Seeing Wildlife Induces Sudden Stops in Yellowstone

May 31st, 2009

CWN

Tourist season in Yellowstone Park officially begins on Memorial Day, but the parks ’busy season’ really starts after the Forth of July. It is always a rush of awestruck sightseers grabbing up every scenic view with their cameras, cell phones or video recorders. The flurry of cars pulling off to the side of the road without warning at the site of a grizzly or moose is an everyday occurrence.

It is as exciting as a day at the races. No turn signals, no warning, no brakes, no worries, cuz everyone does it. The tourist, which could be a Wyoming or Montana family out on a leisurely drive or a visitor from continents away, drive the parks 35 mile per hour with eyes glued to the window looking for that far off coyote or wolf.

If you find a car stopped in the middle of the road or pulled over to the side you can bet that they have ’spotted something’. Within 5 minutes both sides of the road will be backed up with cars, motorcycles, vans, RV’s and pickups as men, women and children scramble to see what treasure was spotted by that first car.

Grizzlies playing in the road

A whole group of people can be fooled by a large granite boulder half a mile away which looks just like a grizzly bear sitting in a field.

Sightseers aren’t the only thing that stop traffic. With more than 3,500 bison in Yellowstone, it’s no wonder that they are responsible for alot of the parks traffic jams. The big massive creatures travel on the road, sometimes in groups. And with their size and strength not even a large RV can persuade them to get out of the way.

If your planning a trip to Yellowstone this year remember to bring lots of batteries for your cameras or video equipment. The sites in Yellowstone are truly breathtaking and you never know when that bear, bighorn sheep, bison, elk, bald eagle, wildcat, river otter, or moose will show up within a good camera angle.

And beware of sudden stops and massive traffic jams on the narrow and twisty park roads when you do find that free-roaming animal. Grab a good spot – they will go fast.