Wildlife
Bison vs. Buffalo: What’s the Difference?
Image credit: Jack Dykinga You know those big, humped mammals with curved horns? The ones in the picture above? Yeah, those. Some call them bison, and some call them buffalo. Is one right? What’s the difference? Okay, okay—we’ll answer your questions. What is a bison? A bison (bison bison—and yes, that is its Latin name) is the proper name of the animal we’re referring to, scientifically speaking. There are two distinct species of bison: the plains bison and the woods biso...
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The Legend of the Jackalope
Photo by CGB Grey Picture this: You’re hiking along a solitary trail at dusk when suddenly, the bushes rustle. A strange creature bounds into the path, the glow of your flashlight gleaming on the white of its antlers. Its eyes shine up at you, full of mischief, and then—as quickly as it appeared—the creature vanishes into the brush, never again to be seen except in your imagination. You’ve just had an encounter with a jackalope, the great antlered rabbit, one of the West’s f...
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Sleigh Ride through the National Elk Refuge
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the elk refuge, snow is glistening. Winter is upon us and there’s snow place better to be than in Jackson! (We deeply apologize for that pun.) If you’re looking for a magical start to the holiday season, look no further than a sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge. About the Elk Refuge First, a bit of background. It all started in the nineteenth century when the arrival of settlers in Jackson Hole resulted in a major disruption to elk migra...
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Beavers in Jackson Hole
Knock, knock. Who’s there? Beaver. Beaver, who? Beaver-y glad that beaver restoration in Jackson is well underway! (And be very glad you won’t have to suffer through another joke like that, too.) After decades of trapping in the early to mid-1800s that decimated the beaver population, wildlife biologists and conservationists are happy to report that the restoration of this keystone species is going well. (We’re sure you’ve been on the edge of your seat wondering.) What is a keystone s...
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The Return of Grizzly 399!
A month or so ago, we posted about Grizzly 399, the famous mama bear for whom the world (or at least a small, bear-aware segment of the population) was awaiting with bated breath. As a recap, grizzly bears usually live 20-25 years. Not only is 399 still alive and kicking at 27, but she’s still Bear Mother of the Year. If she were human, she’d be collecting Social Security and driving the kids to soccer practice. Now 399 has emerged from hibernation at last with one more healthy cub ...
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