The not-for-profit Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is located a block from the RV park (Buffalo Crossing RV Park) where we are staying in West Yellowstone (that is also very close to the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park). The mission of the center is to enable visitors to observe and learn about the grizzly bear and gray wolf.
A two-day schedule of activities is provided upon entry to the Center. This includes a wide array of educational videos, bird-of-prey presentations, safety demonstrations (if you encounter bears in the wild), bear-resistant product testing, and Yellowstone Park Range talks. There is also a fabulous exhibit of mounted bear specimens and interactive educational displays. Here are a couple of photos of the exhibits, but the real bears and wolves are right outside!
Wolf statue in Naturalist Cabin.
Bears: The grizzly bears at the center are all ones that were either orphaned at a young age, injured in the wild, or demonstrated repeated episodes of aggressive/dangerous behavior. There is a large habitat with a cascading waterfall, fishing ponds stocked with trout, and other features found in the wild. All of the bears are in the habitat for some portion of the day and a schedule of who will be there when is provided. Also, the history of each bear is documented on placards in front of the bear habitat, so you can learn a little about each one. Also, Discovery Center employees knowledgeable about the animals are also on hand to answer questions.
Photos taken in the afternoon of younger bears (sub-adults or in human vernacular, teenagers).
Playful bears.
They were just beautiful! The keepers hide food in the habitat so the bears come running out and start searching for their treats. Meals are fed to them in interior habitats.
Photos of Sam, an 18-year old Alaskan grizzly that weighs about 1,000 lbs, double to triple the weight of the bears we saw earlier that were from Montana or Wyoming. When standing on his back legs he is over 9' tall. Check out his ears!
Gray Wolf: There are three wolf packs here; each in a separate habitat. All of these animals were born in captivity. When we visited in the afternoon, most were enjoying an afternoon snooze.
During our evening visit they were all very active. Several times they started howling which was an amazing sound to hear. Once one started in one pack, the wolves in the other packs started howling as well. Loved it!
River Valley Wolf Pack.
Birds of Prey: All of the birds in this center have been injured in the wild and, despite rehab efforts, can no longer survive there.
Bald eagles; they have two.
The Discovery Center works with state and federal groups including the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee in testing bear-resistant garbage and food storage containers. A product is filled with enticing foods (for bears) and placed in their habitat for 90 minutes. If the bears are unable to open it during that time, the product is certified as bear-resistant by the Interagency Committee. If not, product modifications are made and then retested.
We really enjoyed this place and being able to visit times a day. Each of the 6 bears we saw in the bear habitat were fascinating as were the three wolf packs. When you pay for admission, you are permitted to visit the Center the next day as well at no additional cost (keep your receipt). There are ambitious future plans to add "Banks of the Madison" - A River Otter/Riparian Habitat. The new "Bear Meadow Exhibit" is also planned that will enable the Center to rescue additional bears.
Admission price is $11.50/adults; $10.75/seniors. Check their website for hours as it varies by season. The Center is open 365 days a year as these bears in captivity do not hibernate.The location is within walking distance to anyone staying in the town of West Yellowstone, MT.
Website: www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.com
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