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Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
Categories: Museums, Public Services & Government [Edit]
201 S Canyon StWest Yellowstone, MT 59758
(800) 257-2570
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
3 reviews for Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
This is not the same as a zoo, it's much more natural and comfortable for the animals. The bears and wolves were really exciting to see up close and I was really excited to take their my parents since they haven't ever seen either animals in the flesh. It's really small but I understand they're expanding and I don't think there's anywhere else you can see these animals so up close.I think people forget that animals aren't for our amusement and may be disappointed with them doing nothing and ignoring you.
The wolf education center is really interesting and 2 of the walls are glass so you can see the wolves hanging out and walking by. The wolves were surprisingly not that shy and walk very close to the open air porch area where the guide talks about the animals. Such beautiful animals...graceful, truly intelligent and you're sad that they're locked up even if it's to help them :(
The bears on the other hand were SO funny. There were four when we visited and they were all assed out. But they eventually got up and rolled around a bit. One in particular got up, looked around at all the people snapping pictures, walked toward the waterfall and pool...turns his back to us, stands up and took a huge dump. That poo pile had to be like 2 feet tall. I almost fell on face I was laughing so hard. He then promptly jogged to the pool and cannonballed in and took him a nice bath. It was worth the admission to see that happen. Muwahaha :D
Unsure of how much time we had to check out Yellowstone, on the recommendation from the to-be-bride, we decided to check out the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone before heading into the park itself. Admissions ran us $9.85 each (adults) and was good for two days (keep that receipt!). The center is located very closely to the park entrance, and is open approximately 12 hours per day. There are indoor and outdoor "exhibits" that educate the public on well, bears and wolves.
The inside exhibits show the differences between grizzles and black bears and general bear education (I love bears, so this was like, bear heaven for me.). There was information on research as well as a section on the history of the bears in Yellowstone.
Outside there are two main areas, one for the bears and other for the wolves. The bears are rotated in and out of their outside exhibit habitat, and there are four wolves that share the pen on the other side of the facility (that are viewable at all times). There are also plans to expand and build a new wolf living area, and a presentation center that has a brief, informative film on wolf life running during all open hours. There was also a great set of posters that showed the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone in the past decade and the tracking of the wolf population.
There are a lot of "real life" examples and displays to show people how to camp in the same areas as bears. The staff member that was outside provided a lot of great information on the animals in the displays as well as in general.
GWDC and the town of West Yellowstone are just a little over an hour outside of Bozeman and right at the entrance to the park. It is a nice place to visit if you've got just a few hours and would like to admire the wildlife without visiting the park itself, or if the weather in the park isn't ideal for visiting (heavy rains, for example).
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A good way to guarantee you'll see bears & wolves up close and reasonably personal in Yellowstone. A well thought out museum (oops--sorry--"interpretive center") comes first, then you go out back to check out the large grizzly and wolf enclosures. If you can, show up early in the morning when the wolves are fed (around 9 am, when I went), otherwise, like most canines with nothing better to do, they'll be snoozing. A few of the bears are released into their enclosure periodically, after a keeper has hid some "enrichment" yummies around the enclosure; they make quick work of finding the goodies, and it's fascinating watching them. The staff also presents other animals from time to time (like a cute little screech owl). One admission gets you in for two days, so if you show up late in the afternoon, go again in the morning before setting off for the park.
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