And here we are…The Lamar Valley. Possibly the most famous place in all of Yellowstone for wildlife-watching.

One of the greatest conservation stories ever took place in this valley—the reintroduction of the Lamar Wolves.

I’ll tell ya the whole story later in the tour. But here’s a little sneak peek.

The Lamar Valley is lush and lively. Large animal populations can be found here year round, because of tasty plants like aspen, willow, and sagebrush, making it an ideal habitat for bison and elk, even in winter

You might even say that at one point, the valley was suffering from success. Because there were so many bison, elk, and moose, there wasn’t enough food to go around. The Lamar Valley had exceeded the number of herbivores it could support.

Something was missing. Hmmm, let’s see: we had the grass. We had the things that eat the grass. But, who was eating the grass-eaters?

Well, no one, really. And that was the problem. Y’see, that job is handled by apex predators, which are animals that prevent herbivores and smaller predators from overpopulating. 

And who were the big apex predators in The Lamar Valley? The Gray wolves, of course. But by the early 20th century, those gray guardians, tasked with keeping Yellowstone in balance, had been hunted to extirpation—meaning wolves were locally extinct in Yellowstone.

Then, in 1995, the National Park Service began its wolf reintroduction project. Three males and one female were released here in the Lamar Valley.

Within a few years, Yellowstone had undergone a dramatic transformation. The numbers of bison, sheep, and other herbivores returned to sustainable levels. Grasses, shrubs, and trees had a chance to sprout and grow again. Balance was restored to the valley. 

As of 2020, there were more than one hundred wolves within Yellowstone Park alone, and over 500 in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.

While you might see a wolf any time, dawn and dusk in the Lamar Valley is your best chance for spotting these secretive creatures.

Beyond that, keep your eyes peeled near the park’s rivers and creeks. As always, if you snap any great pics of these majestic hunters, be sure to share them with us on social media, @ShakaGuide. We love seeing all the sweet photos you take!

Want more stories like this?

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