JACKSON, Wyo. — Western Wyoming is coming to life and emerging slowly out of the long winter. In Yellowstone, bears are waking and wolves have been active.
Looking around, there is still plenty of snow yet to melt but sunny skies and temperatures have been in the 40s this week and should be enough to convince even a hardened skeptic that spring has arrived.
The first day of spring is on March 20, and various wildlife appears to believe the hype that warmer weather is here to stay.
Grizzly bears have been observed in nearby parks waking from their hibernation. Elk are on the move to find south-facing hillside forage melting out. And the first mountain bluebird of the season has been spotted in Yellowstone.
Mountain bluebirds are one of the first migratory birds to return to Yellowstone each year. The mountain bluebird competes fiercely with other cavity-nesters for nest sites, so the sooner they get here, the better their choice of nest sites will be. They are an early harbinger of the coming of spring.
Most in the US mark the official arrival of spring by the first robin sighting. Other migratory birds that should be showing their feathers around the area soon include red-winged blackbirds, osprey, and red-tailed hawks.
With more animals out and about, it’s important to remember that the chances of hitting an animal while driving are increasing this time of year. Motorists should be patient when driving through areas with an abundance of wildlife by sharing the road and slowing down at night.
Read more about wildlife habits in the spring here.
