The Impact of “Yellowstone” on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Each summer, as I navigate the winding roads through the picturesque river valleys that connect Yellowstone National Park to Cody, Wyoming, I can’t help but notice the increasing number of cabins that rise from the ridge tops, the subdivisions replacing former hayfields, and the fences that now delineate these new properties. This region has experienced a gradual rise in population and housing density over the decades, but the recent surge in growth seems to be partially fueled by a cultural phenomenon: the television series “Yellowstone.” Starring Kevin Costner as a captivating Montana rancher embroiled in a struggle against encroaching developers, the show has glamorized the idea of owning a slice of this breathtaking landscape.
As the series returns to Paramount on Sunday for the second half of its fifth season, it coincides with a time when the pandemic and the rise of remote work have spurred many to seek out homes in this charming area. Home values in towns such as Bozeman, Montana; Jackson, Wyoming; and Cody have skyrocketed since 2018. A study released after the fourth season indicated that nearly two-thirds of tourists surveyed attributed their decision to visit Montana, at least in part, to the allure of the show. While concrete data explicitly linking the television series to the surge in development is scarce, it is evident that even a modest influx of new homes in these valleys can significantly alter the future landscape of Yellowstone.
I perceive this escalating development as a serious threat to the delicate ecosystem that relies on a relatively unfragmented habitat to function effectively. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, along with several neighboring national forests, safeguard a vast, high-elevation plateau. During the summer months, this lush sanctuary becomes a feeding paradise for tens of thousands of hoofed mammals, including elk, pronghorn, bison, bighorn sheep, and moose, enabling them to grow stronger and nurture their young. As autumn approaches and snow blankets the ground, these animals migrate to the valleys and plains of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho to find shelter through the harsh winter.
These migratory patterns are crucial as they support the wide array of predators and scavengers that call Yellowstone home, such as wolves, grizzly bears, and eagles. The area is renowned for its exceptional wildlife-watching and hunting opportunities, attracting millions of visitors each year. I have come to view the migratory hoofed mammals of Yellowstone, akin to the wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle of East Africa’s Serengeti, as the true keystone species of this ecosystem.
While Native Americans have understood this interconnectedness for centuries, it was only through modern GPS tracking that we began to fully grasp the extent of these migrations. The resulting maps reveal a complex network of corridors that stretch like veins and arteries across the landscape, some reaching over 100 miles in length.
