Jackson Hole RESIDENTS

Males weigh up to 140 pounds. Pronghorn are herbivores and prefer shrubs and forbs (wildflowers) to grasses. It’s thought that pronghorn evolved their quick speed when pursued by a now extinct North American cheetah. They have been recorded sprinting up to 60 mph, which is faster than any other mammal in the Western Hemisphere. The best places to view pronghorn are Elk Ranch Flats and Antelope Flats.

Wolves

Male wolves are slightly heavier than females, weighing up to 130 pounds. Usually seen in packs of about 10, wolves are capable predators. Wolf reintroduction efforts in the ’90s released 66 wild wolves into the Greater Yellowstone area—now home to about 1,600 wolves. The best place to view wolves is the Willow Flats area, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone.

Elk

Large bulls weigh up to 750 pounds. Predominantly grazers, elk eat grass most of the year. During the fall rut, dominant males collect harems of about 30 females, breeding with them and driving away other adult males by bugling (a loud vocalization) to show their strength. The best places to view elk are during mornings and evenings near Jenny Lake in summer and the National Elk Refuge in winter.

Bison

The bison is the largest North American land mammal and weighs up to 2,000 pounds. These herbivores look docile, but they are not! Bison can jump a 6-foot fence and gallop up to 35 mph. Although the term “buffalo” is often used—inaccurately—to describe bison, these animals are not related to the “true” buffalo. The best places to view bison are Yellowstone, Kelly/Antelope Flats loop and Elk Ranch Flats.

Maximize your time in Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks! Explore the wildlife hot spots on and off the beaten path while sharing the day with a fun and knowledgeable naturalist guide. We will make the most of your time in the region!

Bighorn Sheep

Male bighorn sheep are larger than females, weighing on average 250 pounds. Sheep are herbivores, browsing shrubs and grasses. Bighorn sheep’s hooves are able to cup around rocks for traction on sheer rocky faces. Males establish a dominance hierarchy in by clashing their horns. The best places to view bighorn sheep are Miller Butte, the National Elk Refuge and at high elevations in the Teton and Gros Ventre ranges.

Grizzly Bears

Grizzlies have a distinctive shoulder hump, and their ears are short and rounded. In the Greater Yellowstone area, males can weigh up to 600 pounds. Grizzly bears are omnivores, which means they’ll eat anything from berries, grasses and insects to fish and newborn animals. Sows (females) give birth to one to four cubs mid-winter while in their dens. The best places to view grizzly bears are Willow Flats and Oxbow Bend.

Dornans is a family-owned and operated resort located in the heart of Jackson Hole on the bank of the Snake River inside the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park, just 40 miles south of Yellowstone National Park.