By Emily Lucas: Co-owner, Guide, Office Manager, and Wyoming Master Naturalist – Teton Excursions
TLDR: Finding Wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
- The Expertise: We are certified Wyoming Master Naturalists through the University of Wyoming. We use science, not luck, to find wildlife.
- The Scope: We look beyond park borders to the entire 20-million-acre Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE).
- The Tech: We provide free wildlife footage via professional spotting scopes and Ollin magnetic mounts.
- The Result: You learn to “See More” by understanding the biology and botany that drive animal movement.
About the Author
Emily Lucas is the co-owner, office manager, and lead guide at Teton Excursions. As a Wyoming Certified Teacher and Wyoming Master Naturalist, Emily blends 20 years of professional guiding in the West with a deep background in education. Her expertise ensures that a day with Teton Excursions is more than a drive through a park. It is a curated, outdoor classroom where the complexities of the ecosystem are translated into stories that stick with you long after the tour ends.
Finding Wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: The Science of the Search
When guests ask about finding wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, they are usually thinking about the boundaries of a single national park. However, nature does not recognize fence lines or entrance stations. The animals we seek are part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). This is a massive 20-million-acre landscape that represents one of the last nearly intact temperate ecosystems on Earth.
At Teton Excursions, we do not rely on roadside “luck” or radio chatter to find these animals. Instead, we use our training as Wyoming Master Naturalists to understand the biological rhythms of this entire region. Finding wildlife is not just a drive. It is an interpretation of a living map.
The Master Naturalist Advantage for Finding Wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Both Aaron and I earned our Master Naturalist certifications through the University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute. This program is designed to move beyond basic park trivia. It provides a foundation in the specific sciences that dictate where an animal will be at any given hour.
Our “quiver” of knowledge includes disciplines across the natural world, including:
- Mammals: Understanding the caloric needs and seasonal migrations of the GYE’s “Big 3” (Grizzly, Moose, and Wolf).
- Botany: Identifying the “green-up” phases and berry cycles that act as a dinner bell for wildlife.
- Non-living factors of the ecosystem: Learning how geology, soil moisture, and weather patterns affect the ecosystem, including how it makes the animals change behavior.
Because the GYE is so vast, animals are constantly moving between the national parks and the surrounding public lands. Our training allows us to predict these movements. For example, when the valley floor reaches peak summer temperatures, a Master Naturalist knows that moose will retreat into deep willow bogs for thermal regulation. We do not just look for the animal. We look for the conditions that the animal requires.
The Art of the Quiver: Tools for an Authentic Experience
While the science provides the data, the true test of an experienced guide is what I call the “Art of Guiding.” It is about selecting the right tool for the moment. We have spent 20 years refining our “quiver” of options to ensure every guest has a successful day.
One of the most essential tools in our quiver is our professional-grade optics. We use high-end spotting scopes paired with Ollin magnetic mounts for digiscoping. This technology allows us to capture “eye-to-eye” wildlife footage through the scope. We share these high-definition photos and video with our guests at no extra charge. You leave the tour with professional wildlife footage on your phone. It is ready to share with friends and family immediately.
A Lesson in Timing: The National Elk Refuge
We love it when these naturalist insights turn into a core memory for a family. Aaron recently led a winter tour with a family of four that perfectly illustrates why we study these animal patterns. Early that morning, he took them to the National Elk Refuge to watch thousands of elk migrate from the Gros Ventre mountains down into the valley floor to feed. It was an incredible sight, but the real magic happened at the end of the day.
Since there was not much snow on the hills yet, Aaron knew the elk would feel exposed in the open valley and would likely head back up into the trees for cover as night fell. When it came time for the afternoon session, the teenage son decided to sit this one out and stay behind. The rest of the family joined Aaron at the same spot from that morning, and just as the sun began to dip, the herd reappeared. They watched as the elk moved back up the slopes exactly as Aaron had hoped.
The family was thrilled by the timing. When they got back and told the son about the thousands of elk moving right past them, he definitely regretted his decision to skip the evening drive. For us, these moments are not about showing off how much we know. They are about using our experience to make sure our guests are in the right place to see something spectacular. It is about the happiness that comes from a plan for finding wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem coming together perfectly for a family.
2026 Wildlife Guide Comparison Table
| Feature | The Generalist Approach | The Master Naturalist Approach |
| Wildlife Strategy | Relying on luck or “bear jams.” | Habitat Interpretation: Predicting movement across the 20-million-acre GYE. |
| Level of Expertise | Seasonal park facts. | University-Backed: Training from the UW Biodiversity Institute. |
| Visual Evidence | Handheld photos from a distance. | Pro Digiscoping: High-def footage through scopes with Ollin mounts. |
| The Takeaway | A drive through a park. | An Immersion: Learning to “See More” by reading the landscape like a local. |
Expert Guide Q&A: Reading the Ecosystem
Q: Why don’t you use radios to find wildlife? Emily Lucas: “Radios often create a ‘chase’ mentality that can stress the animals and lead to crowded roadside jams. We prefer to use our naturalist training to find animals naturally. It results in a much more peaceful and authentic encounter for our guests.”
Q: Will we see Grizzly Bears in the middle of summer? Emily Lucas: “It is rarer in the valley during peak heat. In July, Grizzlies often move to high elevations to eat army cutworm moths. Part of the Master Naturalist experience is explaining these incredible ‘invisible’ migrations so you understand why the park looks different each month.”
Q: Can I get wildlife footage through your scopes? Emily Lucas: “Absolutely. Our Ollin magnetic mounts allow us to snap our phone onto our professional glass instantly so we can record footage of that long-distance wildlife throughout the day and share it with you for free. You can stay in the moment and check out the cool scene.”
Guest Q&A: Wildlife Sightings & Safety
A: Wildlife is most active during the “crepuscular” hours—dawn and dusk. This is why we recommend early starts! While we see animals throughout the day, the first few hours of light are when the temperature is cool and predators like grizzly bears and wolves are most likely to be on the move before bedding down for the afternoon.
A: Safety is our absolute priority. We strictly follow National Park Service regulations, staying at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from all other wildlife. Because we provide high-end spotting scopes and Swarovski binoculars, you will feel like you are standing right next to the animal while remaining at a safe, respectful distance inside or near the vehicle.
A: We provide the heavy-duty optics (scopes and binoculars), so you don’t need to worry about the “gear.” However, we recommend guests bring plenty of layers (it can be freezing at sunrise and hot by noon) and a camera with a decent zoom lens. Most importantly, bring your patience! Wildlife isn’t on a clock, and sometimes the best sightings happen when we wait an extra ten minutes at a “quiet” meadow.