Watch the Sighting:
Wildlife photographer and videographer, Judy Lehmberg, captured this stunning footage while exploring Grand Teton National Park while the autumn colours of the park were in full swing. She explained that while there is never a bad time to visit this stunning national park, the marvellous fall colours and fewer visitors make fall an optimal time to enjoy its beauty.
Fall in the Tetons
Located in Northern Wyoming, just south of Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park Hosts the beautiful Teton Mountain Range. Formed by tectonic activity, these are some of the youngest mountains in North America but are made of some of the continent’s oldest rock.
The park spans 310,000 acres, encompassing glacial lakes, river valleys, sagebrush flats, forests, and wetlands. Fall is one of the most photogenic seasons in the park with aspens and cottonwoods turning yellow-orange, and snow dusting the peaks of the mountains.
Grand Teton National Park is home to several wildlife species including elk, moose, grizzly and black bears, pronghorn, wolves, and many iconic bird species such as bald eagles and sandhill cranes. In addition, bison are one of the most beloved animals that frequent the park and are often seen grazing across the valley floor, especially in the fall when they prepare for winter.
Bison and the Changing Seasons
The resilience of bison in all conditions makes them true icons of survival in North America’s wild. In the fall months, they migrate to lower elevations to pursue the fading green grass.
Bison need to follow their food source so that they can prepare for the scarcity of food in the winter. Additionally, their coats become thicker and shaggier, providing better insulation to withstand the snow and harsh winds of the following months.
Unlike many animals, bison are active year-round and face the colder months by relying more on fat reserves, slowing down their metabolism and huddling together to brace against the cold. In the warmer months, bison will drop their heavy coats and roam the park more widely, and in larger social groups.
Bison are deeply in tune with the changing seasons, and their behaviour, appearance, and movements reflect the rhythm of nature around them. This is especially true in wild, seasonal landscapes like Grand Teton National Park.
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A Living Legacy Amid Autumn’s Glow
This breathtaking footage showcases the bison of Grand Teton as they continue their timeless journey through the shifting seasons. Against the rich palette of autumn, their steady presence reminds us of nature’s resilient, majestic and ever-evolving rhythm.
Once nearly driven to extinction, these icons of the American West now roam freely thanks to decades of dedicated conservation efforts. Their survival is a testament to the importance of preserving wild spaces, where creatures like the bison can continue to thrive for generations to come.
In the quiet power of their movements, we can witness a living connection to a wilder past that is untamed, enduring, and profoundly inspiring.