It’s been a spectacular and particularly snowy season out at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch this year. Set in the heart of Lamar Valley, the ranch serves as the overnight basecamp for most of our education programs through the Yellowstone Forever Institute. Participants joined our instructors for a wide variety of programs including wildlife watching, photography, snowshoe and ski adventures, and identifying animal tracks – all while learning about the wonders and ecology of Yellowstone.

We would not be able to provide the kind of world-class wildlife watching experiences we do without the use of spotting scopes and binoculars. Thanks to the generosity of our partners at ZEISS, participants are able to get an up-close view, from a safe distance, of the park’s wild animals in their natural habitat. Where else can you see wolves, cougars, golden eagles, moose, fox, bison, elk, and more all in one uniquely wild ecosystem? You never know just what you may see in Yellowstone on any given day! And with these first-rate scopes and binos, your chances of seeing many of these magnificent animals become very high.

With our smartphone adapters attached to spotting scopes, participants are able to better view wildlife without having to peer through the spotting scope. And, it allows them to take photos and videos of the scene at the same time. This digiscoping technology has had a significant positive impact on how well we are able to highlight particular animal traits and behaviors and how they fit into the wider ecosystem.

Here is a brief inside look at life at the ranch and our outings in the field.