One of rarest animals in Yellowstone emerges near ‘elated’ tour group, video shows

A group of Yellowstone tourists thought they had seen all the national park had to offer.

They spent the day Saturday, March 5, in the park and saw wolves, bears, elk, golden eagles and more, Carl Kemp, a person on the tour, said on YouTube.

“We turned around to make our way back, when I saw what I thought was a black bear running down the road,” Kemp said. “As soon as it turned, we realized we were in the middle of a once in a lifetime experience.”

An elusive wolverine was walking on the road in front of them, video shows. The animal was the only thing on the road, Yellowstone Insight tour group said. No other vehicles were around, and the tour group spent 3 minutes watching the wolverine.

The animal seemed curious before it disappeared back into the park’s wilderness, Kemp said.

Seeing a wolverine in Yellowstone is extremely rare. Only seven wolverines have been documented in the national park and nearby national forest, according to the National Park Service.

For the tour group, it’s even more remarkable the critter crossed their path.

The next day, a wildlife tracker checked the wolverine’s tracks, the tour group said.

“He informed me that after his extensive reporting, the wolverine was only on the roadside for less than 130 yards,” the group said on Facebook. “So, we actually were very blessed to be there, at the exact moment to witness this rare animal before it scampered back into the dense evergreen forest.”

Wolverines can be between 38 and 47 inches long, and weigh between 13 and 31 pounds.

They’re “active year-round” and breed from April to October, according to the National Park Service. During the winter months, they “den in deep snow.”

This story was originally published March 7, 2022 at 12:02 PM with the headline "One of rarest animals in Yellowstone emerges near ‘elated’ tour group, video shows."