Wildlife Range Maps 

In 1973 it is estimated that 136 grizzlies lived  in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.  Few lived outside Yellowstone Park's boundary and none existed in Grand Teton National Park or the Wind River Mountains.  My first trip to the Tetons was in 1977.  There were no grizzlies in Grand Teton Park or the Wind River Mountains. 

Today Grizzlies exist in the Tetons, the Wind River Mountains, and the Wyoming Range south of the Tetons.  (above)

Grizzlies follow riparian zones as they leave the Rocky Mountains and venture onto the high plains.  (below)

Yellowstone's population of grizzly bears almost connects to the Northern Continental Divide Grizzly population.  Gene exchange between populations prevents inbreeding and genetic disorders.  This is why wildlife migration corridors are important - so that isolated populations remain strong and are not subject to extinction. 

1960s - Wolves exist only in Northeastern Minnesota (~350) and on Michigan's Isle Royal (less than 50).  All other lower 48 states had extirpated the wolf
Gray Wolf Numbers by State as of 2021 (approximate):
Minnesota    - 2500 - 3100
Wisconsin     -  700 - 1100
Michigan        - 700 (Upper Peninsula)
Montana        - 850 - 1100
Idaho                - 1500
Wyoming       - 300 - 350
Washington  - 175
Oregon            - 175
California       - less than 20
Arizona           - 75 - 100
New Mexico - 100 - 125
Mexico            -  30 - 40 

While camping one October night on a tarp under Britton Peak along Superior Hiking trail, under a partial moonlit night, a wolf came down off the side of the peak and stood about 20 feet away.

Where to see wolves: Best place in the world to see wolves is the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park.  The wide open vistas help in spotting wolves.  Winter time with white snow background helps as well as the foliage on trees and brush has fallen.  

While camping on the Toklat River in Denali National Park a Canada Lynx was outside of my tent,  there was a horrible shrieking and wailing.
It sounded like an old woman or a baby crying.  On another trip to Denali, saw a mother Canada lynx and four kittens.  

A population of cougars live in South Florida.  In the 1970s Florida's population was about 20 - 50, but by 2017 they numbered about 120 -230. 

Florida Panther Mortalities 1972-2018 - Many of the deaths occur along Roads.  
Below - fence along Interstate-75 (Alligator Alley) to protect the Florida Cougar from traffic. 

In Denali National Park I watched a Golden eagle soar low near the ground searching for pocket gophers.  Several years later in the Sonoran Desert near the Chiricahua Mountains there was a roadkill deer.  I watched a Golden eagle as it was chased by crows or ravens.  

Hiking in the Chiricahua Mountains I searched for the jaguar Sombra.  I found a feline track.  It might have been made by Sombra.  

Historical sightings for Jaguar in the American Southwest.  

Minnesota might reintroduce elk. 

Caribou existed in Northern Minnesota as recently as the 1930s.   Expanding white tail deer population in Northern Minnesota spreads brainworm - which generally does not affect whitetail deer, but does affect moose and caribou.  Warming temperatures make it unlikely caribou will return to Northern Minnesota. 

Before European settlers arrived, the Pronghorn antelope population was 30 - 40 million.  By the early 1900s the pronghorn population was only about 10,000-20,000 and thought it might go extinct.  Today the pronghorn population is 500,000 and 1 million.  The pronghorn antelope can outrun all predators, except for the Cheetah.  It is thought that a North American version of the cheetah (i.e. a fast running feline) is the evolutionary sculptor of the pronghorn - eliminating those that could not run fast enough.  

The Black-footed ferret was thought to be extinct in 1980.   A small population was found near Meeteetse Wyoming.