January in Yellowstone

On this page you’ll find January phenology notes for Yellowstone and surrounding areas (mainly Cody, WY). If you’re wondering what it’s like in Yellowstone in January – browse through to get an idea.

---

January 1

• 1939: Yellowstone | Tower Falls – One of our C. C. C. boys awoke this morning to find a pine martin (Martes caurina origines) snuggled close beside him on the bed. Three of these animals have become close friends of the boys at the Tower Falls side camp. – John Bauman (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 1939: Yellowstone | Mammoth – At noon today Blue Spring was flowing its usual large volume of hot water. At 1:30 p.m. when I returned from a trip to Poison Cave this huge thermal spring was completely dry. Two young mule deer bucks, each with one antler shed, were seen at Mammoth today. – Frank R. Oberhansley (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 2019: Cody WY – 100% ground covered in an inch of snow received the other day. Cold (-11° F when Mom got up at 4AM) but no wind and tons of sunshine. We had a few birds at the feeder today, though we’ve not had many so far this winter. The three mule deer does stopped by in hopes they mind find some bird seen below the feeders. They didn’t stay long.

January 2

• 1939: Yellowstone | Mammoth – Blue Spring is coming back, the large basin near the vent is again slowly filling with water. – Frank R. Oberhansley (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)

January 3

• 2018: Cody WY to Billings MT and back – On the drive up, we spotted a total of 9 eagles (Bald eagles and Golden eagles) along with umpteen hawks. With the heavy snowfall recently, the best eating must be found along the roads with all the deer carcasses. Also saw a small group of Whitetail Deer on the Two Dot Ranch, just north of the Chief Joseph turnoff.

January 4

• 2015: Cody | Wapiti Area – Watched two ravens ‘dance’ on a fence rail. Courting behavior.
• 2017: Cody | In town – Woke to the hooting of great horned owls. One was on the streetlight, but all I could make out was a white belly. The one called a four note song: Eighth note, quarter note, quarter note, quarter note with the first note slightly lower pitch than the rest. The mate answered back with a gargling type response. The calling was pretty constant with short pauses between the calls. The mate’s answer started before the first one finished.
• 2019: Cody WY – Got a report that the bighorn sheep are back and there were about 50 along the road up North Fork.

January 5

• 1939: Yellowstone | Nymph Lake & Elk Park – A pair of Trumpeter Swans and one cygnet were seen on Nymph Lake on January 3. Another pair of adult swans were observed on Gibbon River at Elk Park today. – Verde Watson (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 2015: Cody Area – A wind storm started last night around 10:00. Gusts in the Clark area were reported as high as 113 mph. Gusts in the Wapiti area have reached 82.5 mph.
• 2019: Cody WY – Owls hooting outside my window this morning.

January 7

• 2015: Cody | Newton Lakes – Ice fishermen report great fishing today at Newton Lakes. Ice is about 8″ thick.
• 2015: Wapiti WY – Heavy frost this morning. Warm and muddy today – snow is gone. Washed the mud off the windows from the wind storm.

January 8

• 1939: Yellowstone | North Entrance – A mature buck antelope (Antilocapra americana americana) near the North Entrance was seen to have a broken left front foot. The injured member is at least partially healed but will no doubt be deformed. – Frank R. Oberhansley (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 2015: Wapiti WY – Warm much of the day, then upslope moved in from the east and the temps dropped into the teens.

January 9

• 2015: Cody | Buffalo Bill Reservoir – Ice fishermen out on the ice.
• 2017: Cody | In Town – great horned owls hooting like crazy this evening – courting.

January 10

• 1937: Yellowstone – Early this morning, four coyotes (Canis latrans) were observed feeding on a deer carcass just back of the plumbing shop. One animal fought off the others until satisfied, and then another took possession. The other two coyotes were still there when I left.  – Joe J. Way (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol XIV, No 1 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 1939: Yellowstone | Grayling Creek – A bull moose (Alces americanus shirasi) with antlers intact was seen on Grayling Creek. – Lee Coleman (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)

January 11

• 2015: Wapiti WY – Snow started falling by the evening. We could hear three great horned owls before bedtime from a couple of different locations. Perhaps they’re establishing territories.
• 2017: Cody WY – Woke to 6-8″ of snow. Ended up with a foot of snow by the time it ended later in the day.

January 12

• 2015: Wapiti WY – 1/2″ to 1″ of snow on the ground this morning. Quite a few mule deer around the houses today. Someone higher up spotted some wolf tracks that might account for the reason the deer moved down. Warm, sunny and calm today.

January 13

• 2015: Wapiti WY – Mule deer still hanging out around the houses today. Gorgeous weather – sunny and in the 30’s with no wind to speak of.
• 2015: Cody | Buffalo Bill Reservoir – Heard a report that the ice was 8-9″ thick.
• 2017: North Fork and Wapiti – bald eagle flying overhead in Wapiti valley, just past Copperleaf. 2 bison just before Clearwater. 2 Bison at Rex Hale Campground. golden eagle just past Rex Hale Campground. 30-40. Elk at the UXU Ranch.

January 14

• 1939: Yellowstone | Mammoth – A few Bighorn [sheep] rams (Ovis canadensis canadensis) are beginning to drift apart from the ewes and lambs. Three head were observed near the Gardiner River above Mammoth traveling toward Terrace Mountain. A large mule deer buck was seen near Soda Spring today with both antlers shed. – Frank R. Oberhansley (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 2015: Wapiti WY – Sunny again, but the wind picked up mid-morning (20-30 mph)

January 15

• 1939: Yellowstone | Mammoth – Blue Spring has regained its normal flow. – Frank R. Oberhansley (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 2015: Wapiti WY – The mule deer were all around in the morning but by evening had moved back up the mountain. Wondering if the wolves have moved out.

January 16

• 1939: Yellowstone | Madison River Valley – In cooperation with rangers Arthur Jacobson, Verde Watson and Gerald Yetter a count of waterfowl along the Madison River from West Yellowstone to Madison Junction was made and the following birds were enumerated:
  Ducks: 163 Barrows Goldeneye (Glaucionetta islandica)
  39 Mallard (Anas Platyrhynchos)
  30 Buffle-head (Charitenetta albeola)
  9 Merganser (Mergus merganser americanus)
  2 Green Wing Teal (Nettion carolinense)
  Swans: 5 (including 3 cygnets) Trumpeter (Cygnus buccinator)
  Geese: 102 Canada Geese (Branta canadensis occidentalis) – Lee Coleman (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 2015: Wapiti WY – Saw three mule deer does come racing down the hill this morning and joining up with another two coming out of a neighboring drainage. Never saw what spooked them, but a neighbor thought it was the wolves still. He also saw his first antler shed of the year of a ~10″ spike.

January 17

• 1939: Yellowstone | South Entrance – Six swans, eight green winged teal, 82 Goldeneye, and 19 mallards were observed on the Snake River District today, mostly on the hot spot about five miles from the station on the Snake River. The six swans were seen on the Lewis River. Swans keep moving about from one hot area to another in this region. – W. S. Chapman (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 2014: Cody  | Buffalo Bill Reservoir – The previous week there were ice fishermen on the lake, but extremely strong winds came and blew the ice off the water and piled it up, leaving a large amount of open water.  (JW)
• 2015: Wapiti WY – We had 30-50 mph winds overnight that continued through the day. Saw a northern shrike looking in the sage brush bushes.
• 2018: Cody | In Town – Noticed there weren’t any birds at all at the feeder today. Soon after mentioning this to Mom, a Northern Goshawk (immature) flew out of one of the Blue Spruce trees to land for a bit in another tree. This might have been the same hawk I noticed earlier in the day over toward the next road.

January 18

• 1938: Yellowstone | Mt. Everts – On a field trip across Mt. Everts today the following animals were counted: 1 Jack Rabbit (Lepus townsendii campanius); 2 Snowshoe Rabbits (Lepus bairdii bairdii); 4 Coyotes (Canis latrans); 43 Deer (Ococoileus hemionus macrotis); 66 Bighorn Mountain Sheep (Ovis canadensis); 240 Antelope (Antilocapra americana americana) and 577 Elk (Cervus canadensis canadensis). Near the foot-bridge across the Gardiner River, 12 Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrhyncha platyrhyncha) were counted. –F.R. Oberhansley (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol XV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 1939: Yellowstone | Grayling Creek – Two bull moose with antlers shed were seen on Grayling Creek today; a younger bull seen later on the Gallatin divide still had both antlers. – Lee Coleman (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 2015: Wapiti WY – Overnight high gust recorded by the weather station was 75 mph. Rain showers through the day with 40-50 mph winds.

January 19

• 1937: Yellowstone | East Entrance – While returning from a ski patrol to the East Entrance, I noted two birds maneuvering among the trees near Eagle Creek. Their bodies collided and the smaller bird was knocked into the snow. The larger bird pounced upon his victim and made off with it, grasped in his talons. Events transpired so quickly that identification of the birds was, difficult. It is assumed from coloration, markings and size that the aggressor was probably a northern shrike (Lanius borealis).  – F. R. Oberhansley (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol XIV, No 1 | Leaves from our Diaries)

January 20

• 1939: Yellowstone | Hayden Valley -> Fishing Bridge – In company with ranger Clyde Gilbert I counted the following waterfowl on Yellowstone River from Hayden Valley to the outlet of Yellowstone Lake:
  Ducks: 163 Barrows Goldeneye
  7 American Goldeneye (Glaucionetta clangula americana)
  17 Mallard
  12 Buffle-head
  4 Merganser
  Geese: 11 Canada Geese
  Swans: 92 Trumpeter Swans (49 cygnets and 43 adults) – David Condon (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 2015: Wapiti WY – Woke to a skiff of snow on the east side of the house. Saw a pair of golden eagles – one flew fairly close to the house that had a single white tail feather. Mule deer camped out just west of the house this evening.
• 2016: Yellowstone | Upper Geyser Basin – Watched a raven pair ‘dance’ on the wind in the Castle Geyser area a few times – courting behavior. (JW)
• 2018: Cody WY – Noticed there weren’t any birds at all at the feeder today. Soon after mentioning this to Mom, a Northern Goshawk flew out of one of the blue spruce trees to land for a bit in another tree. This might have been the same hawk I noticed early in the day one road over.

January 21

• 2015: Watched the golden eagle pair again today.

January 22

• 2015: Wapiti WY – Golden eagles seen at sunset in the same spot as yesterday. This time they were just a couple of feet apart just hanging motionless in the wind.
• 2015: Cody | Buffalo Bill Reservoir – The ice is looking quite thin.

January 23

• 1939: Yellowstone | Yellowstone Lake – While skiing across Yellowstone Lake from Lake ranger station to Park Point patrol cabin Ranger Clyde Gilbert and I encountered some large blocks of ice shoved up in jumbled masses. At one point the lake water had oozed from a large crack and spread over the surface of the ice. It required 45 minutes to free our skis of ice and apply new wax. – David Condon Note: Rangers David Condon and Clyde Gilbert expect to cover approximately 400 miles on skis during the course of the present patrol to the upper Yellowstone and adjacent country. (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 1939: Yellowstone | Lamar Valley – In taking a nice slope on my return from Slough Creek today I skied right into the middle of a band of 17 bison, none of which appeared to be greatly disturbed at my sudden appearance. I was quite fortunate in avoiding a collision with one of them. – Frank R. Oberhansley (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 2015: Wapiti WY – Overcast this morning with just a slight breeze. 32° F at 7:30 AM.

January 24

• 2015: Wapiti WY – Saw the golden eagle pair again dancing on the wind.
• 2017: Belfry MT area – Got a report of two bald eagles mating.

January 25

• 1937: Yellowstone | Northern Range – A pair of pink sided juncos (Junco mearnsi) were seen near the Cooke Ranger Station today.  – Marguerite L. Arnold (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol XIV, No 1 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 1939: Yellowstone | Mammoth – Eight Bighorn [sheep] rams were seen in small groups from Silver Gate to the south slope of Terrace Mountain. One of the old veterans has lost a considerable portion of the left horn in battle. These rams are all presumed to have left the ewes and lambs in Gardiner Canyon during the past two weeks. – Frank R. Oberhansley (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)

January 26

• 1938: Yellowstone | Norris – As we skied out from the Crystal Springs Snowshoe Cabin this morning, we saw a male Brown Creeper (Certhia familiaris montana) and a female Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), busily searching for “bugs” on the exposed trunks of the heavily snow-laden trees.Congress Pool has taken on geyser proportions. From the usual quiet pool, it has developed until dark discolored water is hurled in to the air to heights of at least ten feet. Then settling down, it would boil violently, gradually lowering the water level in the vent until another eruption took place. –W.E. Kearns (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol XV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 1939: Yellowstone | South Entrance – I was greatly surprised at hearing the notes of a killdeer (Oxyechus vociferus) today near the river. Upon investigating I discovered this bird feeding along the shallow margin of the stream near Snake River Station. Evidently this summer resident has his dates confused. – W.S. Chapman (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 1939: Yellowstone – Snow depth near South Riverside patrol cabin is 76 inches. In the course of a 3-day ski patrol to this area with ranger Arthur Jacobson, two Mt. Chicadees and one pine squirrel were the only forms of animal life seen. – Lee Coleman (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 2015: Cody WY – Gorgeous day in the 60’s!

January 27

• 1939: Yellowstone | Pebble Creek – A Golden Eagle was observed eating a freshly killed mallard duck on lower Pebble Creek today. – E.L. Arnold (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 2015: Cody WY – Clouds and wind built throughout the day.

January 28

• 2015: Cody WY – Gorgeous day with no wind.

January 30

• 1939: Yellowstone | NE Entrance – Our method of supplying birds with food at Cooke ranger station is to suspend small pieces of suet from the limbs of trees by small wires. Whenever there is lean meat or blood present in the suet our pet weazel (Mustela arizonensis arizonensis), whom we call Tippy for obvious reason, attempts to get these tid bits. He is not a skillful climber, however, and it is always amusing to watch his rather awkward and always futile attempts to get at these morsels. In his travels about the station Tippy invariably dives into the snow and later pops out at the most unexpected places. No doubt many mice are caught on these foraging expeditions under the snow. – Peg Arnold (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)

January 31

• 1939: Yellowstone | Mammoth – While going over the terraces today I came upon a young coyote (Canis latrans) lying near the hot water channel directly below the summit of Cleopatra Terrace. He had excavated a shallow bed within 18 inches of the hot water. The pup appeared weak and emaciated, which no doubt accounts for his seeking the warmth of a hot spring. – Frank R. Oberhansley (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)
• 1939: Yellowstone | Mammoth – Today I was attracted to a spot in the foothills 2 miles below Mammoth by the presence of a group of ravens (Corvus corax sinuatus) and magpies (Pica pica hudsonia). As I cautiously approached the spot from a small draw a coyote was observed feeding upon the remains of what appeared to be a deer fawn. Upon closer examination, however, the carcass proved to be that of a young coyote. Most of the carcass had been eaten, only part of the hide, legs and head remained. Indications were that starvation or sickness caused the death of this coyote within the last 24 hours. Coyotes are now definitely known to be cannibalistic. – Frank R. Oberhansley (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol IXV, Nos. 1-2 | Leaves from our Diaries)

January Summaries

• 1937: Yellowstone – The Meteorological Report for January is summarized as follows; “The temperature this January was lower by far than that of any previous month on record; the mean temperature, 2.2° was eight degree lower than the extremely cold months of 1888 and 1890 as recorded at Camp Sheridan, a nearby and slightly higher location. At the present exposure since 1904, the next coldest month on record is January, 1930 with a mean temperature of 4.8°.” There were 20 days of the month when the temperatures ranged from -1° to a -30°, and 27° was the maximum for the month. Five days had all hourly readings below zero. – W.E.K. [Likely W.E. Kearns] (from Yellowstone Nature Notes Vol XIV, No 2 | Leaves from our Diaries)