Yellowstone National Park is pleased to release its 2023 State of the Park report. This report provides updates in each of the park’s strategic priorities and spotlights the immense progress made by the park’s teams and partners over the past two years.

“More than ever, we recognize the outstanding value of the team here in Yellowstone, the support we’ve received from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and other partners who have helped us achieve success in so many areas,” said Superintendent Cam Sholly. “Despite the tremendous number of challenges we have faced over the past several years, we continue to make substantial progress in many areas important to the future of Yellowstone.”

The report highlights the significant response and recovery efforts during the 2022 historic flood event, efforts to commemorate the park’s 150th anniversary, and a wide range of actions to improve workforce conditions, strengthen the Yellowstone ecosystem, improve visitor experiences, invest in aging infrastructure, and build coalitions and partnerships.

Editor’s note: We are pleased to announce this report on Yellowstone’s 151st birthday.

Public Affairs Office
Strategic Communications, Office of the Superintendent
Yellowstone National Park
Office: 307-344-2015
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. M-F

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112 Yellowstone bison transferred to Fort Peck Tribes

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – During the week of January 10, the National Park Service (NPS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) completed the transfer of 112 Yellowstone bison to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Poplar, Montana. The movement of these animals constitutes the single largest transfer to date under the park’s Bison Conservation Transfer Program. The program has led to the largest relocation of live Yellowstone bison to American Indian Tribes in history.

Since 2019, a total of 294 bison have been transferred from Yellowstone to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes at Fort Peck. Approximately 170 of those bison have then been further distributed to 23 Tribes across 12 states in partnership with the InterTribal Buffalo Council.

The bison transferred last month were a large family group of seven males, 53 females and 52 calves. All completed Phases I & II of the brucellosis quarantine protocol at Yellowstone National Park and the APHIS facilities and will finish assurance testing (Phase III) at Fort Peck (see information below for details about the protocol).

This transfer is the result of many partners working together: the NPS/Department of the Interior, Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, APHIS/United States Department of Agriculture, the State of Montana, InterTribal Buffalo Council, Yellowstone Forever, Defenders of Wildlife and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition.

Yellowstone National Park partnered recently with Yellowstone Forever and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition to more than double the capacity of the facility within the park. The park and APHIS intend to enter 250 new animals into the program this winter.

“We greatly appreciate the tremendous number of partners who have come together to make the Bison Conservation Transfer Program a success,” said Superintendent Cam Sholly. “It is important we continue to look for opportunities to build on the success of this program in order to move larger numbers of disease-free bison to Tribes across the country, while also achieving our future goal of eliminating shipments to slaughter.”

Background information about quarantine

Quarantine was included as a possible tactic for bison management back in 2001 when the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) was signed by the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture and the Governor of Montana. The National Park Service formally pursued a quarantine program in 2014 by initiating a public planning process. The operational quarantine program was approved in May 2018.

APHIS and DOL established the final structural specifications and biosecurity requirements for quarantine facilities in June 2017. The only facilities that currently meet those specifications are located at Stephens Creek in Yellowstone National Park, Corwin Springs in Montana, and the Fort Peck Reservation.

APHIS developed the quarantine protocols in October 2003 and validated them during 2005-2010. Quarantine has three phases:

• Phase I – Managers capture bison in or near the park during winter. Bison considered suitable for quarantine based on initial negative tests for brucellosis are isolated in double-fenced quarantine pastures and tested every 30-45 days until all bison test negative for two consecutive testing periods.
• Phase II – Bison in these individual test groups undergo brucellosis testing by age and sex requirements described in the 2003 Brucellosis Eradication: Uniform Methods and Rules (APHIS 91–45–013) and are certified as brucellosis-free.
• Phase III – Managers can transfer bison to other fenced pastures. In the new location, brucellosis tests are conducted at six and 12 months to provide additional assurance. Managers keep these bison separate from other animals at least until the six-month test is completed. Thereafter, managers can release these bison on public or tribal lands for conservation and cultural purposes.

Editor’s note: News media, be sure to view the “Why are Yellowstone bison controlled” video.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov and on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

The Fort Peck Reservation is home to two separate Native American nations, the Sioux and the Assiniboine, each composed of numerous bands and divisions. The Reservation is in the extreme northeast corner of Montana, on the north side of the Missouri River. Learn more at http://www.fortpecktribes.org.

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National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Yellowstone National Park

P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190

Morgan Warthin
(307) 344-2015
YELL_Public_Affairs@nps.gov

Public Affairs Office
Strategic Communications, Office of the Superintendent
Yellowstone National Park
Office: 307-344-2015
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. M-F

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We are booking reservations again for Yellowstone Forever Institute summer and winter programs! Access via the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park is only open to tours at this time. Book an experience with one of our Yellowstone Forever field educators here.

Yellowstone Forever Institute Programs

We are offering Private Tours on the northern range! Access via the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park is only open to tours at this time. We are accepting Private Tour bookings for winter 2022-2023 by clicking here.

In partnership with Yellowstone National Park Lodges, Lodging & Learning interior-based programs are available this winter and include in-park lodging. For more information or to register for a Lodging & Learning program, please click here.

We are excited to announce 10 winter Field Seminar programs that will held at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch. We will share more information soon about summer programs at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch.

Yellowstone Resiliency Fund

To support the park as it recovers from devastating floods, we’ve launched the Yellowstone Resiliency Fund to provide immediate and flexible financial support for the most pressing needs in our park community. Your support will have powerful and timely impacts in Yellowstone as we navigate these recent events. For more information or to donate, please click here.

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As many of you have already seen, devastating floods have temporarily closed Yellowstone National Park and isolated many surrounding communities. I want to give you an update on these events and what comes next.

On Monday morning, rain combined with rapidly melting snowpack resulted in a record flood event across the region. Portions of roads inside and outside of the park have been swept away, vital bridges were damaged or destroyed, and at least one building housing National Park Service staff in our hometown of Gardiner has been lost.

Currently, many of our staff members, neighbors, and National Park Service colleagues are isolated in Gardiner, Mammoth, Cooke City, and throughout the interior of the park. Destruction to roads and bridges in some areas provides no way in, and no way out at this time. Our team at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch is sheltering-in-place, and we were lucky no visitors were onsite at the time of the floods. We are mobilizing quickly alongside Yellowstone National Park, local communities, and a statewide network to ensure our team and neighbors have what they need to stay safe.

I’ll be blunt, there is no short-term fix to much of the destruction that has occurred over the last few days. As of now, Yellowstone National Park is closed entirely to incoming visitors. We expect to see extended closures in some areas. We fully support the National Park Service’s decision to close the park temporarily as they work to evacuate visitors and residents during this emergency situation. We have likewise canceled all Institute programs in the park for the next two weeks. If you have a program booked later in the summer, we will be in touch as soon as we have further information.

The photos and videos of this destruction—some of which are included below—are heartbreaking. In addition to the resource destruction in the park, many of our colleagues, neighbors, and friends in Gardiner and beyond will suffer due to loss of property and income as some closures will likely continue.

As we move forward through the next days, weeks, and months, we will continue to keep you updated on rebuilding efforts and park needs. We know you love Yellowstone National Park as much as we do, and we will need your help in the days ahead. We are reopening our Yellowstone Resiliency Fund to raise money specifically to assist the park in whatever needs arise in the aftermath of these floods. Scroll down to view community funds that have been created specifically to support the people affected by the floods.

So many of you have reached out sharing your concern for the park, our staff, and of your desire to help however you can. We will share more with you about the fund and the park’s needs as information is available.

Thank you,

Lisa Diekmann
President & CEO

NPS photo courtesy of Gina Riquier

NPS / Jacob Frank

NPS photo

NPS / Jacob Frank

Funds to help Yellowstone National Park and surrounding communities

• Yellowstone Forever Resiliency Fund
  
• Park County Community Foundation
• SW Montana Flood Relief Fund – Serving Park + Madison Counties
• Greater Gallatin United Way
• Red Lodge Area Community Foundation
• Red Cross of Montana

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Rick has a long history with Yellowstone Forever. In 1980, he was hired to run the Yellowstone Institute (now part of Yellowstone Forever). In this role, Rick introduced thousands of people to the wonders and wildlife of Yellowstone, creating memories with them that would last a lifetime. Rick was also founding director of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a nonprofit working to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations. We are proud that even today, Yellowstone Forever works closely with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition to protect this incredible ecosystem.

Rick’s loss is felt strongly by those who worked with him and those who walk in his boot steps. All of us at Yellowstone Forever are honored to carry on his devotion to Yellowstone through stalwart conservation and inspired education.

Read the full obituary.

Rick Reese and his family.

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It’s been a busy summer so far for the Yellowstone Forever Institute! Participants have focused on topics ranging from fly fishing to landscape drawing to wildlife tracking! We’ve rounded up some of the best photos from the summer so far, and are excited to make more memories in our remaining Field Seminars!

Instructor Katy Duffy and the Owls of Yellowstone class look for signs of owls. YF/Christian Beall

The Owls of Yellowstone class gather with instructor Katy Duffy in grey and boreal owl habitat. YF/Christian Beall.

A rainbow appears over the Lamar Buffalo Ranch. YF/Sarah Santos

Joanna Lambert, Ph.D. leads students in the Coexisting with Carnivores class. YF/Christian Beall

Joanna Lambert, Ph.D. and the Coexisting with Carnivores class use scopes to look for wildlife. YF/Christian Beall

Jim Halfpenny examines a wolf track during the Mammal Signs: Interpreting Tracks, Scat, and Hair class. YF/Christian Beall

The class takes a break along the Hellroaring Creek while instructor Jim Halfpenny discusses bear signs. YF/Christian Beall

The Women's Fly Fishing class poses during a fishing expedition at Slough Creek. YF/Christian Beall

Instructor Paul Doss, Ph.D. talks about travertine rock during his Mammoth: 320 Million Years in the Making class. YF/Sarah Santos

A new class of students are welcomed to the Lamar Buffalo Ranch! YF/Sarah Santos.

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Lake trout caught by the crew of the NPS Hammerhead. NPS/Neal Herbert.

In 2020, Yellowstone National Park gillnetted 326,000 nonnative lake trout from Yellowstone Lake, a 15% increase from the previous year. In total, 3.7 million nonnative lake trout have been removed from the ecosystem due to gillnetting since 1995. Because there are fewer large lake trout, juvenile Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations (4-8-inch fish) continue to increase.

This progress is exciting, but the work is not done.

Wreaking havoc on the ecosystem

Lake trout are not native to the Yellowstone ecosystem, but were first detected in 1994 in the West Thumb region of Yellowstone Lake. Lake trout are native only to northern North America, from Alaska to Nova Scotia, and throughout the Great Lakes. How they got to Yellowstone National Park is unclear, but when they did arrive they wreaked havoc on the ecosystem.

When lake trout arrived, they began eating the native cutthroat trout that were already living in Yellowstone Lake. Cutthroat trout are a keystone species—a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend—and one mature lake trout can eat approximately 41 native cutthroat trout per year!

Grizzly bear walks along Yellowstone Lake with a cutthroat trout. NPS/Dylan Schneider.

As lake trout began to eradicate the cutthroat trout population, they threatened the survival not only of that species but also the many species that depend on it, including grizzly bears, osprey, otters and bald eagles.

One might ask why those species don’t eat lake trout instead. Most predators can’t catch lake trout as a substitute for the cutthroat because the lake trout live in deep water and are quite large. Because of this, lake trout have no natural predators in the park’s ecosystem, and can potentially live to their 30s and 40s in Yellowstone Lake if they are not removed.

Closer than ever to the next step in species management

In 2020, in addition to successfully removing 326,000 nonnative lake trout from Yellowstone Lake, the park continued a new tactic to eradicate lake trout. Biologists and fishermen deposited 33,000 pounds of soy/wheat pellets on lake trout spawning sites. These pellets kill lake trout in their embryo stage, thus decreasing the number of invasive fish that reach a mature age. Through these combined efforts, there has been a 79% decrease in mature lake trout in Yellowstone Lake since 2012.

Fish crew members on the Cutthroat in Yellowstone Lake. NPS/Jacob Frank.

While the park needs about $2 million a year to suppress lake trout, biologists believe we are close to being able to manage this effort with fewer resources once there is a “crash” in lake trout reproduction and populations. This could happen within the next three years. But in order to reach that goal, Yellowstone National Park continues to rely on donations from Yellowstone Forever’s members and partners.

Learn more about how you can support the Yellowstone Native Fish Conservation Program.

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On Saturday, September 19, 2020, staff from Yellowstone National Park, the Wyoming Wetlands Society, and Ricketts Conservation Foundation released eight young trumpeter swans (cygnets) at Alum Creek in Hayden Valley. (NPS)

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 over 60 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 may help determine the reasons for the decline.

Recent releases and other restoration efforts have bolstered the population to over 20 birds and five territorial pairs, including natural reproduction in some years.

The effort is a public/private partnership between the National Park Service, Wyoming Wetlands Society, Ricketts Conservation Foundation, and Montana State University. Joe Ricketts, founder of Ricketts Conservation Foundation, participated in the recent cygnet release. His foundation also supports other avian conservation efforts in the region, including common loons and Clark’s nutcrackers.

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Bozeman, MT (November 6, 2019) – Yellowstone Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park, announced today it raised $1 million in private funds over three days at the end of September. Those funds have been matched dollar for dollar using federal funds appropriated for the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, delivering $2 million directly to Yellowstone National Park for the North Entrance Project.

The current North Entrance Station in Gardiner, Montana, is not equipped to meet the challenges of increasing visitation and traffic. Last year (in 2018), 365,397 vehicles came through this entrance, up 22% from 2013. The upcoming project will:

• add an additional lane and kiosk to improve traffic flow and reduce queuing lines
• replace the existing two buildings with one larger building/station and two kiosks
• improve the flow of employee and delivery traffic from Robert Reamer Avenue
• improve pedestrian safety by realigning parking along Robert Reamer Avenue
• replace the water line along Robert Reamer Avenue

“This $2 million donation helps the park reach its funding goal for the North Entrance Project,” said John Walda, interim president & CEO of Yellowstone Forever. “We would have not been able to capitalize on this remarkable opportunity for Yellowstone if it wasn’t for the support of our generous partners and donors, and we thank them for the chance to provide a lasting impact on the park.”

“We couldn’t accomplish all that we do without partners like Yellowstone Forever and the National Park Foundation,” said Cameron Sholly, superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. “These funds will help the National Park Service leverage the federal funding already allocated for this project.”

“This critically important project demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships to accelerate investments that improve park visitor experiences in a very tangible way,” added Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation.

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About Yellowstone Forever
Yellowstone Forever is the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park. We partner with Yellowstone National Park to create opportunities for all people to experience, enhance, and preserve Yellowstone forever.

Our combined operations include 11 educational Park Stores with gross sales of over $5.1 million; the Yellowstone Forever Institute, which offers more than 600 in-depth programs each year; a supporter program of 85,000 Yellowstone enthusiasts raising funds to support critical park priority projects; and an online community of over 1 million worldwide.

Yellowstone Forever has provided over $106 million of cash support and over $64 million of in-kind support since 1933. Our mission of engagement and support through education and fundraising for the park will ensure Yellowstone remains for generations to come. Join the community at Yellowstone.org.

About National Park Foundation
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help protect more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts and connect all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.

Photo: YNP North Entrance Station, Gardiner, MT – NPS/Jim Peaco

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A veteran of the National Park Service (NPS), Sholly has spent many years working with local communities and Tribes on important wildlife and conservation issues, and has overseen several high-profile infrastructure projects and public-private partnerships.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the extraordinary staff and partners at Yellowstone,” Sholly said about the appointment. “Exceptional work has occurred there over the past years because of the dedication of the NPS staff, partners, and communities. I look forward to continuing a positive trajectory for one of the greatest parks in the world.”

Beginning in 2015, Sholly served as the NPS Midwest Regional Director, managing a team of 2,000 employees, a budget of more than $250 million, and the operations of 61 national park sites spread across 13 states.

During Sholly’s tenure in the Midwest Region, national parks within the region transferred nearly 800 bison to state and tribal governments through a transparent and collaborative process.  He also oversaw several major planning processes, including the recent signing of the record of decision to reintroduce wolves to Isle Royale National Park. The region also supported efforts with states to develop wildlife and land management plans, including a plan to address Chronic Wasting Disease in elk populations in South Dakota.

He improved business processes in the region and collaborated with partners on a variety of complex and important park issues. In 2016, Sholly also established a regional Office of American Indian Affairs, to build stronger tribal relations across the region. Most recently, he oversaw the completion of one of the largest public/private partnership projects in NPS history—the $380-million renovation of the Gateway Arch grounds and museum in St. Louis.

From 2012-2015, Sholly served as the Associate Director for Visitor and Resource Protection at NPS headquarters, where he managed a national portfolio that included wilderness stewardship, fire and aviation management, risk management, public health, ranger law enforcement, regulations, and the United States Park Police.

From 2009-2012, Sholly served as the Superintendent of the Natchez Trace Parkway, overseeing NPS operations within a 444-mile, three-state corridor that includes 25 counties and 20 communities, with approximately 6 million visitors annually. In 2011, Sholly was named superintendent of the year in the Southeast Region for his sustained partnership and business planning efforts within the corridor.

Sholly’s other previous assignments include: Chief of Staff and deputy to the Associate Director for Visitor and Resource Protection; detail as Special Assistant to the NPS Director; and Chief of the Ranger Operations Branch in Yosemite National Park. Sholly is a U.S. Army veteran who served in both infantry and combat military police assignments. He was deployed to Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1990-1991.

Sholly has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management from Duke University with curriculum concentrations in environmental economics and law and policy. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from St. Mary’s College of California, and is a graduate of the Harvard University Senior Executive Fellows Program.

In 2015, Sholly was awarded the Department of the Interior’s Meritorious Service Award for his executive leadership actions. He has been married for the past 21 years to Jill Walston Sholly. They have a high school-aged son.

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