Grizzlies are show stoppers in Grand Teton National Park! Labeled “bear jams”, they can occur quickly. Some tourists simply “get lucky” and stumble into a good bear jam. Other photographers I know spend countless hours waiting and hoping to get shots of the grizzlies. They often come home with no shots after a 12 hour day. But those same people also get the great shots as a result of their patience and persisetence. I probably fit somewhere in-between. I go to the zones where grizzlies roam, then look for any kind of subject. At that point, I hope to be “strategically lucky”.
Rant Warning!: Over the past couple of years, it appears the Park Service has adopted a position of “it’s easier to close and area than control it”, and “we are going to teach the bears they shouldn’t come to the roads”. They close entire zones because a grizzly “might be in the area” and the are now hazing them from the roads with rubber bullets, sirens, and whizzers. While there are exceptions, my experiences with rangers and wildlife management volunteers are seldom enjoyable. Every dedicated photographer has their own laundry list of horror stories and bad experiences. Many photographers tell me they have better bear experiences in Yellowstone than in the Tetons. The Park Service will respond to similar complaints saying they are just trying to keep tourists and bears safe.
Okay, the rant is over! Still, it is important to know up front that your odds of getting close shots are not great. Most of the shots on this page were either taken from inside my vehicle or at a controlled bear jam. Most were taken in May when the park is more relaxed. When the south gate to Yellowstone opens, a steady ribbon of vehicles going to the park creates huge bear jams in a matter of minutes. Tourists and photographers are required to be 100 yards from any bear, even while in a vehicle. Count your blessings when stars align and you get a few precious shots!
I never established a pattern for the best time of the day for sightings. Some people suggest they have “bankers hours”⏤appearing when things warm up a bit. They also come out very early on some days. “On duty” photographers then get great shots with the best light, and usually before rangers and volunteers ruin the experience. During the hottest periods of the year, many grizzlies head to the high country to escape the heat.
