Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center facts for kids

Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

Date opened	1993
Location	West Yellowstone, Montana
Coordinates	44°39′25″N 111°05′54″W / 44.656951°N 111.098391°W / 44.656951; -111.098391
No. of animals	150 (2021)
No. of species	22 (2021)
Volume of largest tank	11,000 square feet (1,000 m2)
Total volume of tanks	22,000 square feet (2,000 m2)
Annual visitors	140,000
Memberships	AZA
Major exhibits	14

The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is a special wildlife park and learning place in West Yellowstone, Montana, United States. It first opened in 1993. This center is open every single day of the year! Your ticket even lets you visit for two days in a row. It's also approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which means it meets high standards for animal care.

History of the Center

The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center was started by Lewis S. Robinson. It opened in 1993 with three bears. Back then, it was called the Grizzly Discovery Center. The main idea was to create a safe home for bears that could no longer live in the wild. These were bears that had become too used to people or had caused problems.

In 1995, a company called Ogden Entertainment bought the center. A year later, in 1996, they added a wolf exhibit with ten wolves born in captivity.

By 1999, Ogden Entertainment decided to sell the center. Three managers who worked there for a long time formed a non-profit group. They bought the center and some nearby land. They got help from a United States Department of Agriculture program to pay for it.

After that, the center started working with Yellowstone National Park. They helped with some of the park's programs. They also tested special containers that keep bears out of people's food for the United States Forest Service. In 2001, the center earned its special approval from the AZA. In 2002, the center changed its name to "Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center." They also bought two more buildings to create a new exhibit called "BEARS: Imagination & Reality."

Amazing Animal Exhibits

The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center has several cool exhibits where you can learn about different animals.

Meet the Bears

The bears living at the center were all rescued. They either caused problems in the wild or were cubs whose mothers did. They have a big outdoor area that looks like their natural home. It even has a pool and a waterfall! The bears also have private indoor spaces. Staff members often hide food and put fish in the pond. This helps the bears use their natural hunting skills to find their meals.

Wolves and Their Packs

The center is home to two wolf packs. There are two main wolf habitats. Visitors can watch both packs from inside the Naturalist Cabin. Large windows let you see the wolves clearly. In 2013, a third wolf habitat was added. In 2018, a special behind-the-scenes wolf exhibit was built. By 2021, the wolf exhibit from 2013 was connected to another wolf yard, making their space even bigger.

In May 2019, three wolf pups joined the center. There were two males and one female. The female was named Shasta, and the males were named Obsidian and Bridger. This group is known as the Hoodoo Pack.

In September 2019, two older wolves arrived: a female named Sura and a male named Lakota. They became the Fossil Butte Pack. In the spring of 2020, Sura gave birth to four pups. These were the first wolves ever born at the center! The pups, two males and two females, stayed at the center. In June 2020, they were named Harlequin, Meriwether, Boulder, and Colter. Lakota, the male wolf, passed away in December 2020.

Naturalist Cabin Experience

The Naturalist Cabin is located between the two main wolf habitats. It offers a great indoor spot to watch both wolf packs. The cabin has big windows that go from the floor to the ceiling. Inside, you'll find displays that teach you about wolves. There's also a National Geographic film about wolves. The cabin is also where the daily "Pack Chat" takes place, where you can learn more from experts.

Ground Squirrel Exhibit

In 2015, the center added a Ground Squirrel Exhibit. This exhibit helps visitors understand how predators and prey interact in nature. Unlike the bears, the ground squirrels at the center go through their natural hibernation. They usually come out in March and go back to sleep in August.

Birds of Prey Exhibits

In 2013, the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center added four new exhibits for birds of prey. These are birds like eagles and hawks that can no longer survive in the wild. In 2014, another bird of prey exhibit was added. The old golden eagle area was also updated to become a new home for their bald eagles. You can visit this exhibit from April to November.

Warming Hut Viewing Area

In 2016, a new viewing spot for the bears was built called the Warming Hut. This cozy area lets guests watch the bears while staying warm, especially on colder days.

Other Fun Attractions

In 2014, the center opened a new exhibit called Bears on Easy Street. This exhibit teaches people how to be "bear aware." It shows ways to keep bears away from homes and campsites. In 2013, a new kitchen was built behind the scenes. A new playground area for children was also added. An outdoor amphitheater, a place for shows and talks, was built in 2014.

Banks of the Yellowstone Exhibit

In 2019, the center opened its new Banks of the Yellowstone Exhibit. This cool area has large freshwater aquariums. You can see animals like North American river otters, Cutthroat Trout, Arctic Grayling, Tiger salamanders, Columbia spotted frog, Rubber Boa, and Garter Snake. The center also made the River Valley wolf habitat bigger. They connected it to the riparian building, which is a building near a river or stream.

Future Plans

The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center has exciting plans for the future. They are working on a new bear den and a black bear habitat. The new bear den will have 8 additional spaces. These will help save bears from being put down in the surrounding area. Some resident bears will live there, and others will be temporarily housed before finding new permanent homes. The new bear habitat will have river rapids for the bears to play in. It will also have trout for them to hunt. Bears will rotate in and out of this habitat throughout the day. This new bear exhibit will be built on the last undeveloped land at the center. Both projects are currently underway and are moving forward with financial support.