Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, Yellowstone Montana

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Watch and Learn at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center

Located in the southwestern portion of the state, in the western portion of Yellowstone Park, is the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. The animals at the center are unable to return to the wild, and if not for the Center would undoubtedly be euthanized. Many of the bears, for example, were labeled as nuisance animals, and the wolves were bred in captivity and could not survive in the wild. In addition to the wolves and the bears, the Center also has raptors (hawks, owls, falcons, etc.), and a bear dog named Jewel.

The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center offers more than just a look at animals as so many zoos nowadays do. At the Center, you get to see these gorgeous animals up close and personal and learn about their behaviors from the keepers and naturalists that work with them every day.

For kids aged 5-12, there is a special program called Keeper Kids, where youngsters learn about the feeding habits of bears and then go into the bear habitat with the keepers and naturalist to hide the food and then watch as the bears seek out their dinner. Of course, the bears aren’t in the habitat when the kids are placing the food there!

The staff at the Center also provides a variety of entertaining presentations for visitors. These presentations are presented in the theater. Some of the programs they put on currently are “Lewis and Clark and the White Bears”, and “Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a Match: Captive Breeding of Endangered Species.”

Visitors also get to meet Jewel, a nine-year-old Karelian Bear Dog. She is a strong and intelligent dog, and comes from a breed that was meant to hunt bears, wolves, and even moose. Jewel works at the Center and helps teach humans how best to live among bears.

The wolves are a sight to behold. Three packs reside at the Center, and while only the Gallatin pack is currently viewable by the public, the other two packs will be on exhibit later in the year when the new addition is complete. It promises to be an exciting time for everyone at the Center, including the animals.

Besides just the animals, you can visit the Bear Exhibit, a museum all about the big bruins.

The cost is $9.75 for adults, seniors $9.00, children 5-12 are $5.00, and kids under 5 are free.