A Wild Jackson Hole

Every Season is full of new surprises and I feel like there is always a new adventure to do. This place truly fuels my soul! This year marks my 9th year in Jackson Hole and every year there are new surprises. It seems endless! Late Spring and Early Summer have become one of my favorite times of year here. I've finally adjusted to the mountain weather so the cooler Spring days are something to look forward to after a long Winter. Heavy snowfalls mean for greener grasses and lots and lots of wildflowers! This Season also means new baby wildlife are being born and it's the cutest thing ever to see. It also makes for the animals to be extra active, so it is the best time of year for the perfect viewing opportunity.

Credit: Josh Metten

One thing many people don't know about is how incredible the wildlife tours are in the Grand Teton National Park ecosystem. Every time I go, I learn something new about our furry neighbors. This area of the country truly is the American Serengeti with big animals like moose, grizzly bears, black bears, bison (my favorite!), elk, and pronghorn.

Jackson Hole Eco Tours took us out a few weekends ago and we spotted almost every animal you could see! We started at sunrise with a quick jaunt down to Schwabacker's Landing to see the Grand Teton Range wake up to a new day. The alpenglow in the morning is absolutely breathtaking with pink hues illuminating the mountains. We watched a beaver add to his fairly new dam for his little beaver family while we sipped fresh french pressed coffee! On our way out to the sunrise, we spotted 7, yes 7 moose. The animals really are more visible when you wake up before the sun!

Josh, our amazing guide, then took us to find a wolf pack!!! I had zero idea that wolves lived that close to Jackson Hole and was super giddy to see our local wolf pack. On our way North, we stopped to observe a buffalo herd and watched as they ran directly in front of our car. They are truly majestic beasts! The Jackson Hole Eco Tours luxury sedans let you stand up and watch the animals from their observation sun roofs, allowing you to be at a safe distance and still snap amazing photos. All of their tours are equipped with brand new high tech binoculars by Maven Optics, providing the best quality on the market.

Besides seeing almost every possible animal in one morning, the highlight of our trip was definitely spotting not one, but two grizzly bears!! We saw a male bear in a field and waited until he literally walked right in front of our car. It was one of the cooler experiences I've had in Jackson Hole. Josh explained that he was pretty hungry from just recently coming out of hibernation. He was HUGE.

Credit: Josh Metten

The most important thing to remember when entering our National Parks is to always respect the wildlife. Remember that we are in their home. Don't ever approach wildlife, always stay in your car, and don't ever try to feed them. A selfie is not worth risking your life, or the animal's life, so please give them the love and respect they deserve!

Credit: Josh Metten

Now's the time to get up early and into Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks to see this incredible Ecosystem in action, and before the crowds hit!