Grand Teton National Park Wildlife Information

The diversity of wildlife communities in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway complements the spectacular scenery. Part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the two National Park Service areas offer wildlife a variety of habitats. Each habitat must supply the basic needs of wildlife: food, water, cover and living space. Familiarity with the habitats and habits of park and parkway wildlife results in increased viewing opportunities.

Grand Teton National Park Habitats

Alpine
Wind and snow limit life above treeline (about 10,000 feet). Some plants and animals have adapted to the seemingly harsh conditions. Plants are mat-like, animals are few.

Look for yellow-bellied marmots, pikas and bighorn sheep.

Sagebrush
The most widespread habitat type in the park, sagebrush flats occur on dry, porous soils. More than 100 species of grasses and wildflowers grow along with abundant sagebrush. Lack of cover makes large animals conspicuous. Look for pronghorns, coyotes, bison, badgers, elk and Uinta ground squirrels.

Forests
From treeline to valley floor, forests provide cover and food for many mammal species. Lodgepole pines dominate, but forests also contain fir, aspen and spruce. Look for elk, mule deer, martens, red squirrels, black bears and snowshoe hares.

Rivers, Lakes and Ponds
Aquatic habitats and adjacent forests, marshes and meadows fulfill the needs of many forms of wildlife. Diverse and abundant vegetation offers excellent food and cover. Water is plentiful. Look for moose, river otters, beavers, muskrats, coyotes, bison and mule deer.

Where To Look For Wildlife In Grand Teton National Park

Northern Jackson Lake
From Lizard Creek Campground for four miles south, Highway 89-191 follows the eastern shore of Jackson Lake. Several turnouts and two picnic areas provide vantage points for enjoying the view of the Teton Range across the lake and for wildlife watching. Along the lakeshore, aspen groves and colorful wildflower meadows alternate with extensive conifer forests. Lush meadows attract mule deer
and elk, while the lake attracts American white pelicans, Canada geese and other waterfowl.

Colter Bay
The roads and trails in the Colter Bay area provide views of a wide array of mammals. Deer feed at the edge of conifer forests. Uinta ground squirrels flourish in dry sagebrush meadows, while red squirrels chatter incessantly from conifer forests. Alert observers catch occasional glimpses of snowshoe hares and martens in the conifer forests. Trails in the Colter Bay area lead to ponds inhabited by beavers, muskrats, waterfowl and sometimes river otters; hiking may also provide views of moose and elk.

Willow Flats
The extensive freshwater marsh between Jackson Lake Dam and Colter Bay can be viewed from the back deck of Jackson Lake Lodge and the Willow Flats Overlook, 1/4 mile south of the lodge. Shrubby willows provide browse for moose. In evening and early morning elk graze on grasses growing in large patches among willow stands. Beavers have created ponds by damming streams
throughout Willow Flats; beaver ponds also harbor muskrats and waterfowl.

Oxbow Bend
A cut-off meander of the Snake River is one mile east of Jackson Lake Junction. Slow moving water provides habitat for fish such as suckers and trout, which become food for river otters, beavers (at dawn and dusk) and muskrats. Moose browse on abundant willows at the water’s edge. Elk occasionally graze in the open aspen groves to the east.

Teton Park Road from Signal Mountain to South Jenny Lake
Extensive sagebrush flats are interspersed with stands of lodgepole pines and aspens. Pronghorn gather in small groups in the flats where they browse on sagebrush. At dawn and dusk look for elk grazing on grasses and wildflowers growing among the sagebrush. Bison occasionally may be found between Signal Mountain and North Jenny Lake Junction. Please park in turnouts or pull vehicle onto the road shoulder while watching wildlife.

Timbered Island
A forested ridge surrounded by sagebrush lies southeast of Jenny Lake. Small bands of pronghorns, fastest North American land animal, forage on sagebrush. Elk leave the shade of the forest at dusk to eat grasses growing among the sagebrush.

Snake River
From Jackson Lake Dam south, the riparian area along the Snake River attracts a variety of wildlife. Elk and bison graze in grassy meadows along the river. Bison also eat grasses in the sagebrush flats on the benches above the river. Beavers and moose eat willows that line the waterway.

Blacktail Ponds
This turnout is located 0.5 mile north of Moose on Highway 26-89-191. Old beaver ponds have filled in and now support grassy meadows where elk graze during cooler parts of the day. Moose browse on willows growing along the river.