JACKSON, Wyo. — Warmer and longer days are breathing life back into Western Wyoming, and wildlife is slowly awakening from winter slumber.
March 19, marked the spring equinox and the first day of spring around the Northern Hemisphere.
In Yellowstone National Park (YNP), the first grizzly bear was observed waking from hibernation, and mountain bluebirds are beginning to make an appearance on the melting snow.
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 U.S. 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.
Soon elk, mule deer and antelope will begin their annual spring migrations. Elk will move to find south-facing hillside forage melting out. Some herds will enter the Teton Wilderness north of Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), while other herds will move into YNP, traveling close to 80 miles, according to the GTNP Foundation.
With more animals out and about, it’s important to remember that the chances of hitting an animal while driving increase 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.
