If you love wildlife, spring may just be the very best time to explore Cody Yellowstone. Be sure to have your camera handy — visitors are likely to see moose calves, black bear cubs, Bighorn sheep lambs, wolf pups, elk calves, baby river otters and young eagles.

“Spring really arrives here when the first bear cubs are spotted,” said Katrina Southern, marketing manager, Cody Yellowstone. “We typically start to see mature bears sometime in March and mothers with their cubs in April and May. By the time our summer-season visitors begin to arrive, those cubs will have begun to learn the ropes of living in the Yellowstone wilderness.”

© Cody Yellowstone

Visitors need to learn the ropes, as well. For their own safety, and the safety and wellbeing of the wild creatures who call this remarkable region home, there are a few rules worth committing to memory before arriving. Wildlife mothers are often fiercely protective of their young, and you don’t want to be seen as a threat. With that in mind, be aware of the National Park Service’s springtime wildlife observation rules and tips for an enriching and safe experience:

Keep your distance! Stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards from other critters — and absolutely never feed the wildlife.

© Cody Yellowstone

Drive carefully and keep your binoculars at the ready. It’s common for wildlife to be spotted along roads leading from Cody to the East and Northeast Gates to Yellowstone National Park, particularly early in the morning and at dusk later in the day.

You may just find yourself in a bison jam at some point. Because these enormous animals get through the brutal conditions of winter in Yellowstone by conserving energy, herds opt for the paved, cleared roads rather than slogging through feet of snow. Should you encounter a herd moving down a roadway, consider yourself fortunate to have the experience, and stay inside your vehicle with the windows up. Allow the bison to pass at their own speed and enjoy the photo opp.

© Cody Yellowstone

For a truly immersive experience, be sure to make reservations at one of the area’s many lodges and unique hotels, including Irma Hotel and Shoshone Lodge.