Wisdom is gained by observing the natural world. It comes to you as you are patient and observant. Bird’s in flight, an ant in work- the internal cues of their instinct. Wisdom is accessing the value in your life and learning lessons in. It’s not from age but paying attention. - Diné elder, Jayne Talk-Sanchez

When we take the time to listen and notice small things in nature we walk away with wisdom. Here a male rufous hummingbird flits to feed at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming, taking a sip of nectar from Rocky Mountain beeplant. Photo by Tom Koerner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Up to snow good. Even a porcupine decorated with snowflakes still isn’t up for cuddles at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Porcupines, though elusive, can usually be seen at night, near roadsides or high in trees throughout their range. Feasting on the inner tree bark all winter long, they are the second largest rodent in North America. Between April and June, porcupines start giving birth to one baby, called a porcupette (amazing, we know), but right now we’re just going to focus on getting through the winter in style. Photo courtesy of Isaac Spotts.

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” - Ansel Adams.
Happy birthday to this pioneering photographer Ansel Adams! His photographs continue to serve as a tremendous inspiration. The bend at the Snake River Overlook in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park is an iconic shot and one Ansel Adams took himself, who was born on February 20, 1902. 

Pic 1: Photo of Snake River Overlook taken by Ansel Adams, National Park Service

Pic 2: Photo of Snake River Overlook taken by Tobiason, National Park Service

Pic 3: Photo of Ansel Adams shown as pictured in the 1950 Yosemite Field School yearbook.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming was -66°F on February 9, 1933. When temperatures get that cold and there’s no wind, water vapor will freeze to things like grasses, trees and rocks, known as hoarfrost. Do you get hoarfrost where you live? Photo by Jacob W. Frank, National Park Service. 

Otter, fox, or bison, which one represents how you’re heading into 2021? Happy New Year from us! Ok 2021, let’s do this. 

Video clips from Yellowstone National Park by the National Park Service. 

No, the bison at Yellowstone #NationalPark in #Wyoming haven’t learned to fly. Yet. Despite weighing as much as 2,000 pounds, #bison are strong swimmers and can run up to 35 miles per hour. They can jump over objects 5 feet high and have excellent hearing, vision and sense of smell. Photographer Alex Walczak witnessed their power when he took this wonderful picture, “There was a whole group of them rolling around and I noticed a young bison running all over the place on the hill. I got this photo while it was in the middle of jumping and kicking like a bronco. After about 5 minutes of racing around, this young bison calmed down.” We guess it just needed to burn off some energy. Photo courtesy of Alex Walczak.

#ICYMI we’re looking back on our favorite posts of 2020. 10/10 in our #Top10of2020 #highlights #usinterior

A sweet reminder to give other families you see on the trail plenty of space! Take it from Grizzly 399, the safest way to hike in bear country is with groups of 3 or more. We also recommend making noise, carrying bear spray, and knowing how to use it. Photo of grizzly bear 399 with her four cubs at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, courtesy of Daniel Ewert.

Upon getting out of the army in 2016, I wanted nothing more than to visit our nation’s national parks. And after four years of travel, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is still the one that takes my breath away more than any other. I took this image with my trusty Nikon D8 10 camera on a frosty 22° morning in October 2019. As always, I woke up at about 4 a.m., found myself a cup of coffee, drove to one of my favorite lookouts and waiting for the sun to rise. Photo and words courtesy of Brian Johns.

From the Seminole people of the Everglades to the Athabascans who gave Denali its name, Native Americans have important connections to public lands across the country. To celebrate National Native American Heritage Month, we’re featuring parks, refuges and historic sites that help us appreciate these nations, their history, perspectives, cultures and contributions. Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming – known by names like “Bear Lodge” and “Bear’s Tipi” and sacred to Northern Plains Tribes – is a powerful place to experience the oral tradition of origin stories and learn about the relationships between this rocky sentinel and people from thousands of years ago to the present day. Photo by Brian Truono (www.sharetheexperience.org).  

Learn more on our blog: www.doi.gov/blog/10-public-lands-powerful-native-american-connections

Our country’s first national monument, Devils Tower National Monument was established on this day in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Unforgettable to all who see it, this ancient volcanic column rises above the rolling grasslands in eastern Wyoming like a sentinel. Northern Plains Tribes have lived near this remarkable geologic formation for thousands of years, and today, several tribes continue to hold traditional ceremonies in the park. The rock tower is called “Bear’s Lodge” or “Bear’s Tipi” by the Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Crow and Lakota tribes. Made famous in the 1977 movie, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” the monument holds an undeniable attraction to many people. Photo by Raymond Lee (www.sharetheexperience.org).