Wildlife
What’s the Difference Between an Elk, a Reindeer, and a Caribou?
Elk, Reindeer, and Caribou are three animals that are similar and can easily be confused. We wanted to clear the air and get some facts straight on these animals so you never have to wonder which one is which ever again! ELK Here at the Flat Creek Inn we have a special love for elk because we have a whole herd of them RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET! It's pretty amazing to have these animals as our neighbors. Check out our live web cam showing the elk right here. Elk have light colored fur and ar...
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25 Best Gifts to Get the Outdoor Lover in Your Life 2020
It's that time of year again, and we've got some great ideas for you of what to get that outdoor lover in your life. We collected gift ideas that should appeal to just about anyone! Our personal favorite? The National Parks map (#4 below). Have fun shopping! 1. "Climb More Worry Less" mug complete with a carabiner handle 2. Pine tree necklace 3. "Explore More" T-shirt 4. National Parks map 5. Firestarter Kit 6. "Little Adventurer" baby onesie 7. Hiking Trails bucket lis...
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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Elk Rut
It’s September, which means it’s a magical time of year. The verdant blanket of summer shuffles aside just enough for fall to poke its rosy head out for a few tentative moments and signal its imminent arrival. Also, it’s time for some elk lovin’. [caption id="attachment_2217" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Photo by Thomas Torget[/caption] We at Flat Creek Inn know you’re secretly very curious about what goes on during elk rut, so we’re doing the responsible thing and answering...
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Jackson Hole Wildlife, Part 7: Bighorn Sheep
It's the bighorn sheep's time for the limelight. If the 6th installment in this series was Return of the Jedi, our 7th installment is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—with fewer Horcruxes, but more headbutting. Latin name: Ovis canadensis How big are bighorn sheep? Bighorn sheep are the largest wild sheep in North America, ranging in size from 160 to over 300 pounds, depending on gender. What's up with the "bighorn?" As you may have deduced, bighorn sheep are famous for their—wai...
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Wolves in Yellowstone
The Wolf Yellowstone was founded to protect it's natural, wild beauty. The wolves in Yellowstone, however, have not always been invited to the protected wilderness club. When the Park was first founded, understanding of ecosystems was different, and wolves were considered negative for the health of Yellowstone because they killed other animals. Here's a way to get an idea of wolf size: fox, coyote, wolf. Picture from NPS website. Nearly 140 wolves were killed by park rangers fr...
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