In the "Wild" and "Pristine" Centennial Valley

Wildlife Abounds at Elk Lake Resort

The Centennial Valley and surrounding mountains abound with various wildlife species - all enjoying their natural environment.

Nearly every species visible in Yellowstone National Park is also found around our western Montana Lodge. From the massive Grizzly Bear to the dainty Red Fox, from the controversial Wolf to the common but somewhat elusive Badger - animals large and small live out their lives in the pure nature surrounding Elk Lake Resort.

Life for the wildlife around our Western Montana Lodge is a bit easier than for many of their cousins in Yellowstone National Park. After all, we major in the wide open spaces - and minor (greatly) in people. And, with the exception of Bison, every major species which lives in the Park, also lives in our backyard.

Granted, for some species - like the Grizzly - you typically have to work awfully hard to see them (after all, they're not used to seeing two-legged beings like 'you'), but some species - like the Shiras Moose - are often MUCH more visible. After all, with an undeveloped 385,000 acre valley - and all its surrounding hills and mountains - the Centennial Valley is prime wildlife habitat.

Carnivors
• Black Bears (seen in forest habitats - two 2006 sightings of sows with cubs)
• Grizzly Bears (last known sightings summer 2006 on a nearby ranch)
• Martin (seen on rare occassion)
• Weasels (short and long tailed)
• Badger (a friend got some 'great' pictures of one in 2006 along Elk Lake Road)
• River Otter (seen regularly in Hidden and Elk Lake - usually as a family!)
• Wolverine (usually at least one sighting - or track sighting - each winter)
• Striped Skunk (Craig nearly had a head-on encounter with a family summer 2006 on the road to Hidden Lake)
• Wolf (several yearly sightings of small packs or single animals - were heard howling up Narrows Creek early the summer of 2006)
• Red Fox (at least one female with kits lives near the lodge - stops by for snacks summer and winter)
• Coyote (seen and/or heard regularly - unless the Wolves are nearby)
• Cougar (rarely seen due to their ellusive nature, Craig ran across a fresh grouse kill and tracks up Narrows Creek his 2006 hunting season)

Ungulates
• Elk (inhabit the draws around Elk and Hidden Lakes)
• White-Tailed Deer (seen regularly around Elk Springs Creek and near the junction of Elk Lake Road and the Southside Road)
• Mule Dear (seen regularly around Elk Lake)
• Shiras Moose (regular valley inhabitants, summer or winter - more than 100 wintered in the Centennial in 2006)
• Pronghorn Antelope (seen regularly - especially along the Northside road and toward the western end of the valley)
• Bison (none sighted in the last few years)

Rodents
• Wyoming Ground Squirrel ('thick as fleas' at times on the valley floor)
• Yellow-Bellied Marmot (one currently lives under the old ranch house)
• Deer Mouse (yep, we have mice - although we encourage them to live "outside")
• Meadow Vole (often mistaken for a mouse, we have many of these little critters)
• Long-Tailed Vole (another 'mouse-like' critter which 'turns grass into foxes')
• Yellow Pine & Least Chipmunks (several cute little fellows live around the lodge)
• Red Pine Squirrel (one active fellow keeps running from my woodpile to the fence - and thus to ? - and back)
• Northern Pocket Gopher (yep - we have a few who really like to tear up our lawn!)
• Beaver (we keep watch to be sure the local fellows don't down our aspens)
• Muskrat (saw one the summer of 2006 in Elk Springs Creek)
• Porcupine (they always let us know where they've been)

Rabbits, Pikas, and Hares
• Pika (most common in the high alpine rocky outcroppings)
• White-tailed Jackrabbit (commonly seen on the Northside road - particularly at dusk)

Bats
• Little Brown Myotis (several help keep the bugs down around the lodge)