Bison - The quintessential symbol of the American West, bison are at once revered for their wild presence and maligned for the threat they are said to represent to livestock and private lands. [More on Bison]

Elk - Totalling some 93,000 elk, Greater Yellowstone’s spectacular herds are the largest in the world. Their many migration routes knit together the national parks, forests, and state and private lands of the Ecosystem. Their abundance attracts large numbers of visitors, both wildlife observers and sportsmen. Elk are the most sought-after game in the Ecosystem and elk hunting, along with non-consumptive recreation, contributes millions of dollars annually to local economies. [More on Elk]

Gray Wolf - After a 60 year absence, with great fanfare and celebration the wolf was reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park once again in 1995. From an original population of 14 animals in 1995, the wolf population in Yellowstone National Park has grown to nearly 300 wolves, which include 12 breeding pair. Wolves have finally begun to establish themselves beyond the confines of Yellowstone National Park, as expected. In many aspects, wolf recovery has been a great success and landmark conservation triumph. [More on Wolves]

Grizzly Bear - The grizzly bear — one of the last vestiges of our "wild" west — is a solitary and fiercely independent animal that requires big chunks of wild country, a need that puts them on a collision course with developers, with the logging, mining, oil and gas industries, and off-road vehicle users. [More on Grizzlies]

Lynx - The slightly larger relative of the more common bobcat, the lynx is considered rare in the Greater Yellowstone region. The strictly carnivorous cat feeds mostly on hares, rodents, birds and fish, although in the winter have been known to prey on small deer.

Moose - Tall, ungainly, and much-loved, moose are often seen in riparian areas and upland conifer forests throughout Greater Yellowstone. They are the largest member of the deer family, bulls often exceeding 1300 lbs. Since moose are relatively tolerant of human presence, unregulated hunting during the last half of the nineteenth century decimated moose populations in much of the West.

Mountain Lion - Seldom seen but living in the high mountains of Greater Yellowstone is the elusive mountain lion. The lithe, fast predators are a prize for photographers eager to capture one of these reclusive cats on film. Because of its elusive nature, the exact status of the mountain lion is not well known.

Pronghorn Antelope - With a preference for sage/grass vegetation, and level or rolling topography, pronghorn antelope are not common in the high, forested center of Greater Yellowstone. Rather, they inhabit the lower-elevation valleys and basins that descend from the highland core. Pronghorns are the considered the second fastest land animal in the world, reaching speeds upward of 55 mph. They also have the longest migratory route of any land animal, second only to the caribou.

River Otter - North American river otters are semi-aquatic mammals, with long, streamlined bodies, thick tapered tails, and short legs. They build dens in the burrows of other mammals, in natural hollows, such as under a log, or in river banks. Dens have underwater entrances and a tunnel leading to a nest chamber that is lined with leaves, grass, moss, bark, and hair.

Wolverine - The largest member of the weasel family, the wolverine is a solitary, secretive animal of the coniferous forest, with huge territory requirements that can reach 150 square miles per individual. Opportunistic omnivores, wolverines prefer to hunt and forage around small meadows, timbered thickets, cliffs and riparian areas. The exact status and range are uncertain.