Many Western communities have a resident herd of mule deer that hang around in backyards or other wildlife that totally disregard private property boundaries as they roam about town. For example, Estes Park, Colorado, has its famous elk invasion every year and Casper is teeming with wild turkeys.
In West Yellowstone, Montana, the local wildlife is considerably larger, dangerous and more obstinate.
Wildlife photographer Trent Sizemore, who lives in West Yellowstone, has been documenting his daily encounters with the local bison herd that’s decided his driveway and yard is a good spot to hang out.
While most people observe bison from the safety of a vehicle or boardwalk in Yellowstone National Park, Sizemore can see them from his living room.
“I would guess around 100 bison have come into our neighborhood so far this year,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “There have been between 10 and 20 at a time on our driveway. They’re constantly moving around the area.”
Free Roaming
While Yellowstone’s bison herd is mostly contained to the park’s boundaries, there are some areas outside the park where bison are allowed without being hazed away. Those include Shoshone National Forest between Cody and the East Entrance of Yellowstone and much of the area surrounding West Yellowstone.
Sizemore said living with bison is an accepted way of life in West Yellowstone. There are always a few bison hanging around.
“They do circles around the neighborhood like they do while grazing inside the park,” he said. “A handful of bulls may stick around year-round if they aren’t hunted, but it’s typically the spring birthing season that all the cows and calves are here.”
Sizemore has been documenting the antics of West Yellowstone’s bison for years. From the safety of his porch, he's seen many bison behaviors and captured them on film.
In May 2024, two bison decided to square off in his backyard at 6 a.m. The yearling calves, standing an arm’s length away, didn’t seem bothered by the fight or the spectating Sizemore.
“They were getting a bit close, so I had to back up inside the door to our side porch,” he said.
Dangers And Delays
The National Park Service asks visitors to stay 25 yards away from bison in Yellowstone National Park. That can be a difficult distance to maintain in West Yellowstone, where an entire bison herd could be in the 10 yards between you and your garage.
Sizemore said bison seem to enjoy lounging in his driveway. Where else can someone validly claim they’re late to work or school because a bison was blocking their way?
“We haven’t actually been delayed from leaving because of them yet, but they have laid in our driveway while we’re at home a few times,” he said.
Bison demand respect in West Yellowstone. They could be anywhere around there, morning or night.
Anyone taking a nighttime stroll might turn a corner and find a bison on the other side of the street. Sizemore might be a property owner, but there could always be a supersized squatter in the yard that resists eviction.
“We definitely have to check the area before letting our 2-year-old boy play outside,” he said. “We’re able to safely watch them outside from our garage or on the deck, but they have come running around the corner of the house before."
Safety and awareness are essential, especially in the spring. Sizemore doesn't want him or his family to find themselves on the bad side of a defensive mother bison, especially if that side puts them between her and her calf.
"They aren’t really aggressive, but any large animal is still dangerous to approach too closely," he said. "We have to be on the lookout while outside.”
Baby Mama Landscaping
There’s always a bison or two in West Yellowstone, but the abundance of bison depends on the season. Summer is for tourists, while spring is for bison.
Sizemore’s favorite local bison experience happened on the evening of May 29 last year. More than 60 bison were moving through the area, with their calves in tow.
“It was raining, the grass was vibrant green, birds were chirping, and bison could be seen everywhere you looked,” he said. “It’s typically during the spring birthing season that all the cows and calves are here. The Hebgen Lake area has always been where they come to have their babies.”
There’s an unexpected benefit to having so many bison in West Yellowstone during the spring. Thanks to the roving herds of bison, nobody needs to mow their lawns, as the grazing keeps the growing grass nice and trim.
Sizemore enjoys the abundance of wildlife he can see outside his home. It reminds him of the wilderness that still exists throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, so he enjoys the bison as they come and go.
“We see them regularly from April through June, but they are constantly moving all around the area,” he said. “They’re almost always on the move.”
Contact Andrew Rossi at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com
Yellowstone National Park's bison are mostly contained to the park, but West Yellowstone, Montana, is one place where they roam freely. At wildlife photographer Trent Sizemore’s house, these backyard bison graze on the lawn and lounge in the driveway. (Courtesy Trent Sizemore, Trent Sizemore Photography) 
Yellowstone National Park's bison are mostly contained to the park, but West Yellowstone, Montana, is one place where they roam freely. At wildlife photographer Trent Sizemore’s house, these backyard bison graze on the lawn and lounge in the driveway. (Courtesy Trent Sizemore, Trent Sizemore Photography)
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
