Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center — Attraction in West Yellowstone

Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center: A Must-See for Wildlife Lovers For anyone visiting West Yellowstone or looking for a break from Yellowstone National Park, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is a must-see. This non-profit sanctuary dedicated to education, conservation, and providing a fantastic wildlife viewing experience.

Up-Close Encounters: Witnessing grizzly bears and wolves up close at the Discovery Center is an unforgettable experience. The enclosures are spacious and well-maintained, allowing visitors to observe these majestic animals in a natural setting.

Educational Focus: The center goes beyond just showing off animals. They offer informative talks, presentations, and interactive exhibits that educate visitors about grizzly bears, wolves, and the importance of conservation.

Something for Everyone: From "Keeper Kids" programs for children to fascinating wolf howling experiences in the evening, the Discovery Center offers activities that will engage visitors of all ages.

Year-Round Accessibility: Unlike their wild counterparts who hibernate, the grizzlies at the Discovery Center are active year-round. This makes the center a fantastic option for those visiting Yellowstone during the colder months.

Supporting Conservation: By visiting the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, you're directly supporting their mission of wildlife conservation and education. It's a great way to learn more about these incredible animals and contribute to their future survival.

Bonus: The center also features a fascinating otter exhibit and a naturalist cabin with floor-to-ceiling windows offering prime views of the wolf packs.

Overall: The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is a top-notch wildlife experience that caters to both education and entertainment. Whether you're a seasoned wildlife enthusiast or simply curious about these amazing creatures, the Discovery Center is sure to leave you impressed. Don't miss this opportunity to learn, observe, and appreciate grizzly bears and wolves in a responsible and...

We absolutely Loved this educational center and refuge for grizzly bears and wolves. Upon entering, you are given a schedule to inform you of what hour the various grizzlies ( listed by name) will be out in the main habitat. There is an education specialist that is out on the covered/ enclosed observation platform that explains the background of each animal, educates the group, and fields any questions. Their main goal is to ensure people walk away with the understanding that these bears and wolves ended up here after they kept getting into people food in the wild. They did not harm people in any way, they are sweet natured, chill animals who generally just went about their day in the wild, but when people left foud out or access to their food supplies, the gears were attracted to it. After awhile the bear were so used to doing this they could not be retrained not to do this which caused clashes with people. They were given this home to be safe. As you watch them in this refuge you can see how engaged all of the animals are with items in their habitat. There are so many enrichment items provided for them to interact with. The education specialist provides so much valuable information about the history of each bear that comes out into the exhibit from their dens. They also share info about all of the animals at the refuge including wolves, River otters, andrescued injured raptors. This refuge is vast and gorgeous, well designed, and well maintained. There are covered outdoor and I diir exhibits. There is a beautiful gift shop at the exit as well. The pass you purchase is very inexpensive (around $15 per person) and is good for two days. Amazing! You absolutely have to visit the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center near the West...

I first visited this place in 2001 when it was still minimal. While we enjoyed it then, now it is a must-see! GWDC is now a non-profit and it shows how much they love their jobs. We were lucky to get in on the "behind the scenes" tour, and I am so thrilled we did! Gretchen was the best guide through all this. I can't stop raving about how knowledgeable she is. The first stop was the grizzlies. These grizzlies are here because they can no longer live in the wild. Usually, this is because they have become nuisances, and the other option is to euthanize the bear. We were only about 5 feet away from these beautiful creatures! Off to the gray wolves - these wolves are here as they were born in captivity and can't be released in the wild. Just because they were born in captivity, they do not lose their instincts, and here they are not expected to. Once again, we were very close to seeing these beautiful creatures that have had to fight their way back from near extinction. We, also, got to visit the otters, raptors, and so much more! We learned about how much of the food provided to all the creatures here comes from local sources and that the GWDC has a fishery so they raise the fish to feed the animals. As long as the fish is living, they are also given items of enrichment! GWDC has started a number of educational programs so please take a look at them.

You MUST make advanced reservations to do the behind the scenes tour and there are age...