Black Bear

    More at home in forest than grizzlies. Try the Tower Junction area and the road towards Mammoth in May and June, when they graze roadside meadows.

  • Moose

    The hardest of the Big Five here, with a small population. Willow thickets along Soda Butte Creek and around Pebble Creek in the northeast give the best odds.

  • Pronghorn

    North America's fastest land animal lives on the dry flats near the North Entrance at Gardiner and in the lower Lamar.

  • Bighorn Sheep

    Often on the cliffs along the Gardiner River canyon between Gardiner and Mammoth, and above Tower Fall.

  • Trumpeter Swan

    A few pairs nest in the park. The Madison River and the Yellowstone River north of the lake are good places to look; respect any closures around nest sites.

All 95 animals to spot in Yellowstone

Grouped the way you'll meet them. Tips show where to look.

Big mammals 10

Hunters 8

Small mammals 17

Birds of prey 9

Water birds 15

Forest and meadow birds 22

Reptiles and amphibians 8

Fish 6

  • Last reviewed September 2026.
  • Sources are listed below the questions.
  • Wild animals only. Please give them space.

Best time to see wildlife in Yellowstone

Spring is the season for predators and newborns. Grizzlies leave their dens from March, bison calves (the orange 'red dogs') arrive from mid April, and elk calve in late May and June. Summer brings the bison rut and high-country animals like marmots and pikas, but also the crowds, and midday heat sends big mammals into shade. September and October are excellent: the elk rut peaks, bears feed hard before winter and visitor numbers fall. Most park roads close to cars from early November to mid or late April. In winter the northern road still gives the park's best wolf watching, with dark animals easy to pick out against snow.

  • Mar-AprGrizzlies emerge, first bison calves, most roads still closed
  • May-JunPeak for bears, calves and elk calving
  • Jul-AugBison rut in Hayden and Lamar, pikas and marmots up high
  • Sep-OctElk rut at Mammoth, bears feeding, fewer people
  • Nov-FebWolves in Lamar Valley, northern road only

Tips for spotting wildlife in Yellowstone

  1. Be out at dawn and dusk

    Wolves, bears and moose are most active in the first and last two hours of light. Midday is for geysers.

  2. Know the distance rules

    Park rules say stay 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from everything else, bison and elk included. Bison injure more visitors than bears do.

  3. Drive the Lamar slowly

    Scan open slopes and river bends between Slough Creek and Soda Butte. Stop only in pullouts, never in the road, even in a bison jam.

  4. Bring a scope or good binoculars

    Many wolf and bear sightings are a mile or more away. Binoculars of 8x or 10x are the minimum; a spotting scope changes everything.

  5. Look small too

    Listen for pikas on talus slopes, watch for American Dippers bobbing in fast streams, and check LeHardy Rapids for Harlequin Ducks in early summer.

The Wilder app

Take Yellowstone with you

Heading to Yellowstone? Tick off bison, wolves and the rest in Wilder as you go. It's free to start and works offline in the valleys where there's no signal.

  • Tick off as you goOut in the field with no signal, too.
  • Add your photosEach sighting keeps its date and picture.
  • A summary of the tripEverything you saw, day by day.
  • A passport stampOne for Yellowstone, kept in your Wilder passport.
Start Yellowstone in Wilder
Or scan with
your phone

Free to start. This list and the printable PDF are free.

The Yellowstone checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked

Yellowstone wildlife FAQ

What animals can you see in Yellowstone?

Yellowstone has the most complete set of large mammals in the lower 48 states, including bison, elk, grizzly and black bears, wolves, moose, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Most visitors see bison and elk within an hour. Smaller animals like pikas, marmots, otters and beavers, and birds such as Bald Eagles, Osprey and Trumpeter Swans, round out a list of 95 species.

Where is the best place to see wolves in Yellowstone?

The Lamar Valley in the park's northeast is the best place to see wild wolves, especially at dawn. Slough Creek and the road between Tower Junction and the Northeast Entrance are also good. Wolves are usually distant, so a spotting scope helps a lot. Winter is the most reliable season, because this road stays open and wolves stand out against the snow.

What is the best time of year to see wildlife in Yellowstone?

Late April to June is generally the best time to see wildlife in Yellowstone, with bears active, bison calves and elk calving. September and October are a close second, with the elk rut and fewer visitors. Summer is busy and animals rest in the heat of the day. Winter suits wolf watching, but most roads are closed to cars.

What are Yellowstone's 'Big Five' animals?

The Yellowstone Big Five is an informal list of bison, elk, bear, wolf and moose. It borrows the African safari idea and is widely used by local guides. Bison and elk are almost guaranteed, bears are likely in spring and early summer, wolves need patience in the Lamar Valley, and moose are the hardest, as the park has relatively few.

How close can you get to animals in Yellowstone?

Park regulations require you to stay at least 100 yards (91 metres) from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards (23 metres) from all other animals, including bison and elk. If an animal moves towards you, back away. Use binoculars or a long lens instead of walking closer, and never feed wildlife.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026

Photo credits

All photo credits. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Nearby checklists

All North America
Save them to Wilder