Jackson Hole stands as one of North America's best wildlife viewing destinations, where the Yellowstone Ecosystem creates a sanctuary for diverse species year-round. This valley, found between the Teton Range and Gros Ventre Mountains, offers unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in their natural habitats. Each month brings different animal behaviors, migrations, and viewing opportunities that show off the region's thriving ecosystem. Understanding these seasonal patterns can transform your wildlife watching experience, whether you're following elk migrations, spotting bears emerging in spring, or photographing moose in summer wetlands. This guide will walk you through Jackson Hole's wildlife calendar, highlighting when and where to find specific animals and how to enjoy these encounters safely and respectfully.
January
As January’s deep snow reshapes the landscape, it also creates both challenges and opportunities for wildlife viewing. This is prime time to witness the dramatic bighorn sheep rut, where rival males engage in head-butting contests that can be seen along the highway between Jackson and Dubois. Coyotes become more visible against the snow-covered terrain as they hunt for small animals beneath the snow. Along open waterways in some parts of the Snake River, river otters can be seen playfully sliding across icy patches and diving for fish. Red foxes display their remarkable hunting techniques in the snow, their tracks revealing their mostly nocturnal hunts across meadows and along forest edges. The winter landscape makes this a perfect month for wildlife tracking and photography against beautiful snowy backgrounds.
Rangers, Earth. “Ramming Rams in a Rut - Earth Rangers.” Earth Rangers -, 21 Sept. 2022, www.earthrangers.com/EN/CA/omg-facts/ramming-rams-in-a-rut/.
February
February in Jackson Hole offers some of winter's most magical wildlife encounters before the first start of spring begins to show. Great gray owls become more active hunters during this month. Watchers might spot them hunting along forest edges and meadows especially at dawn or dusk. Witnessing bison plow through deep snow with their massive heads creates unforgettable images, their snow covered faces and steaming breath clouds around them. Toward the end of February, attentive visitors may notice quiet shifts in animal behaviors like birds calling more frequently and certain mammals showing increased activity. The low-angled winter sun highlights the mountains in golden light, creating perfect conditions for photographers to capture wildlife in their prime winter coats.
“Bison Digging Deep in the Thick Snow to Find Grass, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.” Margaret Weiss Photography, 30 May 2024, margaretweiss.com.au/bison-digging-deep-in-the-thick-snow-to-find-grass-yellowstone-national-park-wyoming/.
March
March marks the transition from winter to spring in Jackson Hole, bringing dramatic changes in wildlife activity throughout the valley. Male bears begin emerging from hibernation, with black bears appearing first, followed by grizzlies as the month progresses into April. Look for bear tracks in muddy areas and remaining snow patches along the Moose-Wilson Road and Antelope Flats. This is also the primary month when bull elk and deer shed their antlers, creating a seasonal treasure hunt for shed collectors once areas like the National Elk Refuge open the shed hunt season come May. Early migratory birds start returning to the valley, with sandhill cranes among the first to arrive, their distinctive calls echoing as they feed in open meadows and wetlands. Bald eagles become especially active as they begin their nesting season, with established pairs performing courtship displays and making their nests in cottonwoods along the Snake River. As snow begins melting at lower elevations, wildlife activity increases noticeably, though many animals remain in the valley floor where new growth appears first.
April
April brings more wildlife activity throughout Jackson Hole as temperatures warm and new growth emerges. The sage grouse starts displaying their mating rituals with inflated chests and fanned tails while the pronghorn start their 100 mile migration toward the Grand Teton National Park area for the summer. Grizzly bears become more visible as they forage on slopes where snow has melted while beavers repair their dams along streams and ponds. The first spring wildflowers attract butterflies and emerging squirrels and chipmunks bring back some energy to the landscape after the quiet winter.
Koshmrl, Mike. “Grizzly 399’s Four Cubs Will Soon Reach a Life-or-Death Crossroads.” WyoFile, WyoFile, 6 May 2022, wyofile.com/grizzly-399s-four-cubs-will-soon-reach-a-life-or-death-crossroads/.
May
May explodes with new life across Jackson Hole, creating some of the year's most rewarding wildlife viewing opportunities. Moose and elk calves start to appear in protected meadows and willow thickets, best seen in early morning and evening hours. Bears with cubs emerge to forage in berry patches along tree lines at dawn and dusk, while bird migration reaches its peak as warblers, tanagers, and grosbeaks arrive in massive numbers along the Snake River's cottonwood corridors. Bison give birth to orange-colored calves that quickly become strong enough to keep up with the herd, visible in open meadows throughout Grand Teton National Park. The snowmelt creates rushing streams and rivers, attracting river otters and osprey diving into the waters.
June
June brings Jackson Hole's vibrant summer season with thriving wildlife all centered around new offspring and more food resources. Bison calves, now several weeks old, form playful groups within the herd, running around the plains of Elk Ranch Flats. Grizzly and black bears become highly visible as they feast on the valley's first berries and nutritious vegetation, especially in northern Grand Teton National Park.. Spotted pronghorn fawns, perfectly camouflaged against the sagebrush nap in the sun while mothers graze nearby. Meanwhile, moose calves learn to feed on aquatic plants in willow-lined wetlands. Bird activity peaks with visible nestlings of osprey chicks in their massive nests and trumpeter swans gliding across the water. June's long daylight hours offer extended viewing opportunities, though morning and evening remain prime time for wildlife activity.
July
July shifts wildlife activity to higher, cooler elevations as valley floors warm and dry. Moose gather in wetlands and lakes, particularly along Moose-Wilson Road, feeding on aquatic plants and trying to escape biting insects. Marmots and pikas become increasingly visible in rocky alpine habitats, sunbathing on boulders while pikas gather plant material for winter stores.Wolf pups, begin venturing away from their dens, occasionally spotted with adults during early mornings in northern Grand Teton National Park. July offers excellent opportunities to observe the social behaviors in bison and elk herds, providing glimpses into their group dynamics across meadows and sagebrush flats
“9 Fascinating Beaver Facts.” 9 Fascinating Beaver Facts, 18 Apr. 2023, www.tehaleh.com/life-at-tehaleh/blog/posts-by-date/2023/april/leave-it-to-beavers-9-fascinating-beaver-facts/.
August
August starts the shift toward autumn in Jackson Hole. If you’re lucky, you might catch a bull elk shed velvet from their antlers in meadows during early morning and evening hours. Bears forage intensely for up to 20 hours daily on berries and nuts to build fat reserves before winter. Golden eagles continue to hunt proudly over meadows and sagebrush, making precise dives for small mammals. As water sources dry up, wildlife gathers around those few remaining ponds and streams. August's predictable wildlife patterns near water sources create perfect opportunities for photographers, especially at dawn and dusk.
September
September brings the dramatic elk rut to Jackson. Bull elk gather around large groups of female elk and defend them fiercely, their bugles echoing across Willow Flats and sagebrush flats east of Moran. Bull moose with fully developed antlers wander along river corridors and willow thickets searching for mates. Bears reach their peak pre-hibernation feeding on berries and pine nuts, making them highly visible during this intense gathering phase. The bird migration accelerates with raptors flying along the Teton ridge during their journey south. The beautiful aspen and cottonwood trees make the perfect background for ideal animal viewings with pleasant temperatures, fewer crowds, and the animals being focused on breeding and winter preparation.
Hussey, Brennan. “Foraging Huckleberries in the Tetons.” Jackson Hole Nordic Alliance, 5 Feb. 2024, jhnordic.com/foraging-huckleberries-in-the-tetons/.
October
October brings autumn in full with wildlife focused on winter preparation. Mule deer bucks begin their rut, chasing does and engaging in antler displays throughout the sagebrush. This month offers the last reliable bear sightings before hibernation, where Grizzlies move toward higher denning areas while black bears become even more scarce at lower elevations. Bighorn sheep begin migrating from summer habitats to lower grounds for the winter, with rams gathering before their November rut. You can watch them navigating steep terrain along the Gros Ventre mountains and buttes in the National Elk Refuge. Bald eagles stay along the Snake River looking for trout, creating spectacular fishing displays and fights over territory. As the autumn colors fade, white animals like the snowshoe hares and weasels are less camouflaged and can be seen easier against the increasingly brown landscape.
November
November starts the transition to winter and the beginning of another migration cycle. Elk begin their major migration from Grand Teton National Park to winter ranges like the National Elk Refuge, displaying hundreds of animals moving in unison over long rivers and fields. Bald eagles gather in remarkable numbers along streams, with dozens sometimes visible on a single stretch of river competing for those prime spots to perch. Moose breeding also reaches its peak, with bulls making impressive displays and becoming more visible as they focus on finding mates rather than avoiding humans. Coyotes and foxes in full winter coats stand out against early snowfalls while hunting for small mammals in meadows, making it easier for visitors to spot. As the cold starts to transform the landscape, the remaining species head south while the year-round animals settle into their winter patterns, completing this remarkable wildlife cycle.
December
December transforms Jackson Hole into winter. The famous National Elk Refuge becomes home to thousands of elk that move down from higher elevations, creating one of North America’s largest elk gatherings. Meanwhile, moose begin leaving higher elevations, moving to the cottonwoods along the Snake River and Flat Creek. Bald eagles become easier to spot as they perch in trees along partially frozen waterways, hunting for fish in open water patches. In northern Grand Teton National Park and into Yellowstone, wolf activity increases as packs follow migrating hoofed animals, with early morning and evening offering the best viewing opportunities.
Jackson Hole offers wildlife viewing opportunities in every season. From winter elk herds to spring calves, summer predators and fall breeding displays, this valley provides unparalleled chances to connect visitors with all of nature's cycles. For better wildlife spotting, consider joining a local wildlife tour. Companies like Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris, Yellowstone Wild Tours, and Jackson Hole EcoTour Adventures offer guided trips with experts who know where to find animals and can share more information about their ecosystem.
Need help planning your trip to Jackson? Connect with an agent - we can help you create a wildlife viewing adventure for your preferred season!
