Grizzly Bear, (Ursus arctos), can be found in many areas of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem not just in Yellowstone. Color: can be from black to blonde; and may have white-tipped fur giving a grizzled, appearance. It should be understood that these large bears are dangerous and when hiking extreme caution should be taken. They are very dangerous when surprised, when at close range and especially when they have a cub. These bears will stand over 4 feet at the shoulder and reach a length of 7 feet and a weight of 700 pounds.
Black Bear, (Ursus americananus), also can be found in many areas of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem certainly not just in Yellowstone. Their color may vary from black, to blonde, and cinnamon. You're likely to see an all black with a light brown muzzle in Yellowstone. Like the Grizzly these bears are extremely dangerous and caution should be taken when on trails. Their size is smaller than the grizzly with a height of just over 3 feet and a length a little more than 5 feet and weighing up to 315 pounds.
Grizzly Bear, (Ursus arctos) Sometimes I am in the right place at the right time. This Grizzly was photographed on October 13, 2013 in the Shoshone National Forest. Look closely at the condition of this beautiful bear, well filled out and ready for what may be a hard long winter. The fur is typically brown in color with white tips. A hump appears on their shoulders,a good way to distinguish a black bear from a grizzly, black bears do not have this hump.
Black Bear (Ursus americanus) The most common and widely distributed bear species in North America. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) is one of the few areas south of Canada where black bears coexist with the grizzly bear. They live in wooded areas, or at the edge of forests. This photo near floating island lake is a female with cubs of the year.
Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
These deer can be seen frequently in many areas of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. They are a reddish brown in summer, and a light gray-brown in winter. They have a white muzzle and eye ring contrast with a black nose and eyes. The most noticeable differences between white-tailed and mule deer are the size of their ears, the color of their tails and the configuration of their antlers. Mule deer enjoy a wide variety of plants, they are primarily browsers on woody vegetation.
White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) White-tailed deer is the most common deer species throughout North America, it has never been abundant in Yellowstone and is less frequently seen in the park. This may be due to habitat and elevation constraints on the northern range, or competition from other ungulates that are better suited to park habitat. Both mule and white-tailed deer live an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years in the wild.
American Badger (Taxidea taxus) A mature badger weighs up to 12-16 pounds but some have been weighed at 26 pounds. They are about 26-30 inches long, have short legs, and a flattened head. Mostly gray, with a grizzled effect due to long guard hairs that have a black band ending in a white tip. A white stripe from the nose leads between the eyes and back over the head ending between the shoulders. Males are larger.
Coyote (Canis latrans) Coyotes of the greater Yellowstone ecosystem are among the largest coyotes in the United States, adults can weigh 30 to 40 pounds. The coyote is a member of the dog family standing less than two feet tall and vary in color from gray to tan with sometimes a reddish tint to their coat.Coyotes have a white underbelly, a bushy tail, a long pointed nose and large ears. The coyote is a common predator in the park, often seen alone or in packs.