Wildlife Tours

Wyoming wildlife, spotted.

Experience the wild side of Jackson Hole on a guided safari.

Jackson Hole is part of the 20-million-acre Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), the last intact temperate ecosystem in the lower 48 states. The GYE is the only habitat where the same wild, big-game animals (wolves, elk, deer, bison, moose, pronghorn, bighorn sheep) that roamed this land when Lewis and Clarke first traveled through it are still here today. On a wildlife tour, local guides lead you out of crowded areas to observe and teach you about the many species of wildlife that call Jackson Hole home. In addition to spotting wildlife, guides are experts in local flora and fauna, the history of the area, and conservation efforts. Most importantly, guides ensure you have a safe experience that takes you out of the driver’s seat so you can sit back, relax, and take in the sights.

View Wildlife with Caution

Wildlife are wild and injury, death, fines, and potential jail time are all consequences of getting too close, disturbing, or touching wildlife.

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Questions about view wildlife in Jackson Hole

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the few remaining intact ecosystems on Earth, is home to more than 200 species of animals including wolves, black and grizzly bears, bison (did you know that Yellowstone bison comprise the nation’s largest bison population on public land?), elk, and nearly 60 other species of mammals. We’re also home to more than 300 species of birds including fantastic raptors like bald eagles, ospreys, and peregrine falcons. You might not see them, but we also have 16 species of fish, six species of reptiles (non-poisonous), and four species of amphibians.

Please help preserve this incredible natural treasure for future generations by observing wildlife from a distance, never feeding the animals, extinguishing wildfires, and driving slowly.

Wildlife Watching

Yes, and they exist to protect both you and the animals. No matter how harmless they look, wildlife is wild. Keep your distance, give bears, other large carnivores, and large nesting birds at least 100 yards of space, and give all other animals, including bison, elk, and moose, at least 25 yards of space.

Wildlife are wild and injury, death, fines, and potential jail time are all consequences of getting too close, disturbing, or touching wildlife.

Wildlife tends to be most active during what locals consider to be the off seasons — April to May and October to November. These are the months that animals migrate between their summer and winter ranges and emerge from or prepare to go into their dens. Wildlife doesn’t disappear in July and August, but they do often rest during the heat of the day, so your best chance of seeing them is at dawn or dusk. When there’s snow on the ground, thousands of elk congregate on the National Elk Refuge, where you can take a sleigh ride into the middle of the herd. Winter is also the best time of year to spot wolves, since their dark coats are more visible against snow than sagebrush.

It’s of utmost importance for both the safety of the wildlife and drivers to keep driving lanes clear at all times. If you spot wildlife while driving, pull entirely off the road in a designated pullout to limit roadside erosion and avoid traffic interruptions. Only get out of your vehicle if you can maintain the proper distance between yourself and the wildlife.

On average, more than 300 large animals are killed annually on Teton County roadways. To prevent wildlife collisions, observe the speed limit and be attentive, scan the edges of roads for wildlife, and take note of other drivers’ behavior to spot an indication of nearby wildlife. Familiarize yourself with wildlife collision hotspots at jjhwildlife.org/hotspots.

Wyoming wildlife, spotted.

View Wildlife with Caution

Questions about view wildlife in Jackson Hole

Go with a guide.

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Stay Wild Guide

Live by the wild rules.

Where the West lives on.

View Wildlife with Caution

Questions about view wildlife in Jackson Hole

What kind of wildlife will I see?

Are there rules for wildlife watching?

When is the best time to see wildlife?

What do I do if I spot wildlife while driving?

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A Local Guide to Wildlife Watching in the GYE

Some Neighbors are Best Left Alone

Go with a guide.

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Adventure starts here.

#VisitJacksonHole

Live by the
wild rules.

Where the
West lives on.