Bears It is generally solitary and lives in a wide range of habitats. It can hibernate for as long as seven months when food is scarce. When active, it is omnivorous. Female American black bears usually do not have more than two cubs every second or third year. While they are the most abundant species of bears, they generally do not live beyond ten years of age.

Elk The elk is the most abundant of the big game animals of Yellowstone Park. Oftentimes reaching the size of a large horse, elk can be seen throughout Yellowstone year-around. The cows and calves oftentimes travel in large groups of a hundred or more during the summer months, while the males tend to travel by themselves or in very small groups, feeding on grasses and tree twigs.

Mountain Lion The mountain lion is large and slender. The pelage of the mountain lion has a short and coarse texture. The general coloration ranges from a yellowish brown to grayish brown on the upper parts and a paler, almost buffy, color on the belly. The throat and chest are whitish. The mountain lion has a pinkish nose with a black boarder that extends to the lips. The muzzle stripes, the area behind ears, and the tip of tail are black.

Bobcat Shoulder height: 19-22" (45-58 cm); weight: 12-26 pounds (4-15 kgs). Often confused with lynx, but with these differences: the bobcat has a longer tail with a black bar on the upper side fringed with white hairs; it also has shorter and more slender legs with small, less thickly furred paws and ear tufts less visible. Usual color is a shade of buff or brown spotted with dark brown and black. Buff bobcats are common in desert country; those from forests are darker.