http://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/

Yellowstone Wild, Gardiner, MT (2025)

04/17/2025

The American Bison is one of the most impressive animals of all time and their breeding season is one of the most spectacular wildlife spectacles on Earth. The bison rut in Yellowstone is a MUST SEE for any wildlife enthusiast and an absolute dream trip for wildlife photographers.

Join us for an exclusive multi-day Bison Rut Photography Workshop this August with local professional photographer and photo instructor Kyle Moon . This workshop runs August 11-14, peak breeding season for the largest land animal in North America. Two thousand pound males, built of pure muscle and armed with massive horns battle head to head for breeding rights. The bulls bellow and stomp and kick up dust clouds and tear up the bushes as they jockey for position to pass on their genes in the most historically and biologically important herd of bison left.

The intensity and proximity of the bison rut in Yellowstone makes this event a perfect opportunity to work directly with a skilled professional photographer/instructor to come away with your own dream shots of our National Mammal and one of the most iconic wild animals of all time.

Click the link to learn more about this package and Kyle’s amazing photography.

https://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/tours/3-day-bison-rut-workshop-with-local-photographer-kyle-moon/

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03/21/2025

Happy Spring Equinox!

Spring has officially arrived — even if snowflakes are still falling! Before we fully embrace the new season, we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible winter we’ve had here at Yellowstone Wild.

This winter was nothing short of extraordinary. We had the privilege of sharing Yellowstone’s wildness with over 650 adventurers from around the world!

Before our team embarks on their between-season adventures, we always take time to reflect. Reliving favorite moments, absorbing each experience, and treasuring the connections made with each of you, inspires us to keep learning, stay passionate, and carry the tranquil beauty of winter forward into the bustle of summer.

With that spirit of reflection, our team members have shared some of their favorite winter highlights, captured in this video. We hope it sparks your own memories of Yellowstone—whether in person or from afar—and inspires a future winter adventure.

And if you’re curious for more, you can enjoy the reflections of our Photo/Naturalist guides, Rob Wild and Watts Wildlife Photography, from their seven- and nine-day photo workshops, by visiting their detailed Trip Reports.

https://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/blog/

As we bid farewell to winter and look ahead to summer, we invite you to join us for a day, or more, to inspire your own reflections to cherish forever.

https://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/

Video footage provided by YW Staff (Evan Watts, Erik B., Matt D., Laura L., Rob Harwood, & Emil M.). All footage captured from a respectful distance and/or using Swarovski Optics and Ollin digiscope adapters.

03/09/2025

Here’s to the incredible women of Yellowstone Wild! To celebrate International Women’s Day, I want to recognize and thank the women that make Yellowstone Wild shine. Your presence makes the world brighter. Your strength lifts those of us around you to be better human beings. As guides, you walk a path that others a drawn to follow, and your work to educate and connect our guests to Yellowstone’s natural wonders through meaningful personalized experiences is so inspiring. You ladies are the best! And as the founder and majority owner of this small business, I thank you for being exactly as you are, awesome, smart, strong, witty, responsible, reliable, compassionate, curious, creative, quirky and beautiful. Thank you so damn much! Here’s to the incredible women of Yellowstone Wild! 💕

03/07/2025

As the snow begins to soften with the arrival of spring approaching, Yellowstone Wild is gearing up for another incredible season filled with extraordinary guest adventures!

With all the news regarding our National Parks recently, we’ve been getting lots of questions. We get it! We have them too. So we’ve put our brains—and collective 80+ years of local experience—together to create a few tips and tricks for visitors to consider when planning for a rejuvenating and inspiring Yellowstone adventure this summer.

Check out our latest blog “10 Ways To ‘Yellowstone’ Right” to discover how a little pre-trip preparation can ensure a relaxing, environmentally friendly, and exciting vacation in the world’s first National Park.

https://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/2025/03/06/10-ways-you-can-yellowstone-right-this-summer-thats-right-we-turned-yellowstone-into-a-verb/

And if you’d like some hands-on guidance, and a park experience that will knock your socks off, consider booking one of our private or mixed-group public guided tours. Our Naturalist Guides emphasize ethical, sustainable, and respectful excursions, that lead to memories and moments that will last a lifetime. Yellowstone is still here, it’s open, and our team can’t wait to share the wonder with YOU!

02/23/2025

Winter Wolf 6-Day Package February 2-7, 2025 Trip Report

“The absolute thrill of scanning for wolves never ceases to amaze me. My pulse quickens, my heart rate elevates just thinking… ‘are they out there?’ Collaborating with other Yellowstone Wild guides, local wolf enthusiasts, and members of the Wolf Project helps tremendously when searching for what could be equated to finding a needle in a haystack. With an average population of 100 wolves across a 2.2 million acre expanse of wilderness ( less than 2% accessible by road), this sentiment indeed rings true. And then. *gasp!*…’got ’em! Wolves on a hillside!’”

This snippet from “Wolves, Pygmy Owls, and Blizzards: An Adventure To Remember,” by YW Lead Naturalist Laura L. is just the beginning of what turned into an incredible week of wildlife viewing, deep-dives into Yellowstone’s ecological landscape, and amazing experiences for her group (despite some challenging weather conditions)!

Click the link below to read the full report and to learn about our winter packages, what they include, and how YOU can join one of our expert naturalists to create your own “Adventure To Remember”!

https://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/2025/02/23/wolves-pygmy-owls-blizzards-an-adventure-to-remember/

Photos courtesy of YW Lead Naturalist Laura L.

02/18/2025

Yellowstone Wild is thrilled to once again support the incredible online event designed to bring the wonders of Yellowstone into the comfort of your own home! Join our friends at A Yellowstone Life for a four-day deep dive into all things Yellowstone!

Register for a VIP pass, and you can enter to win Yellowstone Wild’s comprehensive two-day tour experience, the Ultimate Yellowstone - Geysers & Wildlife Tour for up to four people (and other great prizes for local sponsors!).

https://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/summer/ultimate-yellowstone-geysers-and-wildlife/

Keep reading for details on the big event, how to register, and more!

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🚨 Registration is OPEN for the !
Join the ultimate online event for Yellowstone lovers, happening February 20-23! 🌟

The Yellowstone Summit is a 4-day virtual event where Yellowstone lovers across the globe can get insider park updates from leading experts, see the park through the eyes of renowned photographers and artists, find tips for planning a trip, learn new insights for better park experiences, deepen their understanding of the park, and engage in meaningful conversations with speakers and with each other about the past, present, and future of Yellowstone.

🎟️ Tickets are just $12, with an optional $47 VIP Pass upgrade for lifetime access to presentations, live Q&As, bonus lessons, exclusive giveaways, and more! The event is presented by A Yellowstone Life in partnership with Yellowstone Forever, with a portion of proceeds donated to education in Yellowstone.
👉 Don’t miss out—learn more and register now!

https://www.yellowstonesummit.com/

02/12/2025

January 2025 “Wolves & Winter Wonders” Trip Report is here!

Day 4:
“As the day wound down, we made the call to linger in the park a little longer. It was our final full day on the Northern Range, and we hadn’t yet seen wolves (this day). That decision paid off spectacularly. Just as we were about to leave, we spotted a pack of twelve wolves bedded in the snow. We set a firm departure time but decided to wait a few more minutes. That patience was rewarded when—precisely three minutes later--the wolves rose, greeted one another, wagged their tails, played for a moment, and then slipped away into the night. We left the park just as they did, arriving for our dinner reservations— in our full winter gear—with two minutes to spare. Absolutely worth it.”

Moments like this define winter in Yellowstone. Unpredictable, breathtaking, sometimes challenging, and always awe-inspiring. This trip had everything from epic wildlife encounters to steaming geysers and glistening “diamond dust” to fantastic camaraderie—all playing out in a delightfully frozen winter wonderland.

Check out YW Lead Naturalist Matt D.’s full trip report, and learn more about booking your own winter excursion here:

https://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/2025/02/09/wolves-winter-wonders-january-2025-a-week-of-unforgettable-wildlife-encounters/

https://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/winter/

Wolf and eagle photos taken with smartphone using digiscope adapters through spotting scope. Other pictures shot from a respectful distance and/or inside touring vehicle.

Photos courtesy of YW Lead Naturalist Matt D. and Rob Harwood.

02/08/2025

YW Photography/Naturalist guide Moon Man Wildlife Photography captured this exciting footage last night at dusk while exploring the park with a friend.

This interaction between the Rescue Creek Pack and a small herd of bison showcases the incredible coordination and methodical approach Yellowstone wolves apply when selecting prey. As shown in the footage—and supported by 30 years of intense ground and air studies by some of the top carnivore biologists in the country—this hunt ended before it really began.

Did you know that, based on the extensive research mentioned above, approximately 80% of “hunts” are unsuccessful? Additionally, the second leading cause of death of wolves in the park is what we jokingly refer to as “death by dinner.” A bison or elk kick to a wolf's head, body, or limb can (and does) cause severe injury and possibly death.

It's no easy task making a living surviving on a food source seven to twenty times your size, but by working together, assessing the risks vs. rewards, and relying on the leadership of more experienced wolves, the nearly 20% success rate is enough. In this case, the Rescue Creek wolves wisely chose to move along.

What do you observe in the video that might help you determine that the wolves made the right choice? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re interested in learning more we encourage you to Engage Your Curiosity on one of our tours!

https://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/

02/01/2025

Do you love working outdoors? Does sharing your passion for all things wild with anyone who will listen get your heart racing? How does Yellowstone National Park as your “office” sound? We ask because…

Yellowstone Wild Tours is currently hiring for (1) full-time seasonal Naturalist Guide for the summer/fall of 2025! Could that be you?

Our team specializes in crafting personalized, hands-on, and inquiry-based experiences around Yellowstone’s wildlife, geology, and cultural and natural history. Our guides are proven lifelong learners, personable, energetic, and hold an ongoing curiosity for the natural world. Applicants with a passion for sharing knowledge and experiences with clients of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and lifestyles is a requirement.

At Yellowstone Wild we are professionals at every level who enjoy challenging each other to keep growing as naturalists and educators. Our company culture is based on respect, open and constructive communication and feedback, personal accountability, work-life balance, and a deep commitment to ongoing professional development. We LOVE what we do and we love working together to consistently offer the best personalized experiences for our clients.

If this sounds Ike your vibe, head to CoolWorks https://www.coolworks.com/yellowstone-wild-llc/highlighted-job/71146-naturalist-guide-14 learn more!

To apply, please submit a current resume (with references) and a cover letter as separate attachments to:
[email protected] ATTN: Tyrene/General Manger

01/29/2025

It isn’t often that a “three-dog day” (fox, coyote, and wolves) are the SECOND coolest part of a wildlife tour with Yellowstone Wild!

But that’s exactly what guests on YW Naturalist Erik B.’s tour experienced yesterday when he put his knowledge and local understanding of animal habitat and behavior to get first eyes on a pair of mountain lions (Puma concolor) interacting on a snow-covered ridgeline.

What a treat for his amazing (and amazed!) clients, who were blessed with both a skilled naturalist and a generous Yellowstone 😊.

Winter is still going strong here in the world’s first National Park and we can’t wait to Engage Your Curiosity on a winter adventure! Learn more by clicking the link below:
https://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/

Video by YW Naturalist Erik B.

01/23/2025

January 2025 celebrates the 30th anniversary of wolf restoration to Yellowstone National Park. In 1995, after a 69-year absence, wolves were reintroduced to the park. Not a day goes by that the Yellowstone Wild staff of naturalist guides and instructors miss the significance of this conservation success.

This recent video, captured on tour by Lead Naturalist Guide Laura L., reveals the endlessly fascinating inter-species relationships once again playing out on the landscape. These interrelationships—and the resulting behavioral adaptations—have profoundly impacted the entire ecosystem in the last 30 years, from the grasses and trees to the microbes in the soil and sediment in the streams, all of which contribute to overall ecosystem health and biodiversity.

The ecological balance found in Yellowstone is, in part, about the wolves, the elk, and the intricate relationship between them. In Yellowstone, elk are the primary prey for wolves. Hunted year-round by wolf packs for 30 years since re-establishment, a sustainable number of elk have mastered the art of escaping predation. So, what exactly is happening in these videos? Lone bull elk. Lone black wolf. One-on-one. Predator and prey. Does this interaction, that of hunter and hunted, appear as you imagined it might? At first glance, it seems playful. Do they know each other? Have these two danced this dance before? Or is there a strategy to their face-off, a more calculated, well-practiced methodology to the behavior captured in this video?

We would love to hear your thoughts and observations. We will share ours at the end of January to wrap up our celebration of wolf restoration in Yellowstone!

01/12/2025

Yellowstone Wild Guides together on a long off trail backcountry wander. Given this habitat on Yellowstone’s Northern Range, can anyone guess what fascinating creature might have the guides’ attention in this photo? Hint: it’s not big, but it is a fierce, hunting the mice and voles of the grassy meadows along this stream.

12/27/2024

907F you went out of this world the same way you entered it; naturally and without human interference.

Let us celebrate your amazing life rather than grieve your passing, and give thanks for the wonder, the wisdom, and the wildness you shared with the world.

Your story lives on through the countless offspring you graced this landscape with and the hearts of the humans who will share your storied life for generations to come.

R.I.P.

Photo courtesy of YW Lead Naturalist Matt D.

12/23/2024

❄️☃️WELCOME TO WINTER!!!☃️❄️

The Yellowstone Wild Team has wrapped up winter training and we can’t wait to dive into the upcoming season. Whether you’re joining us for a day in Yellowstone or dreaming about a future visit, we can’t wait to share Yellowstone’s captivating winter story with you!

To learn more about our winter tour options click the link inink below:

https://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/winter/

11/29/2024

Happy Thanksgiving!

It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the nomination of this incredible photograph titled “Aspen Shadows” by for the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year - People’s Choice Award run by .

Devon is a long-time returning guest at Yellowstone Wild - a guest who became a good friend and a friend who became a valued collaborator. A collaborator whose powerful images of Yellowstone’s wild inhabitants has helped our small business grow. Several of Devon’s photographs - including this one - can be seen on the Yellowstone Wild website and in our promotional materials.

“Aspen Shadows” was chosen from nearly 6,000 entries from 117 countries. Of those, 100 awards were given by the jury. An additional 25 were selected for the People’s Choice Award, which we can all vote on. All 25 images are stunning, but only five will receive top awards (link in bio). We would love to hear your thoughts on how Devon’s image of wild wolves traversing the winter landscape of Yellowstone’s famed Lamar Valley measures up to the competition!

Devon and his family met Yellowstone Wild founder Emil M. while watching wolves on a winter day in early January of 2019. Devon’s family and Emil spent the next few days together exploring Yellowstone’s Northern Range and a deep friendship was born. Devon was hungry to learn about animal behavior, and how the animals interact with each other and the landscape. His photographs tell the stories of how his subjects work to survive the seemingly endless challenges (and bask in the joys) of the Yellowstone winter environment. His respect for wildlife exemplifies the Yellowstone Wild Code of Ethics, and we appreciate his commitment to capturing wildlife’s story and relationships with the landscape. Please give him a follow and click the link in our bio (or his) to cast your vote for Wildlife Photographer of the Year-People’s Choice Award.

Continued in the comments below.⬇️

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving!

It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the nomination of this incredible photograph titled “Aspen Shadows” by for the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year - People’s Choice Award run by .

Devon is a long-time returning guest at Yellowstone Wild - a guest who became a good friend and a friend who became a valued collaborator. A collaborator whose powerful images of Yellowstone’s wild inhabitants has helped our small business grow. Several of Devon’s photographs - including this one - can be seen on the Yellowstone Wild website and in our promotional materials.

“Aspen Shadows” was chosen from nearly 60,000 entries from 117 countries. Of those, 100 awards were given by the jury. An additional 25 were selected for the People’s Choice Award, which we can all vote on. All 25 images are stunning, but only five will receive top awards (link in bio). We would love to hear your thoughts on how Devon’s image of wild wolves traversing the winter landscape of Yellowstone’s famed Lamar Valley measures up to the competition!

Devon and his family met Yellowstone Wild founder Emil M. while watching wolves on a winter day in early January of 2019. Devon’s family and Emil spent the next few days together exploring Yellowstone’s Northern Range and a deep friendship was born. Devon was hungry to learn about animal behavior, and how the animals interact with each other and the landscape. His photographs tell the stories of how his subjects work to survive the seemingly endless challenges (and bask in the joys) of the Yellowstone winter environment. His respect for wildlife exemplifies the Yellowstone Wild Code of Ethics, and we appreciate his commitment to capturing wildlife’s story and relationships with the landscape. Please give him a follow and click the link in our bio (or his) to cast your vote for Wildlife Photographer of the Year-People’s Choice Award.

On this day of reflection for the things we hold dear, we give thanks to the incredible people who come through our door—clients past and future, staff, friends, and followers—here at Yellowstone Wild. We are so fortunate to share this remarkable national treasure with each of you, and to have the opportunity to work every day ensuring its wildness and natural wonders remain intact in perpetuity for our future generations. Most of all, we are thankful for the power of Yellowstone to bring people together in a shared love of the natural world.

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

11/09/2024

Good morning wild world! So thankful for the open spaces and wild faces here at the north entrance to at

10/22/2024

It’s been an incredible summer, and all of us at Yellowstone Wild want to give a massive shoutout to our amazing guests!

Thank you for bringing your curiosity, wonder, and passion for adventure to Yellowstone with us. From majestic wildlife encounters (a grizzly bear sow with FIVE cubs 😳!) to jaw-dropping landscapes and geothermal wonder (a hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin? WOW!), this summer was one for the books!

🎥Whether this was your first visit, an annual pilgrimage, or a trip you’re still hoping to make come true, we invite you to enjoy this highlight reel from some of our guides “best of” summer 2024 footage 🎥.

Do you recognize any of the clips? What engaged your curiosity? Are there any moments that will stay with you forever? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

We invite you to join us for another—or first!—adventure with Yellowstone Wild as we gear up for an epic winter season. You can learn more by clicking this link:

https://www.yellowstonewildtours.com/

Thank you for being a part of the Yellowstone—and Yellowstone Wild—story. We can’t wait to see what genuinely wild adventures await us in the coming seasons, and we look forward to sharing them with you!

Video footage provided by YW Naturslist Guides Emil M, Matt D, Laura L, Rob H, Aleksa B, Leysa K, Erik B, and

Yellowstone Wild