DATES: DECEMBER 15 – 18, 2025
PRICE: $627 | TUITION
LOCATION: GARDINER, MT
GROUP SIZE: 13
ACTIVITY LEVEL: 3
PROGRAM INFORMATION
In this course, students will learn how the geological history of Yellowstone created a unique landscape that has led to one of the most diverse wildlife communities in North America. Through the lens of Yellowstone’s megafauna, including wolves, cougars, bison, and elk, we will discuss key aspects of wildlife ecology that have been shaped by millions of years of shifting tectonic plates, erosion, and one noteworthy caldera. Students will spend time driving and hiking throughout the Northern Range of Yellowstone to view wildlife such as packs of wolves and herds of bison, as well as geological features like Mammoth Hot Springs and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. We will also hike to the kill sites of wolves and cougars to discuss how these iconic species are studied, and how this landscape has led to the coexistence of two apex carnivores that compete over shared prey.
DAY 1
WELCOME & ORIENTATION
The program starts with an evening orientation. Participants will get to know one another and be introduced to the program. Throughout the evening, the itinerary and seminar key concepts will be discussed, as well as what to expect to pack for the field each day.
DAY 2
Geology of Northern Yellowstone
We will start the course with an exploration of Yellowstone’s geological features in the Northern Range, including the thermal pools and terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. The students will learn about the Yellowstone’s hotspot and how it reshaped the landscape of this ecosystem, leading to its establishment as the nation’s first National Park.
DAYS 3 – 4
Large Mammals of Northern Yellowstone
We will shift our focus to the wildlife of Yellowstone by hiking to wolf and/or cougar predation sites, visiting trail cameras that are used to monitor the cougar population, and viewing wolves and/or large ungulates (e.g., bison, elk, deer spp., etc.). As we discuss keys aspects of each species behavioral ecology, we will revisit aspects of Yellowstone’s geology and political history that helped to shape that species role in this diverse wildlife community.
PROGRAM END
Dates & Times: The program begins at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 15, 2025, and goes through Thursday, December 18, 2025,
at 5:00 p.m.
Meals: This course is not catered. Participants will need to bring their own food; lunch should be able to travel in the field.
Whom to Contact: For any questions, concerns, or additional information please contact the following:
Program itinerary, health forms, payment, and general program questions please contact Yellowstone Forever at [email protected] or 406-848-2400 extension 3
Road updates, park conditions, and general park information please contact Yellowstone National Park Service at https://www.nps.gov/yell/contacts.htm
If running late for a program, please contact 406-848-9128.
General Information: For general information about the facilities, preparation for classes, what to expect, cancellation policies, and more, please see the Gardiner – Winter General Information document.
ACTIVITY LEVEL 3
- Be prepared for brisk hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing up to 5 miles per day with climbs up to 500 feet, including some trail-breaking in snow.
- Most activities will take place at elevations between 7,200 to 8,000 feet. Participants residing at lower elevations may want to arrive a day early to adjust to the altitude.
- To learn more about how specific medical conditions can be affected by Yellowstone’s environment and our activities, please visit our site page on health information.
- All field activities will be conducted as a group. If members of the group cannot participate in the day’s activities, they need to let the educator know in advance.
- To participate in this program, each participant must fill out and sign a health questionnaire and assumption of risk waiver. These forms must be completed and returned at least 30 days prior to the program start date.
Whom to Contact: For any questions, concerns, or additional information please contact the following:
Program itinerary, health forms, payment, and general program questions please contact Yellowstone Forever at [email protected] or 406-848-2400 extension 3
Road updates, park conditions, and general park information please contact Yellowstone National Park Service at https://www.nps.gov/yell/contacts.htm
If running late for a program, please contact 406-848-9128.
General Information: For general information about the facilities, preparation for classes, what to expect, cancellation policies, and more, please see the Gardiner – Winter General Information document.
RECOMMENDED READINGS
- Smith, D. W., Stahler, D. R., & MacNulty, D. R. (2020). Yellowstone Wolves: Science and Discovery in the World’s First National Park. University of Chicago Press.
- Ruth, T., Buotte, P., & Hornocker, M. (2019). Yellowstone Cougars: Ecology Before And During Wolf Restoration. University Press of Colorado. https://doi.org/10.5876/9781607328292
BOOK THIS FIELD SEMINAR NOW
Wes Binder
Wes Binder is a Field Biologist for the Yellowstone Cougar Project and a PhD student at Oregon State University where he is studying carnivore interactions and population dynamics in Yellowstone National Park. He has worked for several wildlife research projects throughout his career that have focused on various mammal species, from spotted hyenas in the Masai Mara to mule deer in northern California. But no place has captured his curiosity of wildlife communities quite like Yellowstone National Park. Wes first began working for the Yellowstone Wolf and Cougar Projects in 2014 and has since spent years helping to discover fundamental aspects of their ecology that helps to explain their coexistence in this dynamic ecosystem. As a part of his PhD work, he hopes to find various platforms by which he can share his research findings in ways that highlight Yellowstone’s amazing ecosystem along with the need to study and conserve wildlife communities.
