YELLOWSTONE
Elevate your connection to Yellowstoneâbecome a member of the Yellowstone Society today!
As a member of the Yellowstone Society, your annual gift of $1,000 or more provides essential support for Yellowstone National Parkâs most urgent needs, ensuring the preservation of its extraordinary landscapes, wildlife, and educational programs for generations to come.
Your support helps protect the wonders of the worldâs first national park.
Ready to make a difference? Join the Yellowstone Society today!
To learn more or to join, visit Yellowstone.org/society or contact our philanthropy team at supporters@yellowstone.org or 406-848-2400 (Ext. 1)
In addition to knowing youâre making a significant impact, youâll also enjoy exclusive member benefits! These include continued access to regular member perks along with enhanced experiences such as:
Name recognition at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, celebrating your commitment to Yellowstone.
A subscription to the Yellowstone Insider newsletter, keeping you informed about the latest park news, conservation updates, and upcoming events.
Invitations to special private events, including the exclusive Yellowstone Society Weekend in the Park, happening this October at the historic Old Faithful Inn!
A Message For You
Dear Friend of Yellowstone,
When spring emerges in Yellowstone, we are reminded of the beauty and renewal this season brings. Thanks to your support, these moments of wonder continue to inspire visitors from around the world.
This year, your generosity is making a big difference through exciting projects that will help Yellowstone thrive for generations to come.
Improving Visitor Education Programs: You are enhancing educational experiences and helping visitors of all ages connect more deeply with Yellowstoneâs history, geology, and wildlife.
Increasing Access to Wellness Services: You are providing essential wellness and mental health resources to the dedicated Yellowstone employees who work tirelessly to protect and preserve the park.
Protecting Iconic Wildlife: You are supporting vital conservation efforts, including the Yellowstone Wolf Project and initiatives to restore native fish populations, helping to protect this incredible ecosystem.
These projects address the parkâs most pressing needs. You can learn more about these and other priority projects by scanning the QR code above.
Your continued support is vital to the success of these initiatives. Because of you, Yellowstone will inspire future generations, offering the same breathtaking experiences that have touched your life.
Thank you for being an essential part of Yellowstone Forever. Together, we can turn wonder into impact and ensure this iconic landscape remains a source of inspirationâforever.
Sam Barkley Chief Development Officer
Learn more about 2025 Park Projects: yellowstone.org/experience/projects-we-fund
Spring Awakening in Yellowstone
Bears emerge from hibernation, hungry and in search of food. Bison and elk give birth to their young, and visitors may be lucky enough to witness these adorable calves and fawns taking their first steps.
Harsh winter months have now given way to the gentle warmth of spring and Yellowstone is transformed. Snow melts away and the mountains and valleys begin to turn emerald green, rivers and streams swell with fresh water, animals emerge from their winter slumber, and the entire landscape comes alive with vibrant colors and new life. Visitors to the park during this season are treated to a unique and unforgettable experience.
Wildlife activity also increases significantly during the spring months. Bears emerge from hibernation, hungry and in search of food. Bison and elk give birth to their young, and visitors may be lucky enough to witness these adorable calves and fawns taking their first steps. Birdwatchers will be delighted by the return of migratory birds, such as the sandhill crane and the mountain bluebird, which fill the air with their unique calls, chirping, and songs.
The warming temperatures also signal the opening of many of Yellowstoneâs iconic attractions. Roads and trails that were closed during the winter months begin to reopen, allowing visitors to explore the parkâs geothermal features, boundless trails, and magnificent waterfalls. The sight of steam rising from Old Faithful or Grand Prismatic Spring set against the backdrop of a thawing landscape is a breathtaking spectacle.
One of the most striking features of late spring in Yellowstone is the eruption of wildflowers. As the snow recedes, meadows and hillsides burst into bloom with an impressive array of colors. Deep purple lupines, the bright red of paintbrush and the warm yellow bouquet of arrowleaf balsamroot are just a few of the many stunning wildflowers that carpet the parkâs landscape. These blooms attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, adding to the parkâs rich biodiversity.
Spring is also an excellent time for fishing in Yellowstone. As the ice melts, the parkâs rivers and lakes become prime fishing spots for species such as cutthroat trout and grayling. Anglers from around the world come to test their skills in these pristine waters.
Despite the beauty and excitement of this season, visitors should be prepared for unpredictable weather. Also coined âmud seasonâ, visitors can expect to experience a variety of conditions. Higher elevations may still be snow covered, limiting some backcountry trail access. Snowstorms can still occur, and temperatures can vary widely from day to day. Itâs important to dress in layers and be ready for anything Mother Nature might throw your way. Wildlife sightings can often cause traffic jams, commonly known as bear jams or bison jams. Follow directions from rangers and remember to maintain the required and safe distances from all wildlife. Whether youâre a seasoned explorer or a first-time visitor, spring in Yellowstone offers an opportunity to witness a time of awe-inspiring renewal.
Yellowstone Forever
YELLOWSTONE IN BLOOM: A CELEBRATION OF SPRINGâS ARRIVAL
As the snow recedes and the days lengthen, Yellowstoneâs highaltitude ecosystem undergoes a remarkable transformation. Unlike in lower elevations, where spring unfolds in predictable waves, Yellowstoneâs flora emerges in microclimates dictated by elevation, snowpack, and geothermal activity. This unique interplay means that while valleys burst with blooms, some high-elevation plateaus remain locked in winter for weeks longer.
Among the first flowers to appear are steerâs head (Dicentra uniflora), a species so specialized that it depends on underground fungi to access nutrients. This rare adaptation allows it to thrive in Yellowstoneâs nutrientpoor soils. Yellowbells (Fritillaria pudica) are another early bloomer, emerging near warm south-facing slopes. These delicate flowers rely on temperature-sensitive germination cues, a critical trait for surviving the unpredictable mountain climate.
One of the most fascinating early bloomers is the pasqueflower (Anemone patens). Coated in fine, silvery hairs, it insulates itself against
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS PROTECTION
freezing temperatures, enabling it to bloom even as snow lingers nearby. Unlike many plants that rely solely on insects for pollination, pasqueflowers can also self-pollinate, ensuring survival in years when early pollinators are scarce.
Yellowstoneâs geothermal areas also create floral anomalies. In thermally influenced ground, plants such as springbeauties (Claytonia lanceolata) may bloom weeks ahead of their counterparts just a few yards away, an adaptation that showcases how species have evolved to exploit even the smallest environmental advantages.
For those eager to explore these adaptations firsthand, the Yellowstone Forever Institute offers guided field experiences where field educators dive deep into the science of Yellowstoneâs flora.
Programs, like our Private Tours, provide an unparalleled opportunity to see, touch, and understand the intricate relationships that define one of the worldâs most unique botanical landscapes.
DĂŒmmen Orange creates flowers that inspire, much like Yellowstone National Park has done for generations. When the company created the Yellowstone Petunia âa bright, vivid, attention-grabbing flower â they wanted it to inspire more than just sales. Ten cents from the sale of every cutting goes directly to help protect Yellowstone, reaching almost $300,000. Royalty revenues generated by the sales of the âYellowstone Foreverâ petunia in 2025 will be donated to Yellowstone Forever in this fifth year of partnership.
âYellowstone is known around the world, from Wyoming to the Netherlands. The brand â and the idea of conservation â breaks through any language barrier, and calls upon all of us to serve its mission.â
Proceeds from the Yellowstone Petunia directly support park priorities like the Wolf and Cougar Projects, Native Fish Restoration, the Bison Conservation and Transfer Program, and the Youth Conservation Corps. Donor support helps to fund these important projects and ensures the future protection, preservation, and conservation of Yellowstone.
Visitors exploring Yellowstone may not realize they are traveling on one of the worldâs largest active volcanoesâan astonishing 30 by 45 miles in size. Heat from this supervolcano forms the most dynamic geothermal system on Earth with more than 10,000 hydrothermal features. Hot springs, gushing geysers (more than 500), bubbling mud pots, steam vents, and other geological wonders found within Yellowstoneâs boundaries played a key role in the creation of the worldâs first national park.
The parkâs Geology Program plans to study these geothermal systems using infrared (IR) image data which is recognized as the most effective way to capture and monitor changes in hydrothermal areas. IR imagery is captured by flying fixed-winged aircraft over hydrothermal areas twice a year, with visitor-sensitive sites being flown at greater frequencies. The IR images reveal any notable changes for further study by park geologists.
A similar study in Yellowstone ran from 2005-2015. This new program will utilize more modern thermal imaging technology and flights will occur more frequently allowing geologists to quickly analyze and compare data captured at different times (from 10+ years ago and current data that will be captured every six months or more).
The collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of this data is a combined effort through the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO), a consortium of nine state and federal agencies including Yellowstone National Park, USGS, and Montana State University.
Fascinating and dynamic, Yellowstoneâs geothermal activity also poses a threat to visitor safety and the parkâs infrastructure. Monitoring the parkâs geothermal areas, and how they evolve with time, is fundamental to understanding and preserving them and protecting visitors from their hazards. This important project needs your financial support to kick-off the use and application of this cutting-edge technology.
We thank DĂŒmmen Orange for its creative and consistent support of Yellowstone. Keep an eye on your local garden center this spring! *
Marta Maria Garcia, Head of Marketing and Retail North America at DĂŒmmen Orange
The Yellowstone Petuniaâs availability is through independent growers and is not guaranteed. *
Donor Spotlight
JAMES âBUDâ MUSGROVE
âHe didnât just talk the talk, he took a deep dive into learning about conservation and then spread that knowledge in an effort to protect the wildlife he cherished.â
What began as a carefree camping trip quickly bubbled up into love, and soon after, they eloped. They settled in Montana, where they raised two daughters, Kristen and Claudine. Their union marked the beginning of a family deeply intertwined with the wilderness of Yellowstone.
Budâs commitment to wildlife, especially grizzly bears and bison, grew throughout his life. As his daughters went off to college, he became actively involved in bison and grizzly bear conservation, attending seminars, workshops, and collaborating with biologists. He became a leading voice for their protection, emerging as a strong advocate for these iconic creatures. His commitment was more than just a hobbyâit was a lifelong mission. In the early â90s, James contributed to groundbreaking research on bear survival, solidifying his legacy as a tireless protector of Yellowstoneâs wildlife.
BEAR BOXES ESSENTIAL TO CONSERVATION EFFORTS
Youâve likely seen them or even used them in campgrounds in and around Yellowstone. Bear-proof storage containers, or âbear boxesâ, are vitally important in keeping bears and visitors safe in the park. Yellowstone is home to both grizzly and black bears, and they can be found in every corner of the park. In order for the parkâs remarkable bears to coexist with humans, and for us to be able to enjoy viewing them in the wild, we must be vigilant and responsible stewards when we visit.
Lead Yellowstone Bear Biologist, Kerry Gunther, maintains, âThe most successful method to prevent bears from becoming conditioned to human foods has been to provide park visitors with bear boxes that are convenient and easy to use. The parkâs ultimate goal is to have a bear box in every campsite in every campground.â
The park has completed the installation of bear boxes in roughly 1,500 of its 2,000 roadside campsites in the park. That leaves 500 boxes left to install. Yellowstone Forever provides park supporters with the opportunity to sponsor a bear box to be placed in a park campsite. Each sponsored box is affixed with an engraved 4â x 6â plate with the sponsorâs name. Individuals, groups, foundations, and corporations have all sponsored bear boxes in the park. Many choose to sponsor a box in honor or memory of a loved one.
These boxes play a foundational role in bear conservation and the protection of the ecosystem. A bear box sponsorship provides a tangible and lasting impact in the park. We are closer to the end goal of one at every campsite but need your help to finish the job!
Yellowstone Forever is the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park. Our mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance Yellowstone National Park through education and philanthropy.
Upon Budâs passing in 2002, his loved ones worked with Yellowstone Forever to set a fitting tribute, honoring his lifetime of work protecting and preserving these remarkable animals. A bear-proof food storage box was installed at Mammoth Campground in his name where his family regularly visits, reflecting on his enduring influence.
Kristen, Claudine and Francoise continue Budâs work, spreading his message of conservation and commitment to preserving Yellowstoneâs wildlife. Today, they
remain dedicated to ensuring that his advocacy for grizzly bears, wolves, and wilderness preservation endures for generations to come. His passion for protecting the earth and its creatures continues to inspire all who knew him.
By donating a bear box in Budâs honor, the Musgroveâs are helping to ensure the preservation of Yellowstoneâs ecosystem for future generations. Together, we can safeguard these incredible creaturesâand the memories that make this place unforgettable.
PHOTO CREDITS: YF/NPS
Learn more about bear boxes and how to sponsor (including a video with Kerry Gunther, Bear Management Biologist): yellowstone.org/bearbox
In the summer of 1976, James âBudâ Musgrove found the love of his life at the iconic Fountain Paint Pots in Yellowstone National Park. While road tripping across the U.S., he met Francoise, a backpacker from France.
Kristen Larsen daughter of James âBudâ Musgrove