Eight trumpeter swans released in Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park posted this news on their social media yesterday:

On Monday, September 9, staff from Yellowstone, the Wyoming Wetlands Society, and Yellowstone Forever released eight young trumpeter swans (cygnets) at Alum Creek in Hayden Valley.

This release is part of an ongoing restoration project to increase territorial pairs of swans which have undergone a decades-long decline in the park. From a high of nearly 70 birds and 17 territorial pairs in the early 1960s, to only four birds in 2009 and 2010, the swan population has declined for a variety of reasons. Researchers are collecting population data such as nest success, number of territorial pairs, and the number of cygnets produced each year. This data tracks key population drivers and may help determine the reasons for the decline.

Recent releases and other restoration efforts have bolstered the population to over 26 birds and five or more territorial pairs as of 2023, including natural reproduction at multiple sites. This September, the park population total will be assessed by park staff during the annual swan count across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

The effort is a public/private partnership between the National Park Service, Wyoming Wetlands Society, Ricketts Conservation Foundation, Greater Yellowstone Trumpeter Swan Working Group, and Montana State University.

              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Alpine Section of Going-to-the-Sun Road closing at 9 pm tonight due to storm warning

Glacier National Park officials are proactively closing the alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road at 9 pm on September 11 through early morning Friday, September 13, 2024, due to forecasted moderate to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms that make the area susceptible to mudslides and falling rock. The road will be closed between Avalanche Creek and Jackson Glacier Overlook.

The National Weather Service issued a forecast for Wednesday, September 11, 2024 for moderate to heavy rain showers with embedded thunderstorms. Half inch or greater per hour rain rates are possible. New or existing burn scars will be very susceptible to debris flows. Known rockslide areas, such as Glacier National Park, may experience rock and mudslides. Thursday through Friday, persistent widespread rain will continue to cause rock fall or debris flow risks, especially in Glacier National Park.

The closure will remain in place until Friday morning unless conditions improve. The park will continually evaluate the conditions to see when the closure can be lifted.

Visitors are encouraged to prepare for inclement weather if they plan to travel to the park this week. Check the weather forecast and park road status before you visit, dress for varying degrees of weather, carry the ten essential emergency items, and be on alert for potential hazards on roadways and trails.



              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Glacier National Park Vehicle Reservations End September 9

Glacier National Park would like to remind visitors that September 8, 2024 is the last day vehicle reservations are required. This includes reservations for Going-to-the-Sun Road via the West Entrance, the North Fork, and Many Glacier.

Based on observed traffic patterns during previous vehicle reservation pilot seasons, vehicular traffic is expected to increase when reservations are no longer required, and entry may be temporarily suspended due to congestion. Visitors are encouraged to plan for temporary delays, particularly during the peak hours of the day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Parking at Logan Pass, Apgar Village, Avalanche, and other popular areas is expected to be congested or temporarily unavailable.

Starting on September 3, shuttle service was reduced and will conclude for the season on September 15. Lines for shuttles are expected to be long.

The time restrictions for bicycles on Going-to-the-Sun Road will also end on September 9. During the 2024 season, bicycles were not allowed on Going-to-the-Sun Road (both directions) between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. from Apgar to Logan Pass. This restriction will be lifted starting September 9. More information on biking in the park can be found on the park’s website bicycling page.

Although vehicle reservations will no longer be required for the season, each vehicle entering the park is required to have an entrance pass for any entry point into the park. These passes could include any of the following: a $35 vehicle entrance pass purchased at time of entry and good for seven days; a valid Interagency Annual/Lifetime Pass; or a Glacier National Park Annual Pass.



                *******************************************************************************

Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:

Report bighorn sheep and mountain goat sightings in Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park posted this message on their social media over the weekend:

Bighorn sheep are one of the toughest mammals around, eking out an existence year-round in Grand Teton National Park. During the rut, bighorn males will collide horns at speeds up to 40 miles per hour!

Bighorn sheep have occupied the Teton Mountain Range for thousands of years. The Teton herd, though, is under threat. Less than 100 individuals remain, and the population is at risk of extinction because of its small size, genetic isolation, and habitat loss.

Invasive mountain goats may also compete against and spread diseases to the bighorns.

The dedicated ungulate crew at Grand Teton is studying where the sheep spend their time and what they eat to learn more about the species and its habitat. Park officials also work with other groups to create closures for winter recreation so bighorns can forage without disturbances.

Did you see a bighorn sheep or mountain goat on your visit? Please report your sighting to a ranger.

              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com