Yellowstone News and Information

  Yellowstone National Park seeks public comment on a native fish conservation environmental assessment News Release Date:  July 26, 2023 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park asks the public for comments on an Environmental Assessment (EA) that analyzes a proposal by Custer Gallatin National Forest and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks about native fish conservation. In 2022, Custer Gallatin National Forest along with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks issued an EA proposing to remove nonnative rainbow trout and hybridized cutthroat trout from the Buffalo Creek drainage, just north of Yellowstone in the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness of Custer Gallatin National Forest. After removal, they plan to reintroduce native Yellowstone cutthroat trout to the drainage. Yellowstone's EA analyzes the 2022 proposal’s site-specific impacts to Yellowstone. Both agencies plan to use the Slough Creek area in the northeastern part of Yellowstone

  Yellowstone announces lottery for 2023-2024 Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program News Release Date:  July 25, 2023 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 1, people may apply to the 2023-2024 winter lottery for permits to snowmobile in Yellowstone National Park without a commercial guide. Authorized in 2013, the  Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program  allows permit-holders to enter the park for up to three days with a group of up to five snowmobilers.   This year’s lottery will be open on  www.recreation.gov  from Aug. 1-31, 2023. Successful applicants will be notified in early September. Unclaimed or canceled permits will be made available via  www.recreation.gov  on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on Oct. 1, 2023. There is no waiting list. Cancellations may occur throughout the winter season, so check the website often for openings. Trips can be for a maximum of three days in length and permits

  First confirmed 2023 wildland fire in Yellowstone National Park; Parkwide fire danger is now HIGH News Release Date:  July 24, 2023 Contact:   Linda Veress , (307) 344-2015 On July 22, the first confirmed wildland fire of the season in Yellowstone National Park was detected by a visitor. The .1-acre lightning-ignited fire was located between Little Cottonwood Creek and Hellroaring Mountain in the northern part of the park. Four smokejumpers based in West Yellowstone, Montana, suppressed the fire and declared it out. Stay informed   The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now HIGH. Currently, there are no active wildland fires in the park. Currently, there are no fire restrictions in place or planned in the park. Campfires are only permitted within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. Campfires must always be attended and cold to the touch before abandoning. Soak, stir, feel, repeat. The Greater Yellowstone area is a  fire-adapted ecosystem .

  Woman possibly killed by grizzly bear near Yellowstone National Park also  Derby woman found dead after apparent bear attack in Yellowstone National Park - kake.com

  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone visitation statistics for June 2023 News Release Date:  July 18, 2023 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 The park hosted 847,864 recreation visits in June 2023. This is a 61% increase from June 2022, the month of the  historic flood  (525,363 recreational visits), and an 8% increase from June 2019* (781,853 recreation visits). So far in 2023, the park has hosted 1,493,510 recreation visits, up 19% from 2022 (1,258,834 recreation visits), and up 10% from 2019 (1,358,629 recreation visits).   The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through June):    2023 – 1,493,510 2022 – 1,258,834  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21. Three entrances opened June 22.) 2021 – 1,587,998 2020 –  719,054  (The park was closed May 1 through May 17. Two entrances opened May 18 and the remaining three opened June 1.) 2019 – 1,358,629 2018 – 1,381,708      Visiting Yellowstone National Park during the busy summer

Temporary closures at West Thumb in Yellowstone National Park beginning July 19   West Thumb Geyser Basin sunrise and boardwalk NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  July 18, 2023 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 On Wednesday, July 19, beginning at 6 a.m., West Thumb Geyser Basin in the southern part of Yellowstone National Park will close temporarily for road improvements. The closed areas include: West Thumb Geyser Basin parking lot West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail (including boardwalks and restrooms) Duck Lake Trail Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail The closed areas are expected to reopen at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 20. Expect up to 30-minute delays. Drive slowly through construction zones and be alert to workers, heavy equipment, wildlife, and other hazards. Stay informed about up-to-date road conditions in Yellowstone: Visit  Park Roads . Call (307) 344-2117 for recorded information. Receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting "82190" to 888-7

  NEWS RELEASE Woman gored by bison in Yellowstone National Park Always stay more than 25 yards (23 m) away from bison          Bison and danger sign                                                                                                                                                NPS / Jacob W. Frank   A 47-year-old female from Phoenix, Arizona, was gored by a bison near the Lake Lodge Cabins on the north shore of Lake Yellowstone the morning of July 17. The female was walking with another individual in a field in front of the Lake Lodge when they saw two bison. Upon seeing them, the visitors turned to walk away from the bison. One of the bison charged and gored the woman. The woman sustained significant injuries to her chest and abdomen and was transported by helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. It is unknown how close the individuals were to the bison when it charged. This incident remains under investigation, and there is no additional information to shar

  NEWS RELEASE Major windstorm and rain event in Yellowstone National Park at Lake Village Windstorm and rain at Lake Village on July 4, 2023: fallen trees at Lake Hotel NPS / Cam Sholly MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - On Monday, July 3 in the early evening, a major windstorm and rain event impacted the southern portion of Yellowstone National Park, primarily in the Lake Village area. No fatalities nor severe injuries have been reported. Additionally, there have been no substantial disruptions to visitor services. “Monday night’s storm event hit the Lake area very hard,” said Superintendent Cam Sholly. “The National Park Service team and our partners quickly stabilized the situation and got recovery efforts started immediately.” The following information includes details about how the storm impacted the Lake Village area and the ongoing cleanup efforts. Monday, July 3 During the storm, several hundred trees were blown down throughout the area including around the Lake Hotel, Lake Lodge, Lake

Group proposes tribal confab in Fort Hall to discuss co-management of Yellowstone bison

  UPDATE: Fatality investigation in Yellowstone National Park South Entrance Yellowstone park sign NPS / Jacob W. Frank MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY –  On the evening of Saturday, May 13, Yellowstone law enforcement officers responded to an incident on Craig Pass, approximately 3 miles south of Old Faithful. Officers observed a single vehicle that had been driven into a snowbank, with a male standing outside. They located a deceased female inside the car. The male was detained and subsequently arrested for drug possession and other traffic-related charges. The deceased female has been identified as Catheryn Danyelle Griffin, 38, from Seffner, Florida. The Teton County Coroner’s Office determined the manner of death is suicide caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident remains under investigation The National Park Service greatly appreciates the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Attorney’s Office and Teton County Coroner’s Office. Read the May 12, 2