Yellowstone News and Information

Yellowstone Bear Biologist demonstrates proper use of bear spray

  Yellowstone National Park announces selection of park concessioner to operate general stores         Tower Fall General Store         NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  June 29, 2023 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park announced today the selection of Delaware North / DNC Parks and Resorts at Yellowstone, LLC as the concessioner for the new contract (CC-YELL002-24) to provide retail and food and beverage services in the park. This contract will be effective for 15 years from Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2038. Delaware North is the incumbent operator and has provided retail and food and beverage services in Yellowstone since 2003. The public is not expected to experience any changes or interruptions in service. Solicitation of concession business opportunities within national park sites and the selection of best proposals are routine processes for the National Park Service, dictated by the 1998 Concessions M...

  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone National Park’s Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel to open July 1, 2023        Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Exterior        Courtesy Xanterra Travel Collection MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park’s Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins will open July 1, 2023. The hotel closed immediately after the  historic 2022 flood  because of damage to the area’s wastewater system. The hotel gift shop with sandwiches, snacks and beverages, and lobby are currently open. The Terrace Grill with sandwiches, salads, ice cream and beverages, is currently open for lunch and dinner and will add breakfast hours beginning July 2. The hotel dining room will open at a later date. Visit  operating hours and services  for updates. All tours departing from the Mammoth Hotel will begin July 1. In June 2022, unprecedented amounts of rainfall caused severe damage to the North Entrance Road between Mammoth Hot Springs a...

  A Semitruck Hit and Killed a Grizzly Cub Near Yellowstone

  Man barks at and chases bears away at national park

  A year after Yellowstone floods, fishing guides have to learn 'a whole new river'

  Despite Being A Natural Paradise, Yellowstone Can’t Find Enough Workers

  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone visitation statistics for May 2023         Visitors watching wildlife from a safe distance          NPS / Jacob W. Frank MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – The park hosted 454,929 recreation visits in May 2023. This is a 13% decrease from May 2022 (523,680 recreation visits), which was Yellowstone National Park’s busiest May on record. This May’s visitation showed a 5% increase from May 2019* (434,385 recreation visits). So far in 2023, the park has hosted 645,646 recreation visits, down 12% from 2022 (733,471), and up 12% from 2019 (576,776 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through May): 2023 – 645,646 2022 – 733,471 2021 – 649,153 2020 – 145,849  (The park was closed May 1 through May 17. Two entrances opened May 18 and the remaining three opened June 1.) 2019 – 576,776 2018 – 570,824 Summer is Yellowstone’s busiest season and m...

  Yellowstone Visitors Keep Doing Dumb Stuff Around Wildlife

  New mud-slinging thermal feature at Yellowstone is spewing scalding hot muck

  Rangers seeking information on individuals harassing bison calf Visitors reminded to respect wildlife by keeping a safe distance MOOSE, WY  — Summer is a great time to see wildlife in Grand Teton National Park among wildflowers, sagebrush flats, and meandering creeks. It’s important to view wildlife safely, responsibly and ethically. Treat all wildlife with caution and respect as they are wild, unpredictable and can be dangerous. The safety of visitors and wildlife depends on everyone playing a critical role in being a steward for wildlife by giving them the space they need to thrive – their lives depend on it. On Sunday, June 4, at approximately 1 p.m., two individuals were seen approaching and touching a bison calf at the southern end of Elk Ranch Flats in Grand Teton National Park. The incident is currently under investigation and the park is asking for any information. If you were in the Elk Ranch Flats area on the afternoon of June 4, and have information that  cou...

Tourists grab baby elk, put it in car and go to police station, Yellowstone rangers say 

  Yellowstone National Park calls on visitors to protect wildlife and respect safety regulations       Bison in Lamar Valley        NPS / Jacob W. Frank MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone provides millions of visitors one of the greatest wildlife viewing displays in North America. In recent days, some actions by visitors have led to the endangerment of people and wildlife and resulted in the death of wildlife. The park calls on visitors to protect wildlife by understanding how their actions can negatively impact wildlife. Approaching wild animals can drastically affect their well-being and, in some cases, their survival. When an animal is near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, on a road, or in a developed area, leave it alone and give it space. Park regulations require that you stay at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all wildlife (including bison, elk and deer) and at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves. Disregarding thes...

  UPDATE: Hawaii man pleads guilty to intentionally disturbing wildlife in Yellowstone National Park News release from the U.S. Department of Justice District of Wyoming Clifford Walters approached a newborn bison calf in Lamar Valley near the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek. Photo courtesy / Hellen Jack News Release Date:  May 31, 2023 Contact:   Lori Hogan , (307) 772-2124 Hawaii man pleads guilty to intentionally disturbing wildlife in Yellowstone National Park News release from the U.S. Department of Justice District of Wyoming Clifford Walters of Hawaii pleaded guilty to one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife on May 31, 2023 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick. Walters was charged a $500 fine, a $500 Community Service payment to Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund, a $30 special assessment, and a $10 processing fee. According to the violation notice, on May 20, 20...

  Evening temporary closures on Northeast Entrance Road in Yellowstone National Park the week of June 5 and June 12         Northeast Entrance Road flood repairs: Lamar River Canyon         NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  May 30, 2023 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 A short section of Yellowstone National Park’s Northeast Entrance Road in Lamar Canyon (between Tower Junction and Lamar Valley) will temporarily close from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 5, 7, 8, 12, 14 and 15. This segment of road will close so that construction crews can conduct safe blasting operations.   During the  2022 historic flood , high water eroded the slope below this section of road rendering it not safe for use. To repair the damage, crews cut a temporary one-lane road into the hillside. Crews will blast further into the hillside this month to create a new two-lane road, which will be more resilient and able to withstand the effects...

  Caldera Chronicles   Yellowstone's famous biscuits By  Yellowstone Volcano Observatory   May 15, 2023 Yellowstone's Upper Geyser Basin hosts the legendary Old Faithful, but it's also home to an isolated thermal group famous for its biscuits.  Though, only a few remain of a large batch that existed prior to 1959.  Yellowstone  Caldera  Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Wendy Stovall, volcanologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Deputy Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, in about 1887. Bulbous-shaped geyserite knobs around the pool reminded the photographer, Frank Jay Haynes, of biscuits. Biscuit Basin is located three km (two mi) northwest of Old Faithful Village on the western side of the Grand Loop Road. The basin is with...