Yellowstone News and Information

  News Release Interagency team conducting grizzly bear research trapping, October 2021 Visitors reminded to respect signs and stay out of posted areas NPS Photo/C. Adams S News Release Date: September 30, 2021 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 MOOSE, WY— As part of ongoing efforts required under the Endangered Species Act to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will conduct pre-baiting and trapping operations within Grand Teton National Park October 4 – 31. When bear trapping activities are being conducted, the area around the site will be posted with bright warning signs to inform the public of the activities occurring. For bear and human safety, the public must respect these signs and stay out of the posted areas. Trained professionals with the interagency team will bait and trap grizzly bears in accordance with strict p...

  Man retires after 45 years of service at Yellowstone National Park

  News Release Cause of death determined for Shoshone Lake canoer in Yellowstone, search and recovery continues for brother East shore of Shoshone Lake. NPS / Jacob W. Frank Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: September 29, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 9/29 Update: Cause of death determined for Shoshone Lake canoer in Yellowstone, search and recovery continues for brother   MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – An autopsy has been completed on 67-year-old Mark O’Neill whose body was found on the east shore of Shoshone Lake in Yellowstone National Park Monday, Sept. 20. The autopsy determined the cause of death of O’Neill was exposure (hypothermia). O’Neill, from Chimacum, Washington, along with his *brother, 74-year-old Kim Crumbo, from Ogden, Utah, were reported overdue by a family member Sunday, Sept. 19 from their four-night backcountry trip to Shoshone Lake. Search and recovery efforts continue at the lake to locate Cru...

  California Man Tased, Sedated After Allegedly Damaging Yellowstone Hotel

  News Release Bureau of Reclamation intermittent closures of Teton Park Road across Jackson Lake Dam, 2021 BOR Photo Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: September 28, 2021 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 MOOSE, WY— The Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Snake Field Office, is temporarily closing the Teton Park Road across the Jackson Lake Dam in Grand Teton National Park on an intermittent basis beginning Tuesday, October 5 through Friday, October 29 to perform crane work on the dam. Crane work will take place to set and move the bulkhead gate to inspect and perform maintenance work on multiple reservoir release gates at the Jackson Lake Dam. The first two closures are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, October 5 and Wednesday, October 6. Additional closures and timing will be dependent on maintenance requirements and weather conditions. Closures will occur on the Teton Park Road across Jackson Lake Dam between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monda...

  News Release Three Yellowstone wolves killed in Montana during first week of Montana’s hunting season Junction Butte pups (not the pups recently killed) photographed by wolf program park staff using a telephoto lens. NPS / Jeremy SunderRaj 2019 Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: September 27, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - Yellowstone National Park wolf biologists report that the park’s Junction Butte Pack (27 wolves) lost three wolves to Montana hunters during the first week of Montana’s wolf hunting season. The Junction Butte Pack transcends Yellowstone’s northern range and is the most viewed wolf pack in the world. Multiple recent overflights conducted by the park confirmed the pack size has been reduced from 27 to 24 animals, losing two female pups and one female yearling. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) confirms three wolves were killed outside of Yellowstone in the general vic...

  Kaye’s Corner: Yellowstone National Park

News Release Grand Teton hosts fourth busiest August NPS Photo/J. Bonney News Release Date: September 23, 2021 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 MOOSE, WY— Grand Teton National Park statistics show that August 2021 had the fourth highest number of recreation visits for the month of August. The park hosted an estimated 696,564 recreation visits in August 2021. This is a less than 1% decrease from August 2019 (702,022 recreation visits) and a less than 2% decrease from August 2020 (710,198 recreation visits). Camping in the park increased 13.2% in August 2021 compared to August 2019, while backcountry camping decreased 1.77%. Trail use in the park increased 20.5% in August 2021, compared to August 2019, on trails that use is counted. August recreation visits over the last several years: August 2021 696,564           August 2020 710,198(*) COVID-19 pandemic August 2019 702,022 August 2018 692,074 ...

  Chimacum man died of exposure, brother still missing in Yellowstone Park

  Inside the Yellowstone National Park Jail and Justice Center

  Utahn missing in Yellowstone considered 'legend of a man'

  News Release Qualified volunteers to continue culling of non-native mountain goats in Grand Teton National Park Second year of program part of efforts to protect native bighorn sheep NPS Photo/B. Day Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: September 21, 2021 Contact: CJ Adams, 307-739-3431 The culling of non-native mountain goats from Grand Teton National Park will begin September 22 as part of a multi-year management plan to conserve a native and vulnerable population of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in the Teton Range.    Mountain goats are not native to the Teton range and can carry bacterial diseases that are lethal to bighorn sheep. The Teton Range bighorn sheep population has been relatively isolated and is therefore likely ‘naïve’ to these diseases. Without immediate intervention, the mountain goat population is expected to grow and could contribute to the potential extirpation of the native bighorn sheep.    ...

  News Release Fatality, active search and rescue at Shoshone Lake in Yellowstone National Park East shore of Shoshone Lake. NPS / Jacob W. Frank Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: September 21, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - Park search and rescue crews located the body of Mark O’Neill along the east shore of Shoshone Lake in Yellowstone National Park Monday, Sept. 20. O’Neill, 67, from Chimacum, Washington, and his half-brother, Kim Crumbo, 74, from Ogden, Utah, were reported overdue by a family member Sunday, Sept. 19 from their four-night backcountry trip to Shoshone Lake. On Sunday, Sept. 19, park crews located a vacant campsite with gear on the south side of Shoshone Lake, as well as a canoe, paddle, PFD and other personal belongings on the east shore of the lake. Crews located the body of O’Neill along the east shore during the morning of Monday, Sept. 20. Search and rescue eff...

  Scientists can now “sniff” Yellowstone gases in real time Release Date: September 13, 2021 Much is known about how the chemical compositions of gases vary across the Yellowstone volcanic system, but how they vary in time has remained largely a mystery.  Our understanding should greatly improve with a recent installation of a station that continuously monitors gases and communicates those data in real time. Yellowstone  Caldera  Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Jennifer Lewicki, research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, CA. Sources/Usage: Public Domain.  View Media Details USGS scientist Laura Clor performing maintenance on the SNIF multi-GAS station on Mount St. Helens, Washington. Over the past several decades, scientists have sampled gases from all of the major  thermal ...

  Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park is changing

  Mother of RI woman burned at Yellowstone National Park says daughter got lost hiking

  Body 'consistent with description' of Gabby Petito found in Bridger-Teton National Forest   also Remains believed to belong to missing woman in van mystery are found New York Times   also FBI: Human remains found in Wyoming likely Gabby Petito Fox News  

Agencies join in investigation of Gabby Petito disappearance, missing poster released    

  Yellowstone tourists wash dogs in thermal area, illegally of course

News Release Woman suffers significant thermal burns in Yellowstone National Park; Stay on boardwalks and trails in thermal areas Sunset near Pump Geyser NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date: September 16, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 At Old Faithful early Thursday morning, September 16, park rangers provided initial care to a 19-year-old woman from Rhode Island with second- and third-degree burns to 5% of her body. Due to the injuries, the patient (a concessions employee) was taken by ambulance to West Yellowstone and then life-flighted to the Burn Center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. This incident is under investigation. The ground in hydrothermal areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface. Everyone must always remain on boardwalks and trails and exercise extreme caution around thermal features. Learn more about safety in thermal areas at go.nps.gov/yellsafety . This is the first sign...

  News Release Missing Person Gabby Petito News Release Date: September 15, 2021 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 MOOSE, WY—Grand Teton law enforcement rangers are working with the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Teton County Sherriff’s Office, Jackson Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to investigate the disappearance of Gabby Petito.  Petito was believed to have been in Grand Teton National Park at the time of her last contact with her family.  Anyone with possible information on Gabby Petito’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324). Last updated: September 15, 2021

  News Release Yellowstone visitation statistics for August 2021 Visitors watching an Old Faithful eruption in September 2021 NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date: September 14, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - Yellowstone National Park hosted 921,844 recreation visits in August 2021, making it the most-visited August on record. This is a 4.5% increase from August 2020 (881,829 recreational visits) and a 12% increase from August 2019 (820,006 recreation visits). Previously, the busiest August on record was in 2017 , the year of the solar eclipse (916,166 recreation visits). So far in 2021, the park has hosted 3,590,904 recreation visits, up 40% from the same period last year and up 15% from 2019. The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through August): 2021 – 3,590,904 2020 – 2,556,528* 2019 – 3,114,697 2018 – 3,136,241 2017 – 3,232,707 2016 – ...

  Elk rut gives Yellowstone National Park visitors a scary thrill

Urgent search for missing woman who was in Grand Teton National Park   East Idaho News   also Video: Brian Laundrie leaves 'uncomfortable' Gabby Petito alone in collapsing tent in rain   meaww.com   also Gabby Petito disappearance – Couple’s campervan seized from boyfriend’s parents’ home as cops probe ‘odd circumstances’   www.the-sun.com  

  “Boomerang employees” – staff who worked in Yellowstone “way back when” and returned later in life

Essay: The other Yellowstone

  Video: Breathtaking reason for a hiking adventure in Yellowstone

  Minor earthquake shakes Yellowstone over Labor Day weekend

  News Release Yellowstone National Park visitation statistics on Labor Day weekend 2021 People exploring Midway Geyser Basin. NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date: September 7, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Parkwide vehicle entries through the Labor Day weekend showed a 21% increase over the same weekend in 2019. This year is compared to 2019 instead of 2020 because of COVID-19. Visitation statistics (*vehicle entries) per day for September 3-6, 2021, compared to August 30-September 2, 2019, are listed below.   Park entrance   Vehicle entries Percent increase 2021 over 2019   Friday, September 3, 2021   Friday, August 30, 2019   East 882 725 22% North 1,718 1,361 26% Northeast 477 522 -9% South 1,750 1,189 47% West 4,118 3,337 23% Total 8,945 7,134 25%   Saturday, September 4, 2021   Saturday, August 31, 2...

  National parks face overcrowding as COVID-19 pandemic continues

  Silver Gate—the Mammoth Terraces of yesteryear! Release Date: September 6, 2021 Just south of Mammoth Hot Springs, near the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park, lies a jumble of white/gray rock known as the Hoodoos or, more formally, Silver Gate.  The origin of this deposit is a quintessential tale of the dynamic nature of Yellowstone. Yellowstone  Caldera  Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. Sources/Usage: Public Domain.  View Media Details A few miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, Highway 89 winds through the white/gray jumble of rocks known as the Hoodoos, or Silver Gate, that formed when travertine from Terrace Mountain collapsed in a landslid...

  News Release Deceased climber discovered on Teewinot Mountain identified News Release Date: September 6, 2021 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 MOOSE, WY— Park rangers responded Saturday, September 4, to a report from a climber ascending Teewinot Mountain of a deceased male at the base of the Black Chimney climbing route. The deceased climber has been identified as 42-year-old Hitoshi Onoe, a Japanese national who worked in San Jose, California. Rangers arrived on scene Saturday and recovered Onoe’s remains. The National Park Service is conducting an investigation into the accident. Onoe appears to have been climbing alone with the intent of climbing the East Face route based on the marked map found with him. Route finding is difficult in the area. The Japanese consulate has provided communication with Onoe’s family in Japan and next-of-kin notifications have been made. Grand Teton National Park employees extend their condolences to Hitos...