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Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center

The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center (originally Grizzly Discovery Center) is a not-for-profit wildlife park and educational facility opened in 1993 that is located in West Yellowstone, Montana, United States. It is open 365 days a year and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center was started by Lewis S. Robinson, and opened in 1993 with three bears as the Grizzly Discovery Center. It was intended as a sanctuary for bears that were removed from the wild because they had become too familiar or aggressive with people. In 1995, the G.D.C was sold to New York-based Ogden Entertainment. A wolf exhibit and ten captive-born wolves were added to the center in 1996.

In 1999, Ogden Entertainment decided to close the center if a buyer could not be found. Three long-term managers of the center formed a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and made a $1.7 million offer to include the center and undeveloped land north and south of the center. The offer was accepted, and was financed by a 30-year financing package guaranteed by a United States Department of Agriculture program for rural development.

The center then made agreements with Yellowstone National Park to host some of the park's programs and to test bear resistant containers for the United States Forest Service. In 2001 it received accreditation from the AZA.  In 2002, the center was renamed "Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center," and purchased two buildings north of the center in order to house the "BEARS: Imagination & Reality" exhibit.

The Wolves

Bridger

At the time these pictures were taken Bridger was approximately 4 years old.  Bridger is a male and was named after Jim Bridger who was a mountain man and wilderness scout.  He is a member of the Hood wolf pack.  This pack consists of Bridger, his brother Obsidian and his sister Shasta.

CM2_0915.jpeg

Picture Number: CM2_0915

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec

F-Stop: f/5.6     Lens: 200 mm

Picture Number: CM2_0903

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec

F-Stop: f/5.6     Lens: 380 mm

CM2_0903.jpeg
CM1_6777.jpeg

Picture Number: CM1_6777

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 180     Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec

F-Stop: f/5.3     Lens: 160 mm

This picture (and #4237) was taken when we stopped to see Lewis Falls.  Lewis Falls are located on the Lewis River in Yellowstone NP, just south of Lewis Lake.  While the falls were nothing special the views on the other side of the road (the East side) were much more interesting – as shown here.  While technically this is in Yellowstone NP the picture, for my purpose, is classified as Grand Teton NP because visiting Grand Teton was the point of the drive that day.

Picture Number: CM1_4256

Date: May 2019

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 100     Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec

F-Stop: f/13     Lens: 55 mm

The Raptors

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Picture Number: CM2_0890

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 250     Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec

F-Stop: f/5.6     Lens: 200 mm

The Great Horned Owl

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