Yellowstone News and Information

  How a looming government shutdown could hit national parks

  NEWS RELEASE National Park Service and American Forests partner to restore threatened whitebark pine as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda        Whitebark Pine direct seeding project with American Forests         NPS / Jacob W. Frank WASHINGTON (Sept. 26, 2023) – The National Park Service (NPS) and American Forests have signed a five-year agreement to help return threatened whitebark pine to its range in the western U.S. As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the partnership will support restoration activities in national parks where whitebark pine grows. Initial projects in Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton National Parks are part of  $44 million  in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate and conservation investment in history.   Through the Investing in America agenda, the Dep...

  Yellowstone National Park winter weather advisory: Expected snow may close Sylvan Pass and other roads Visitors to Yellowstone National Park should be aware that winter weather is expected in the park this evening, especially on high elevation passes.   Weather can change quickly this time of year in the mountains.   The weather forecast for Friday evening, Sept. 22 predicts 90% precipitation with possible 5-9 inches of snow accumulation on Sylvan Pass, located on the East Entrance Road.  If road conditions deteriorate due to the predicted winter weather, staff will close the East Entrance Road to Sylvan Pass and other roads as appropriate.    If needed, staff will evaluate conditions the morning of Saturday, Sept. 23 and will reopen the road (if it closes) when conditions allow. For up-to-date information about park roads:  Visit  Park Roads...

Lawsuit Aims to Protect Grizzlies, Lynx From Clearcutting Near Yellowstone National Park also Mike Garrity: Biden’s Forest Service logging makes a mockery of his climate pledge  - Ravalli Republic

  Yellowstone visitation statistics for August 2023 People walking on the boardwalks in Mammoth Hot Springs. NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  September 14, 2023 Contact:   Linda Veress , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park hosted 846,389 recreation visits in August 2023. This is a 45% increase from August 2022 (582,211 recreational visits) and a 3% increase from August 2019* (820,006 recreational visits). So far in 2023, the park has hosted 3,313,244 recreation visits, up 36% from 2022 (2,437,607 recreation visits), and up 6% from 2019 (3,114,697 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through August): 2023 – 3,313,244 2022 – 2,437,607  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21. Three entrances opened June 22.) 2021 – 3,590,609 2020 – 2,556,528  (The park was closed May 1 through May 17. Two entrances opened May 18 and the remaining three opened J...

  NEWS RELEASE Temporary road closure for Tower Junction in Yellowstone National Park Contractors work to remove debris from a motor vehicle collision        NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  September 8, 2023 Tower to Mammoth Hot Springs (overnight closure) From 11 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11 to 4 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, the road between Tower Junction and Mammoth Hot Springs will close temporarily while crews extricate the final part of a cement truck. All lanes of travel will be closed during the operations to ensure visitor safety (see closure map below). Stay informed on park road status in Yellowstone: Visit  Park Roads . Call (307) 344-2117 for recorded information. Receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting "82190" to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions).   Background On the evening of Monday, Aug. 28, a cement truck rolled off the road and onto a minivan near Tower Junc...

NEWS RELEASE   Water temporarily unavailable in Yellowstone’s Madison area during system repair            Park road sign at Madison Junction        NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  September 6, 2023 Contact:   Linda Veress , (307) 344-2015 Flush toilets and running water are temporarily unavailable in the Madison area, located 14 miles east of the West Entrance, while teams repair the water system. Areas without water include: Madison Campground Madison Comfort Station Government housing area The park is working to provide temporary restrooms, handwashing stations and potable water at the campground, comfort station and government area. The campground, picnic area and Madison Information Station will remain open. The outage is expected to last at least five days and updates will be provided when available.

  Broken by bison, aspen saplings having a tough time in northern Yellowstone

  NEWS RELEASE Dan Stahler selected as leader of Yellowstone National Park’s Wolf Project         Dan Stahler, Senior Wildlife Biologist         NPS / Jacob W. Frank MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Dan Stahler has been selected as the new leader of Yellowstone National Park’s  Wolf Project . A 21-year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS), Stahler succeeds Doug Smith, who retired at the end of December 2022. "Dan is a proven leader with the scientific experience, credibility, and vision needed to manage these critical wildlife programs into the future," said Superintendent Cam Sholly. As manager of the Yellowstone Wolf Project, Stahler oversees the monitoring, scientific research and management of wolves in the park, studying their relationship with carnivores, ungulates, and other animal and plant communities. Stahler will continue to lead the  Yellowstone Cougar Project , which began in 2014, and the  Elk Research an...

  Michigan Man Sustains Thermal Burns in Yellowstone National Park News release from the U.S. Department of Justice District of Wyoming News release from the U.S. Department of Justice District of Wyoming Jason D. Wicks , age 49, of Hillman, Michigan, was arraigned in federal court on August 23, 2023, facing criminal charges of off-trail travel in a Yellowstone National Park thermal area and being under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the degree he was a danger to himself or others. Wicks pleaded not guilty to the charges. As part of the conditions for release, Wicks is banned from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks until these criminal charges are resolved. This incident remains under investigation. A trial date has not been set. The violation notice merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. In a statement, Yellowstone National Park officials said that the ground in hydrothermal areas is fragile and...

NEWS RELEASE Biologists set to begin grizzly bear captures for research purposes in Yellowstone National Park Public reminded to heed warning signs       Grizzly bear near Frying Pan Spring         NPS/Jim Peaco Yellowstone National Park & Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team Grizzly bear trapping announcement Date:  August 22, 2023 Contact: (406) 994-6675 BOZEMAN - As part of ongoing efforts required under the Endangered Species Act to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the U.S. Geological Survey, in conjunction with the National Park Service, is working to inform the public that pre-baiting and scientific capture operations are once again about to begin within Yellowstone National Park. Biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will begin field captures on Aug. 28 and continue through Oct. 31. Capture operations can include a variety of activities, but all areas where work is be...

  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone visitation statistics for July        Crowds watching summer Old Faithful eruption          NPS / Jacob W. Frank MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY –  Yellowstone National Park hosted 969,692 recreation visits in July 2023. This is a 63% increase from July 2022 (596,562 recreational visits) and a 4% increase from July 2019* (936,062 recreation visits).   So far in 2023, the park has hosted 2,463,202 recreation visits, up 33% from 2022 (1,855,396 recreation visits), and up 7% from 2019 (2,294,691 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through July):    2023 – 2,463,202 2022 – 1,855,396  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21. Three entrances opened June 22. The Northeast Entrance opened Oct. 15 and the North Entrance opened Oct. 30.) 2021 – 2,668,765 2020 – 1,674,699  (The park was closed March 24 through May 17. Two entra...

  National Park Service releases a draft Environmental Impact Statement for Bison Management at Yellowstone National Park        Bison along Rose Creek in Lamar Valley         NPS / Neal Herbert MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY –  The National Park Service (NPS) released today a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a Bison Management Plan at Yellowstone National Park. The Draft EIS introduces a broad range of actions for managing bison inside the park. This plan allows the NPS to evaluate bison management based on new scientific information and changed circumstances, explore ways to reduce bison being sent to slaughter, and to continue working closely with Tribal Nations and agency partners in management. The Draft EIS will also consider the bison management actions likely to occur on lands outside the park in Montana, while acknowledging the NPS does not have jurisdiction or control over actions such as hunting or tolerance for bi...