When we were at Logan Pass the last time, a grizzly bear wandered through the visitor’s center and parking area, so it’s even possible to see them at this elevation! Wherever you go in Glacier National Park, you will see animals. Seeing one of the park’s moose is what many visitors remember the most about their trip to the park. Females breed every 2-4 years and give birth to 1-3 cubs in their winter dens in January or February. The chronology of when these foods are available is a learned behavior that is passed from the sow to her cubs. Today we’re posting some tips about where you have the best chances of spotting wildlife in the more than 1 million acres of the national park. Chasing a visit to all 400+ units in the NPS Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Answer 1 of 17: I am in the park next week and would really like to see some bears. Grizzly bears have a shoulder hump, dished face, rounded ears, and large white claws. So that is why I included St. Mary Falls and Victoria Falls, the best Glacier National Park waterfalls. Ursus arctos Another popular spot to view wildlife in Glacier is near the Logan Pass area. Both times we saw them in the Many Glacier area. Lake McDonald and North Fork Area. While the whole park offers dramatically breathtaking vistas, these ten locations stand out from the rest. This project used this technique in conjunction with statistical models to estimate the number of grizzly bears inhabiting the ecosystem, which includes Glacier National Park. Another popular spot to view wildlife in Glacier is near the Logan Pass area. From the famous Grizzly Bears, to Black Bears, Bald Eagles and Beavers – Jasper National Park has it all in abundance. Diet: A black bear's diet changes with the seasons. Reproduction: Mating season is May-early July. A Glacier National Park Ranger holds a shotgun and looks up at one of the bear cubs in a tree while another Ranger looks on. One of the Crown Jewels of the National Park System, Glacier is a place of outstanding beauty. Mountain Goats – Famous on many postcards of the park, the mountain goats in Glacier National Park are true survivors. Edit: Many Glacier is my favorite area of the park and I highly recommend spending lots of time there! Grizzlies use their long claws and powerful shoulder muscles to dig for glacier lilies in early summer. Glacier National Park is home to both black bears and grizzly bears. If you plan to be in Glacier National Park in Montana next week, be careful where you go, as biologists will be monitoring grizzly bears in the park and that requires some bear trapping.. This day is all about exploring the West Glacier area. Glacier National Park Lodges/Xanterra Parks & Resorts: www.glaciernationalparklodges.com, (855) 733-4522, (855-SEE-GLACIER), Outside the United States (303) 265-7010 2. On Sunday, a bear or bears reportedly were huffing, drooling, shaking heads from side-to-side and backing people off trails, said Lauren Alley, a spokeswoman for Glacier Park. In this program, students will learn about bears and their natural history, as well as current research being conducted on bear populations in Glacier National Park. Roadside bears quickly become habituated to traffic and people, increasing their chances of being hit by vehicles. The best time to visit Glacier National Park is in July and August. However, there are a few locations in Glacier National Park that you can hike to and be certain to almost always see wildlife: Logan Pass – Atop Going to the Sun Road is Logan Pass. In the fall, you can see them near the rivers for the fall spawning of trout species. The trail to Iceberg, for the fist 2.5 miles puts you in the heart of the bears. Never intentionally get close to an animal. © 2020 ParkChasers.com All rights reserved. Glacier National Park Conservancy is a 501(c)3. There is a great lake behind the campground where you can see moose at sunrise and sunset. In a matter of hours, two grizzly bears had acted as they never had before in the park’s 57-year history. During late summer, Grizzly Bears feast on moths living under loose rocks on steep mountainsides. Cracker lake was our last hike of our Glacier stint and I figured we had seen all the beauty that Glacier National Park could possibly muster. It seems to me we used to see more Black Bears in GTNP than we do now. The road opens late in the season (mid-June) and closes frequently for inclement weather. A black bear in Glacier National Park. Human development of land in the region has resulted in habitat fragmentation for the species, while declining crops of whitebark pine nuts may affect their food availability. Females often have their cubs when they are about 6 years old. Glacier National Park is massive, but the number one thing I noticed when I was there was… Where TF are all the glaciers!? Logan Pass is the highest point you can reach by vehicle in the park. Glacier National Park Bear Information. While grizzly bears can be found anywhere in Glacier, trails in the Many Glacier Valley ( Iceberg Lake Trail, Cracker Lake Trail, Grinnell Glacier Trai l), on Huckleberry Mountain and in the Logan Pass Area ( Highline Trail, Gunsight Lake Trail, Hidden Lake Trail) … Photographing Glacier National Park wildlife is the experience of a lifetime. Jasper is, by far, the best place in the Canadian Rocky Mountains to see wildlife. You’ll frequently find park rangers in the parking area of the Swiftcurrent Motor Lodge with spotting scopes to help with spotting the ‘mountain dandruff’ what the locals call the tiny specks of mountain goats way up on the hillsides. If you have the opportunity to hike or take the boat shuttle to goat haunt, look for mountain goats, bears, and bighorn along the slopes. Well, not every time because then we’d never be home! The one million acre park is located in the state of Montana and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Glacier National Park covers over 1 million acres, and you can feel it. The park has re-opened Many Glacier Campground to tent camping after park rangers confirmed that no bear-related incidents have occurred in the area since July 14, when rangers last hazed two bears. This year a black bear was first observed on the 23rd of March, and has been seen most evenings since. Appearance: Their snout is dished in and there is a noticeable hump above the shoulders. This page describes the best day hikes I found within the park. Others spend springtime in the valleys, dining on the succulent early growth, but then return to the high country for the rest of the growing season. Females breed every 2-3 years and give birth to 1-3 cubs in their winter den in January or February. 1. During the winter months, when food is nearly nonexistent, bears will hibernate, living off fat reserves. “We appreciate the public’s patience while we evaluate this situation,” said Glacier Superintendent Jeff Mow. As you enter the valley, popular places to spot wildlife include the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail, Ptarmigan Falls Trail, and Redrock Falls/Bullhead Lake Trails. How can you see mountain goats in Glacier? Learn how your comment data is processed. I put together everything I know,. Read more about bear safety before hitting the trail. One of the most common reasons people vacation in Glacier National Park is the chance to see the park’s incredible wildlife. Pets pose a risk to wildlife in Glacier. They can survive the extreme winter temperatures of the park and can be seen hanging perilously high up on the mountain cliffs of the park. The red jammer cars are a symbol of Glacier National Park and have been giving tours throughout the park since the 1930s. The blue bears, or Glacier bears, are silvery blue and a rare treat to see. Habitat: Grizzly Bears spend most of their time in meadows but move around looking for food. But, given the vehicle size restrictions here, you need to plan ahead. Even so, there is no guarantee you will see black bears during your visit. The digging releases nitrogen to the soil and glacier lilies in subsequent years are larger and more abundant in grizzly digs. Other animals to add to your Glacier National Park Wildlife checklist: We’ve written elsewhere on Park Chasers about how much we love the Many Glacier Valley of Glacier National Park. They also raid the nut caches of squirrels, steal eggs from bird nests, and dig honeycombs out from trees. It’s also a popular spot to the subalpine wildlife in the park (mountain goats, ptarmigan, bighorn sheep, pica, and marmot). Radio collars are invaluable tools which allow bear researchers and managers to gather survival and reproductive data on individual bears. The team identified 10 black bear populations in and around the national park, four of which contained glacier bears. Watch a short video on the grizzly research project. No selfie is worth it. As you enter the Many Glacier entrance gate, watch the Sherburne Reservoir for eagles and other birds. Lake McDonald. From Montana Highway 89, travel north past the St. Mary Visitor Center to the town of Babb. The peace park connects Glacier with Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park where ample Aurora-viewing opportunities exist. Many of our guests have seen grizzlies or black bears (thankfully at a safe distance), which is why we provide bear spray for free during your stay at The Way Less Traveled. Hillsides on the east side of the area, along the hillsides in the evening have great spotting opps. Grinnell Glacier, Glacier National Park, Montana This is the time of year when the rivers are at their highest although it varies day by day depending on the weather. Hike the Hidden Lake Trail. While seeing one is often the highlight of a visit to the park, proper visitor behavior in bear country is necessary. In one weekend alone we saw nine bears, three moose, and more elk and deer than I could keep track of! These collars locate themselves through the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system and then transmit their location to researchers through the ARGOS satellite system. It was the first internationally managed park in the world when it was established in 1932. Whenever I’m in the mood to see cute wildlife, Mike and I make a trip to Jasper National Park. Grizzly and Black Bears – There are approximately 300 Grizzlies and 600 black bears. Glacier National Park is home to a healthy population of both grizzly bears and black bears. On the east side of Glacier, some grizzlies spend all summer in the lowland meadows and aspen groves, returning to the high country only to hibernate. Just north of the Canadian border, Glacier National Park extends into the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, one of the few national parks on the planet managed by two different countries. at birth but can weigh as much as 165lbs. Once enough data is accumulated, it becomes possible to mathematically estimate trends in the grizzly population. I'm already a fan, don't show this again. Greg & Amy We’ve encountered moose, bears, deer, mountain goats and hundreds of different species of smaller mammals and birds. As Glacier’s official symbol, mountain goats are covered with two layers of wool … There are certainly bears in and around Glacier National Park. There is a great lake behind the campground where you can see moose at sunrise and sunset. I visited the Canadian Rockies in June of 2019 and, for me, Jasper National Park was the best place to see wildlife. There are several regions of Glacier National Park. Some of the best things to see in Glacier National Park are the waterfalls. These Top 10 Tips for Visiting Glacier National Park are answers to the common questions I get every year as a local. Huckleberry seeds are spread in bear droppings, complete with the perfect fertilizer for germination. ... Like us on Facebook to see similar stories. Don’t Surprise Bears! However, according to our ranger friend, Glacier National Park isn’t the best park to see them, since they are conditioned to stay away from the roads. Checking road conditions on the Going-to-the-Sun Road is important. All donations are tax deductible. Typically, Black Bears stay away from prime Grizzly haunts, so that could be the issue—there are simply more Grizzlies now. While everything along Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road is wonderful, there's a lot more to see and explore. I'd love to see bears, bighorn sheep, moutain goats, moose...pretty much any of the big mountain animals! Who was more surprised when a trail runner collided with a grizzly bear in Glacier National Park on Saturday morning is debatable, but both were able to walk away from the incident.. Park officials say the Kalispell, Montana, woman was running with two others on the Huckleberry Lookout Trail when she ran into what was believed to be a young grizzly sometime before 9 a.m. Reproduction: Mating season is May-August. In 2019, Glacier National Park was the 10th most visited park, making this one of the most popular national parks to visit in the United States. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! at birth and are nursed to about 20 lbs. They will also eat fruits, insects, honey, eggs, carrion, rodents, and young deer or elk when available. On the east side of Glacier, some grizzlies spend all summer in the lowland meadows and aspen groves, returning to the high country only to hibernate. American Pika -If you do any hiking above the tree line in Glacier, you’re likely to spot these chipper member of the rabbit family along the rockslides. Note you must have a valid United States Passport to cross customs at the Canadia border. Look at the large hole in the trunk and you might see a bear poking its head out. Every animal will react differently and its behavior cannot be predicted. The species can come in a variety of colors from black to brown, cream, white, or blue. Motel Lake McDonald. Report any bear or unusual animal sightings to the nearest ranger immediately. Video: Hikers run from a grizzly bear in Glacier National Park KRTV Great Falls, MT. Then scan the slopes for bighorn sheep and mountain goats. An area in Glacier National Park has reopened just days after increased bear activity prompted several trail closures. Moose – The first time we saw a moose in Glacier National Park was truly one of our best national park memories. Look for animals along Blakiston Creek and Lower Waterton Lake as you enter the park on Highway 5. Color: Can range from blonde to nearly black and sometimes have silver-tipped guard hairs that give them a grizzled look, Weight: Adult males 300-440 lbs; females 250-280 lbs. West … They don’t have set territories within the park, and come and go from the area as they follow the elk herds seasonally.  As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases.Â. Some of the most popular wildlife in Glacier: Bears – It’s hard to talk about Glacier without talking about bears. Diet: A grizzly's diet changes with the seasons. DNA was extracted from from bear hair collected along survey routes and from systematically positioned hair snag stations. The Logan Pass Visitor Center can be reached by traveling the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road, which divides Glacier National Park north to south through the heart of the park. As you're probably already aware, Glacier National Park is bear country, and is home to both black bears and grizzly bears. The park also hosts some few unique species of fish and reptiles that lucky visitors come to spot. “The park has a proactive bear … Glacier National Park’s busiest season came to an abrupt halt in the summer of 1967. Recreating in Bear Country. Glacier National Park offers hikes at all levels. miles). According to the park: “In Spring black bears are occasionally seen in this tree. Glacier National Park is one of the best places in the world to see a few unusual mammals. They might just tell you the secrets on where to find Glacier … They have the biggest population of grizzlies in the lower 48 states. Given that the wildlife in Glacier tend to hang close to the park’s trails and roadways, the National Park Service posts (and enforces) guidelines about safely viewing wildlife in the park. Once abundant throughout the American West, grizzly bears today live only in five distinct recovery areas in the lower 48 states and in sparsely inhabited areas of Canada. Tax ID: 56-2579734 Although bears can appear nearly anywhere in and around Glacier National Park, some of the more common locations where you’re likely to see bears include: Many Glacier Valley (Iceberg Lake Trail, Cracker Lake Trail, Grinnell Glacier Trail) The amazing network of hiking trails means that up-close encounters with the wildlife in Glacier National Park are frequent if you know the right places to be in the park. DNA was extracted from from bear hair collected along survey routes and from systematically positioned hair snag stations. Habitat: Black bears spend most of their time in forests but move around looking for food. Bears will usually move out of the way if they hear people approaching, so make noise. It’s a popular destination in the summer months and it’s best to get there early in the day or stay later in the evening to see wildlife. Glacier National Park was established in 1910 to preserve the natural beauty of the wild lands for future generations. Glacier bears are mostly found in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve as well as Tongass National Forest in Alaska, with occasional sightings in the capital city of Juneau. I have been to Yosemite around ten times before this and I have never seen one. Learn the best places to view animals in Glacier National Park, including moose, grizzly bears, mountain goats, and big horn sheep, and wolves. UP NEXT. For those wishing to venture into Glacier's backcountry, one of the first questions that comes to mind is how to have a safe trip while hiking with bears. They can also be found in avalanche chutes, mountain meadows, or areas where berry bushes are plentiful. Tips: Where to See Glacier National Park Mountain Goats. Yes, it’s true, Glacier National Park is, unfortunately, losing its glaciers as the years go by.