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 ...

  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 ca...

  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  ...

  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 ...

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"...

  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 vis...

  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, ...

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...

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...