Jackson Hole Wildlife Eco-Tour Adventures

It’s so great to get reunited with some of the most famous bears in the USA.   Grizzly 399 and her 6 year old daughter, 610.  

Grizzly 399 has been gracing residents and visitors alike with her presence for over a decade.  6 years ago she gave birth to three cubs.  Grizzly bears will typically become reproductively active between 3-8 years of age.  

One of 399’s cubs was named 610.  Just last June we witnessed both 399 and 610 out of hibernation with cubs in tow.   Grizzlies may have anywhere from 1-4 cubs and those cubs are born in the den in January or February.  

In 2011, 399 amazingly enough had three more cubs and 610 had two cubs.   

In the middle of the summer, we started noticing that 610 was traveling and feeding with three cubs and the next day we noticed that 399 only had two in tow.  

A rare cub swap had occurred!   On occasion a sow bear will adopt orphaned cubs.  What is unusual is that the orphaned cub’s mother (399) was alive and healthy.  

What I believe happened is that 399 and 610 were foraging in close proximity.  At times the cubs will get distracted and wander away from mom.  I have seen it many times before where a cub will then look around for mom and then run towards her.  I believe the cub was distracted, wandered off, saw another bear and then ran towards the other adult bear.  As of last week, 610 is still caring for and teaching “the way of the bear” to her adopted cub.  

Last summer the bear watching was incredible!  All summer and fall on tours we were graced with the presence of these two families and a few other adult grizzlies in the northern section of Grand Teton National Park.  

We only hope that we will be so lucky again.   

Join us for an Eco Tour to discover and learn about the wildlife that abounds here in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park.

          We are proud to share that EcoTour Adventures is featured in “USA TODAY” Travel Tips.  Read below what they have to say about our tours.   They are highlighting our Yellowstone Programs.  We also offer incredible half and full day Grand Teton EcoTour options.   All of tours provide a superb in-depth introduction to this amazing area.  You will maximize your time in the parks here in Western Wyoming while exploring the wildlife hotspots.      Book with us during the start of your stay in the area.   You will then have the benefit of all that you learned during the rest of your visit.  

All tours:

• “Small Groups” assure that you receive your desired experience.

   

   

• Custom “Safari Style” Vehicles!   With our designed roof hatched vehicles you have the comfort, a great perspective, and the safety of viewing wildlife from inside the vehicle as you stand up from you seat!

   

   

• All “Naturalist Guides” have backgrounds in the natural sciences and an incredible enthusiasm for what they do.  

• “Wildlife is our Passion”  We are in the field daily for “Work” and for “Play”!   Without wasting time, we take you to where the most recent  wildlife sightings have occurred.    

• “Hands On Learning” is important for us and you!   We  provide a great naturalist kit with antlers, horns, pelts, skulls, and other visual aids to enhance your Western Wyoming Wildlife EcoTour Experience.  

Tour with us as we are the #1Rated tour operator in Jackson, Wyoming By Trip Advisor.com

Below is what USA Today shared with their on-line community.   You can find a link to this on our Facebook page.      We look forward to seeing you one one of our famous Wildlife and Park EcoTours!!

Jackson Hole Eco-Tour Adventures

Vacationers interested in booking an environmentally friendly vacation can turn to Jackson Hole Eco-Tour Adventures for a very green experience. Wildlife tours of Yellowstone National Park are led by knowledgeable guides who can educate visitors on animal behavior and adaptations, geology, and the cultural history of the park. Moose, bison, elk, wolves, bald eagles, trumpeter swans, black bears and grizzly bears are frequently sighted. The tour lasts approximately 10 to 12 hours and takes place in a four-wheel drive vehicle run on bio-diesel. Guests enjoy morning and afternoon snacks, hot and cold drinks, and an organically grown and locally produced selection of lunch items. Visual aids, binoculars and spotting scopes are provided to help visitors get the best views possible. Tours run from May through October. The price as of February 2010 is $275 for adults and $225 for children under 10. Eco-Tour Adventures 307-690-9533 JacksonHoleWildlifeTours.com

It’s the first week of March and it feels like spring is here!   The temperatures have been approaching the mid 40’s but don’t let that fool you, remember we are in Wyoming!   The average lows for this time of the year are generally in the mid teens with highs in the low  40’s.  It seems that we are

right on track.   

In Mid March the park service will begin to plow the parks roads.  For just about the entire month of April these roads will be open to non-motorized use.  Break out those roller blades and running shoes, because its wonderful to travel directly below the Teton Mt. Range without the sound of

cars driving by.  

Winter tours have been a blast.  On tours we have been lucky enough to spot species like wolves, bison, elk, bighorn sheep,  moose, bald/golden eagles, trumpeter swans, foxes, coyotes, mountain goats, and great grey owls to name a few of the species.

We are excited for this spring season as it is one of our favorite times to be in the parks.  The crowds are thin and the wildlife tends to be very active and visible.    During the spring months there is still copious amounts of snow in the mountains and a majority of the wildlife tends to be

concentrated in the valley where we conduct our tours.   

We are in the park daily!  We know where the recent sightings are and without wasting time take you directly to those locations.   

 Join us for a wildlife and park tour not to forget.   

 Call now for tour availability!   

 ...........In order to further understand the magnitude of lead poisoning in bald eagles, researchers at CBS started capturing bald eagles in the area for a new research project.  Before releasing them, they take blood samples and outfit them with some pretty pricey tracking backpacks, which will transmit the eagle’s location daily for three years.  In essence, this reveals the ‘reach’ of the lead problem.  EcoTour has sponsored one of these tracking backpacks for a female that was captured along the Snake River in August of 2010.  For the moment she is nameless, which is why we’re inviting you to give her a name.  For more in depth information about the eagle project and lead poisoning please see our “Education” tab on the home page.  And as always, book an EcoTour Adventure to experience the wildlife they way it is meant to be experienced.  But first, help us name our eagle! 

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Snow keeps falling and falling here, and temperatures are dropping.  We’ve started the long winter haul. The spruces and fir are highlighted and the weasel and snowshoe hare’s winter coats have turned white.  Birds have mostly migrated south, and the sage grouse may have started their flight to Idaho.  Those who have arrived, such as the trumpeter swans, dot Flat Creek like little white icebergs.  As temperatures quickly change, sometimes the swans are trapped in the ice. Frozen with the water, they will patiently await the sun. 

For the most part, all of the animals are where they will winter.  For the last two days, a snowstorm has blanketed the mountains and valley.  The grizzly bears have most likely taken to their prepared dens.  The elk have migrated nightly onto the Elk refuge and other smaller wintering areas with the storm.  Thousands will remain through the winter months following the close of hunting season in December.  On the refuge, the elk will be fed to supplement their diets depending upon the length and harshness of the winter. 

Along with elk to the refuge come the Jackson Hole bison herd, who will compete for food and range.   They should number in the hundred, less than the Yellowstone Park herd. However, their numbers are growing, providing long-term animal management issues.  Bison on the move inadvertently and quickly decimate developed landscapes; they also like to scratch themselves by rubbing against trees, which has a similar destructive effect.  What a fine balance…

Bundle up and join us on a winter adventure!