Yellowstone is famous for its hoofed mammals, called ungulates, such as bison, elk and bighorn sheep. These animals live in groups or loose herds often by the hundreds. More solitary are the moose and mule deer, and mountain goats and white tailed deer are quite rare. All these animals except the elk migrate less than 50 miles yearly.

Bison, or buffalo once roamed the West in the millions but had reached near extinction by 1900. Bison are often seen in the Firehole River and Old Faithful thermal basins, plus the Hayden and Lamar valleys. Take care staying a good distance from the bison, especially in early August which is their rutting season.

Because moose are reclusive, you might see them in streams or willow thickets in Canyon Country. Their long legs are adapted to feeding in thick marshes and habitat covered by heavy snow. Only the males have the huge antlers.

Elk make a strange sound called "bugling" in the autumn as they compete for dominance during the rutting season. You may see males and their harems of females called "cows" at the edges of forested areas. The summer herd is approximately 30,000.

Grizzly and black bear also inhabit Yellowstone.Grizzly bears were once abundant throughout the continent, but now are a classified as a threatened species. Learn about them at "Bear Facts".

Other wildlife found in Yellowstone include the:

Pronghorn (antelope) Bighorn Sheep Mules Coyote Osprey Trumpeter Swan Bald Eagle