Credits

Thank you.

This site stands on other people's work: the photographers and park staff who share their pictures, the recordists, the researchers who count things carefully, and the 4 people who wrote "Sustaining Paradise." Every photo of our own is from Wild Livelihoods members and friends.

Sounds

• Sounds of Yellowstone (stereo). Recording © Jeffrey T. Reed.
• Elk Bugle One. NPS/Neal Herbert. Public domain · source
• Footstep in the Snow. Joseph SARDIN. CC0 1.0 · source
• Splash, Small. Joseph SARDIN. CC0 1.0 · source
• Grizzly roar. Grizzly Systems (GrizCam design assets, griz.wav). Used with permission

Report

"Sustaining Paradise," Tourism business survey, September 2025, by Whitney Tilt, Jeff Reed, Evan Stout, Rhiana Peck. Initiated by Wild Livelihoods with the financial support of the Spruance Foundation II and the technical and administrative support of the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC).

Data

• University of Montana Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (ITRR)
• Headwaters Economics
• National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park and Visitor Spending Effects
• U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account
• Montana Department of Commerce, lodging tax data
• Montana Department of Labor and Industry
• USDA Census of Agriculture

Open-license photos

Used under their licenses. Public domain photos are from U.S. federal agencies, most of them the National Park Service. Creative Commons photos are shared under the license named, and their licenses apply to them here too.

1. Grizzly bear in Lamar ValleyNPS / Neal Herbert · Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
2. Grizzly bear foragingEric Kilby · between Norris and Mammoth, Yellowstone National Park · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
3. Grizzly sow and cubsNPS/Eric Johnston · Roaring Mountain, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
4. Grizzly family crossing a snowfieldNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Agate Creek, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
5. Junction Butte pack wolfGregory Smith · Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
6. Black wolf in the snowNPS / Jim Peaco · Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
7. Wolves chasing an elkSupercarwaar · Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
8. Bull elk bugling at MammothNPS / Neal Herbert · Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
9. Bull elk bugling in Arch ParkNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Arch Park, Gardiner, Montana · Public domain · source
10. Bull elk on a frosty morningNPS/Eric Johnston · Canyon area, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
11. Bull elk with his haremNPS / Neal Herbert · Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
12. Bull moose in the snowNPS / Addy Falgoust · Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
13. Cow and calf mooseNPS / Jim Peaco · Soda Butte Creek, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
14. Four bull mooseNPS / Jim Peaco · Soda Butte Creek, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
15. Bison below Electric PeakJacob W. Frank · Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
16. Bison herd at sunriseNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
17. Bison cow and newborn calfNPS / Neal Herbert · Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
18. Pronghorn buckThomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · Yellowstone National Park · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
19. Pronghorn on the Northeast Entrance RoadWikipedia / Tobias Klenze · Northeast Entrance Road, Yellowstone National Park · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
20. Bighorn ram in GardinerNPS / Ashton Hooker · Gardiner, Montana · Public domain · source
21. Bighorn sheep pairNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
22. Mountain goats on Sepulcher MountainNPS / Diane Renkin · Sepulcher Mountain, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
23. Mule deer buck in velvetRhododendrites · Yellowstone National Park · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
24. Black bear in spring grassNPS / Neal Herbert · Blacktail Deer Plateau, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
25. Black bear and cubNPS / A. Falgoust · Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
26. Bald eagle fishingNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
27. Osprey bringing a fish to the nestNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
28. Trumpeter swans on the riverbankNeal Herbert · Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
29. Yellowstone cutthroat troutNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
30. Beaver on the Yellowstone RiverNPS / Neal Herbert · Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
31. Red fox in the snowNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
32. Coyote howlingNPS / Jim Peaco · Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
33. River otters on the iceNPS / A. Falgoust · Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
34. Roosevelt ArchAcroterion · Gardiner, Montana · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
35. Gardiner, MontanaAcroterion · Gardiner, Montana · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
36. Park Street, GardinerZeist85 at en.wikipedia · Gardiner, Montana · Public domain · source
37. Gardiner from Sepulcher MountainNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Gardiner, Montana · Public domain · source
38. Blue Goose SaloonZeist85 · Gardiner, Montana · Public domain · source
39. Cooke City in winterMike Cline · Cooke City, Montana · Public domain · source
40. Comet over Cooke CityLarry Lamsa · Cooke City, Montana · CC BY 2.0 · source
41. Miners Saloon, Cooke CityIldar Sagdejev (Specious) · Cooke City, Montana · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
42. Beartooth HighwayAcroterion · Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
43. Emigrant Peak from Dome MountainNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Paradise Valley, Montana · Public domain · source
44. Emigrant Peak from East River RoadMike Cline · Paradise Valley, Montana · Public domain · source
45. Absaroka Range near EmigrantMike · Absaroka Range, Montana · Public domain · source
46. Chico Hot SpringsMamalodon · Pray, Montana · CC0 · source
47. Downtown Livingston from aboveQuintin Soloviev · Livingston, Montana · CC BY 4.0 · source
48. Livingston commercial districtDavid Coats · Livingston, Montana · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
49. Teslow grain elevatorMontanabw · Livingston, Montana · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
50. Lamar ValleyNeal Herbert · Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
51. Soda Butte CreekHaSt · Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
52. Yankee Jim CanyonMike Cline · Yankee Jim Canyon, Montana · Public domain · source
53. Yellowstone River near Yankee Jim CanyonMike Cline · Yankee Jim Canyon, Montana · Public domain · source
54. Morning light on Electric PeakJacob W. Frank · Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
55. Yellowstone River and Electric PeakNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana · Public domain · source
56. Mammoth Hot Springs terraceRhododendrites · Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
57. Dead trees at Mammoth Hot SpringsBrocken Inaglory · Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
58. Illuminated teepees under the Milky WayNPS / Jacob W. Frank · North Entrance, Gardiner, Montana · Public domain · source
59. Milky Way over a beaver pondNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
60. Washburn fire lookout at nightNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Mount Washburn, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
61. Sunset in Lamar ValleyNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
62. Drift boat on the YellowstoneLumpytrout · Yellowstone River · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
63. Fly fishing at Grebe LakeNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Grebe Lake, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
64. Fly fishing on the Madison RiverNeal Herbert · Madison River, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
65. Rafting a Montana riverGlacierNPS · Middle Fork of the Flathead River, Montana · Public domain · source
66. Hiking the Yellowstone River TrailNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Yellowstone River Trail, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
67. Looking for goats on Sepulcher MountainNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Sepulcher Mountain, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
68. Spotting scope in Lamar ValleyNPS / Ashton Hooker · Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
69. Watching a grizzly with spotting scopesNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
70. Give wildlife room, use a zoomNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
71. Cow and calf on a Paradise Valley ranchUSDA/FPAC photo by Preston Keres · Livingston, Montana · Public domain · source
72. Moving electric fenceUSDA/FPAC photo by Preston Keres · Livingston, Montana · Public domain · source
73. Forest Service packer at Buffalo ForkUSDA Forest Service photo by Brad Bolte · Buffalo Fork Ranger Station, Gardiner Ranger District, Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana · Public domain · source
74. Trail ride near Tower JunctionNPS / Jacob W. Frank · Tower Junction, Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · source
75. Bronc riding at a Montana rodeoMike Cline · Ennis, Montana · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
76. Rodeo parade flag bearersThayne Tuason, user name:Biscuitroot · Wolf Point, Montana · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
77. Teepees at the North EntranceNPS / Ashton Hooker · North Entrance, Gardiner, Montana · Public domain · source
78. Gathering on the Gardiner school fieldNPS / Neal Herbert · Gardiner, Montana · Public domain · source
79. Gardiner Community LibrarySteven Pavlov · Gardiner, Montana · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
80. Montana farmers marketDsetay · Missoula, Montana · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source