Landmark Series—Behind the Bandana: Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
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Old Faithful, located in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin, is the world’s most famous geyser, known for its spectacular eruptions that occur around 20 times a day. The height of these eruptions ranges from 100 to 180 feet, with an average height of 130-140 feet, and they last between 1.5 to 5 minutes. During an eruption, Old Faithful expels between 3,700 and 8,400 gallons of water, depending on the duration. The water temperature at the vent reaches 204°F (95.6°C), while the steam can exceed 350°F!
Let the Old Faithful Landmark Bandana be your guidebook to native flora and fauna on your next visit. Here is a closer look at the featured species:
American Bison
Common Harebell
Common Raven
Eleodes Nigrina
Elk
Flame Skimmer Dragonfly
Isabella Tiger Moth
Mountain Bluebird
Rocky Mountain Parnassian Butterfly
Seven-Spotted Ladybug
Shaggy Mane Mushroom
Yellow Fritillary
(Source: WikiCommons, Fæ, US National Archives bot, Astroval1, DcoetzeeBot, LukeSurl)
FIELD GUIDE:
Land Acknowledgement:
Yellowstone National Park sits at the convergence of multiple Indigenous tribal lands. 27 tribes have ancestral connections to this land including Assiniboine and Sioux, Blackfeet, Cheyenne River Sioux, Coeur d’Alene, Comanche, Colville Reservation, Crow, Crow Creek Sioux, Eastern Shoshone, Flandreau Santee Sioux, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine, Kiowa, Little Shell Chippewa, Lower Brule Sioux, Nez Perce, Northern Arapaho, Northern Cheyenne, Oglala Sioux, Rosebud Sioux, Salish and Kootenai, Shoshone–Bannock, Sisseton Wahpeton, Spirit Lake, Standing Rock Sioux, Turtle Mountain Band of the Chippewa, Umatilla Reservation, and Yankton Sioux.
#1. American Bison
Bison have a deep historical and cultural significance. They are considered sacred by Native Americans, who have cultivated a symbiotic and spiritual relationship with these magnificent creatures. Bison are large mammals with tufted fur known for a distinct hump in their back. Males can reach weights of up to 2,000 pounds, standing tall at 6 feet! The grazing style of bison is crucial for maintaining balance in the ecosystem. These majestic beings once freely roamed in vast herds across the Great Plains, shaping the landscapes we know today. Unfortunately, hunting of the bison nearly caused them to go extinct. However, through dedicated conservation efforts spearheaded by tribal councils and nature conservancies, we are now witnessing a remarkable resurgence of these iconic animals. Yellowstone is the only place in the lower 48 states to have a continuously free-ranging bison population since prehistoric times.
#2. Common Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia L.)
Harebell, a perennial herbaceous plant with slender stems and beautiful blue-violet bell-shaped flowers, is a pollinator favorite. Blooming from late spring to early autumn, these delicate flowers nod gracefully on their slender stems. In folklore, Harebell holds a mystical association with fairies, believed to ring like a bell when rung and summon these magical beings. The plant has a milky sap when the stem or leaves are broken. In the past, the flowers of harebell were used as a source of blue dye.
#3. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Ravens are renowned for their exceptional intelligence, often outsmarting even the most inventive scientific puzzles. The Common Raven displays impressive aerial feats, performing rolls and somersaults with acrobatic finesse. Young ravens exhibit playful behaviors, engaging in games with sticks by repeatedly dropping and catching them midair. Their intelligence also extends to understanding cause and effect; studies in Wyoming have shown that during hunting season, ravens are attracted to the sound of gunshots, anticipating a potential food source, while they ignore similarly loud but innocuous sounds like airhorns or car doors slamming.
Not only are Common Ravens adept mimics of other bird calls, but they can also learn to imitate human speech when raised in captivity. There's even an anecdote of a Common Raven raised from birth that learned to repeat the word “nevermore,” showcasing their remarkable vocal abilities and adaptability. Listen to the Raven’s call here.
#4. DARKLING BEETLE (Eleodes Nigrina)
Darkling beetles are known to survive in arid and desert environments. Through extraordinary adaptations, these beetles collect and condense water from the air, using specialized features on their body to capture moisture from fog and dew, providing vital hydration in water-scarce habitats. Their resilience and ingenuity exemplify how nature triumphs over challenges, thriving in some of the world's harshest regions.
#5. Elk (CERVUS CANADENSIS)
Did you know that elk antlers are not just an awe-inspiring example of Mother Nature's engineering, but also have a vital role in the life cycle of these majestic creatures? During the growing season, these antlers can grow at a staggering rate of one inch per day, and serve as a crucial tool for attracting mates. But their magnificence doesn't end there. Once an Elk sheds their antlers in late winter/early spring, the nutrient-rich antlers become a feast for the forest dwellers, providing a source of calcium and minerals.
#6. Flame Skimmer Dragonfly (Libellula saturate)
(Source: WikiCommons: Ser Amantio di Nicolao)
The Flame Skimmer is a strikingly large and robust dragonfly, notable for its vivid orange coloration. Males feature a bright carrot-orange body and uniformly amber wings extending halfway out. Females, while browner, have amber wing coloration limited to the forward edges, almost reaching the wing tips.
#7. Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia Isabella)
(Source: WikiCommons, JGanance)
(Source: WikiCommons, IronChris~commonswiki)
The forewings of this insect are yellow or tan, pointed, and often marked with faint lines and small dark spots, while the hindwings are lighter, with females having an orange hue. The forelegs' bases are a distinctive reddish-orange. The larvae, commonly known as "woolly bears" or "woolly worms," are more recognizable, featuring dense, stiff hairs and typically black ends with a rusty red or brownish middle.
#8. MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (SIALIA CURRUCOIDES)
The Mountain Bluebird, a small thrush with striking sky-blue plumage, proudly holds the title of state bird in Idaho and Nevada. They are secondary cavity nesters, creating homes in various hollows, and feed on ground-level insects and fruits. Mountain Bluebirds have the bluest plumage among all North American bluebirds, with males sporting vibrant blue feathers and females displaying a bluish tint. Listen to their birdcall here.
(Source: Wikimedia Commons: 623setagc)
#9. Rocky Mountain Parnassian Butterfly (PARNASSIUS CLODIUS)
(Source: Wikimedia Commons: Tyler ser Noche)
Clodius Parnassian butterfly wings are adorned with distinct black and white markings spanning a wingspan of 1.5 to 2.5 inches. The upper surface of their forewing cell is decorated with three dark gray bars. Look closely at the upper surface of their hindwing to find two vibrant red spots. These remarkable creatures call mountainous regions their home, thriving in alpine meadows, subalpine areas, and forest clearings. Notably, they exhibit Batesian mimicry, cleverly resembling the toxic Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies (Battus philenor) to deter predators.
#10. Seven-Spotted Ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata)
The Seven-spotted Lady Beetle, named for its seven spots—three on each side and one in the middle—is a fierce predator of aphids. This relatively large beetle, measuring 6.5 to 8 mm, has a black head with a white dot over each eye. It's the official state insect of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Tennessee. Introduced to North America for biological pest control, the Seven-spotted Lady Beetle's impact on native lady beetle populations is now a growing concern.
#11. Shaggy Mane Mushroom (
Coprinus comatus)
The Shaggy Mane mushroom is easy to identify with its white, shaggy, cylindrical cap that turns black and inky as it matures, eventually taking on a bell shape. Also known as "lawyer's wig" due to its "shaggy" appearance, the Latin name “comatus” derives from “coma,” meaning hair. When young, it resembles a hairy oblong egg on a smooth, thin stalk, with tightly packed white gills inside. Found in rich soils and grass, often near trails and roads, this gourmet edible mushroom is best enjoyed young, before the cap starts to disintegrate into ink.
#12. Yellow Fritillary (Fritillaria pudica)
(Source: WikiCommons, BMacZeroBot)
Yellow fritillary, also known as “yellowbells,” is a charming wildflower belonging to the Lily Family (Liliaceae), native to the western United States and Canada. These delicate plants, typically no taller than 8 inches, bloom shortly after snowmelt, usually from March to June. Each plant bears one or sometimes two bell-shaped yellow flowers hanging from the top of its slender stalk, about 3/4-inch-long, which later fade to rusty orange or purple hues. Linear leaves frame the flower stalk near the base, and after flowering, the above-ground parts vanish within a few weeks. Native American tribes valued the starchy bulbs of yellow fritillary, eating them raw or cooked, and storing dried bulbs for later use. These nutritious bulbs are also a favorite of bears and rodents.
Ready to geek out on more nature facts? Head over to our Landmark Series page for more.