Filed by Aaron Bailey, Master Naturalist Guide | Teton Excursions
Bluebird day in Jackson. Picked up guests at Hotel Yalstone and had elk right out of the gate before we even hit the park boundary.
Grovant Road came up dry on moose — unusual for this time of year, but that’s wildlife. You go where the signs take you.
Schwabacher’s Landing delivered. Great birds working the beaver ponds: killdeer calling along the gravel bars, and a pair of Barrow’s goldeneye on the water. That spot is always worth the detour and it almost never disappoints.
From there we pushed north. Just past Cunningham Cabin we found bison scattered across the flats, and I spotted my first pronghorn of the year — freshly arrived from their winter range near Pinedale. That migration is always a moment. A few coyotes working the same corridor.
Into the park via the north entrance at Oxbow Bend: a big group of white pelicans on the water, most of them in full breeding condition. That keratinous plate on the upper bill — the nuptial tubercle — was visible on several birds. It drops off after breeding season so this is a short window to see it.
Up to Jackson Lake Lodge and spotted a young bull moose off the back viewing deck, antlers in velvet just starting to push. That deck is underutilized by most visitors. Worth walking to the back of the lodge every time.
Finished with a half-mile walk along String Lake — thick with bird calls in the willows — and then a stop at my cottonwood creek marmot spot. The marmots were out in force. Not something you’ll find in any guidebook.
Returned to Jackson with happy guests and zero regrets.
Wildlife Sightings Summary — May 19, 2026
- Elk: Yes — hotel area, before park entry
- Moose: Young bull at Jackson Lake Lodge viewing deck; none on Grovant Road
- Bison: Yes — north of Cunningham Cabin
- Pronghorn: Yes — first of 2026 season, post-migration from Pinedale
- Coyote: Yes — Cunningham Cabin corridor
- American white pelican: Yes — Oxbow Bend, breeding plumage with nuptial tubercles visible
- Barrow’s goldeneye: Yes — Schwabacher’s Landing
- Killdeer: Yes — Schwabacher’s Landing
- Yellow-bellied marmot: Yes — Cottonwood Creek area
- Songbirds: Active throughout String Lake willows (auditory, limited visuals)
May is one of the best months for wildlife in Grand Teton. Elk are active near the park boundary, bison scatter across the northern flats near Cunningham Cabin, and pronghorn return from their winter range near Pinedale. White pelicans appear at Oxbow Bend in full breeding plumage, and moose can often be spotted from the back viewing deck at Jackson Lake Lodge. Yellow-bellied marmots are active at Cottonwood Creek.
Pronghorn return to Grand Teton in mid-May after wintering near Pinedale to the south. Look for them in the open sagebrush flats north of Cunningham Cabin along the eastern edge of the park. They travel in small groups and move fast — binoculars or a spotting scope help.
Schwabacher’s Landing beaver ponds are reliable for waterfowl and shorebirds in spring. In May look for killdeer calling along the gravel bars, Barrow’s goldeneye on the open water, and songbirds in the surrounding willows. It is one of the most productive birding stops in the park and worth the short detour every time.
The nuptial tubercle is a temporary keratinous plate that grows on the upper bill of American white pelicans during breeding season. It appears as breeding begins and drops off after nesting is complete. Seeing pelicans with the tubercle visible is a narrow seasonal window — typically May through early June at Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton.