JACKSON, Wyo. — Winter is in full swing in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) with snow stacking up and over-snow access now open. Wintering wildlife can also be seen out and about foraging for food.
Buckrail‘s photographer Nick Sulzer captured images of a moose with growing paddles on the side of a creek.
According to the park service, wintering moose use their long legs to move through deep snow to areas of preferred forage, specifically, bitterbrush. Moose calves remain with their mothers through the winter and follow behind them while trail-breaking through the snow. Moose also use their highly developed sense of smell to find only the most nutritious parts of shrubs under the snow.
Teton Park Road is groomed between Taggart Lake Parking Lot and Signal Mountain Lodge, now through mid-March as conditions allow for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and walking. Other winter activities in the park include backcountry camping, ranger-led snowshoe hikes and ice fishing on Jackson Lake.
Winter wildlife closures are currently in effect in GTNP, Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Elk Refuge.
Winter recreation in Yellowstone opens today, Dec. 15 with over-snow travel by snowmobile or snowcoach on most park roads.
