Yellowstone Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center draws curious tourists for stellar learning experience

Watching beautiful bears scamper, play and eat is a pleasure offered by West Yellowstone's Discovery Center. The animals within this extraordinary complex cannot be safely returned to the wild, so live out their days in care.

RESCUED ANIMALS FIND NEW LEASE ON LIFE, PROVIDING NATURE LOVERS WITH CLOSE-UP LOOK AT MAGNIFICENT WILD CREATURES 

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Sam is the king of the walk at the Discovery Center; he is the largest resident.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

WE LEARNED SO much in an afternoon at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center that we wanted to return the next day.

Fortunately, the admission ticket to this fine West Yellowstone, Montana, venue allows that.

Observant ravens and crows are on hand at the Center, too, gobbling up the scraps

of food after the bears and wolves have their fill.

The open, airy and nicely designed Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is one of the "don't miss" pleasures of a trip to the nation's first national park, Yellowstone.

The not-for-profit wildlife park is a truly  educational facility, opened nearly a quarter-century ago.

Workers have stashed food around the park's ample grounds. Now the bears are smelling out the stash -- and having lunch.

SINCE 1993, the center  has attracted an international clientele of  families and school groups.  The sunny autumn day of our recent visit, we joined several dozen others to get a close-up look at critters who -- for various reasons -- cannot make it on their own in the wild.

This beautiful grey wolf is enjoying the late afternoon sun of a fine autumn day. Two packs inhabit the wildlife center.

 The Yellowstone Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center park offers lectures and discussions, with experts describing the habits of the critters and the dangers they can pose when humans get too close.

Snow has come to Yellowstone, blanketing the pine and fir trees in cloaks of white.

Yellowstone Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

Open a remarkable 365 days a year, the Center offers visitors to Yellowstone a chance to quietly observe and experience a connection to the world of grizzly bears and gray wolves.

OUR GUIDE called the animals    "lucky ambassadors for their wild counterparts.''

Tickets are $13 adults, $12.25, kids $8 seniors, $8 for youngsters, and under three, children are free.

For more information: www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.org

UP NEXT: Winter in Yellowstone.  Come with us on snow coaches to a world of white and wonder.  And, oh, yes, it is verrrrrrrry cold, so dress warmly.  For several months of the year, the most stunning marvels of the park can only be experienced by snow coach. It's a winter wonderland and extraordinary time to visit. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and check us out each Friday for a fresh and lively look at travel, nature, family and the arts.