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February is the perfect winter month. Sunny days and glorious sunsets extend a few minutes more each day. Cold temperatures and an occasional blast of new cold smoke powder preserves snow conditions for every outside activity. A blanket of white still covers mountain tops, tree branches, and large, untracked meadows providing beauty photographic moments.

There is a hint of love in the air both for couples strolling around Old Faithful’s boardwalk and as Yellowstone’s wildlife starts their mating seasons. The howl of wolves eerily echoes across the winterscape as they seek to attract their favorite mate.  Wolves mate in February giving birth to an average of five pups in April. There have been almost daily sightings of the Canyon Pack roaming from Madison Junction to Old Faithful this winter.

Yellowstone Park has some of the earliest breeding birds in North America. Clark Nutcrackers, sometimes called “Camp Robbers” by locals because of their resemblance to the Rocky Mountain Jay, mate in February.  They build their nests in February high in trees and are very secretive about its location.  The park’s Great Horned Owls also breed in early February after choosing their mates in December. You can sometimes hear them calling to each other in the Old Faithful geyser area.

The most visible love birds in the park are the bald eagles. Bald eagles generally mate for life and return to their favorite nesting locations year after year. Mating and their nest building (or re-building of a previous year’s nest) begins in February and goes through March. Watch for Yellowstone’s most famous bald eagle pair just six miles in from the West Entrance. A large nest is located in a snag (dead tree) on the south side of the road and the eagles prefer to perch in snags across the Madison River on the north side.

There is plenty of fun in February for people as well.  Daily snowcoach and snowmobile tours leave from West Yellowstone on roads groomed just for snow vehicles. These tours are conducted by trained guides who know the best places to see wildlife, experience Yellowstone’s thermals, and areas you can explore on foot. Traveling into Yellowstone in the winter is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!

Spend a Sunday at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center ( 201 South Canyon Street), an accredited animal sanctuary for grizzly bears and wolves. Yellowstone Park interpretive ranges present free pictorial presentation on Yellowstone each Sunday at 1:30 and 3:00 pm. Then, for a small admission fee, stroll over to the naturalist log cabin where you can relax near the fireplace while the center’s two wolf packs are visible through ceiling-to-floor glass windows on either side.

Other Yellowstone rangers present programs on Yellowstone’s wolves (Saturday nights) and bison (Sunday nights) at 7:00 PM at the West Yellowstone Visitor Center, 30 Yellowstone Avenue.

For some outdoor fun, why not try your first cross country ski race? Perfect for families and friends, this locals race series, the Spam Cup Series, offers a classic race on Friday, February 6^th at the Rendezvous Ski Trails in West Yellowstone. Winners will receive an exciting Spam Basket.

Up for a moonlight glide? The West Yellowstone Ski Foundation will offer a free moonlight ski. See the Rendezvous Ski Trails in a whole new light. The casual paced ski is appropriate for families and beginners. Dress warm and bring a headlamp if you have one. Meet at the Trailhead Building at 6:30 pm. (Call Sara at Sara (406) 599-4465 for more information.) Ski rentals are available.

Always wanted to try snow shoeing? There are several great opportunities to combine a snowshoe walk with learning. Yellowstone National Park rangers will lead a 2-mile walk into Yellowstone Park on February 6^th, 13^th, 20^th, and 27^th (Saturdays). Meet at the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center at 30 Yellowstone Avenue at 1:30 PM. Bring snowshoes, water and a snack. Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary. Call the WY Visitor Center for information on snowshoe rentals at (406) 646-7701.

The Gallatin National Forest is also offering a winter snowshoe program. Join Gallatin National Forest employees on February 12^th and learn about the great outdoors during the winter. Programs are free, but you will need to bring your snowshoes. The program is geared for beginners and is in the West Yellowstone area. Meet at the Forest Service at 1:00 pm.

On Friday, February 17^th, Gallatin National Forest employees will offer a snowshoe hike at Refugee Point. Come learn why Refuge Point was a vital meeting place after the 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake. Meet at the Forest Service at 1:00 pm. We will caravan to Refuge Point Trail. For more information about either Forest Service snowshoe hike, contact the Hebgen Lake Ranger Station (406) 823-6961.

How about some old fashioned family fun?  On Sunday, February 14^th,from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.,  the WY Chamber will offer a free “Skatin’ and S’mores” event. Warm-up with hot beverages, toast some marshmallows and make your own S' more with all the fixings provided.

You can skate at the S’mores event or anytime you like this winter. Lights are on from dusk until 8:30 p.m. There is no charge (FREE) although you might have to man the broom if there is new snow. Rink is open all the time and lights are on from dusk until 8:30pm. The ice is resurfaced once a week by volunteers who run a Zamboni. Others help shovel snow when they can! You can rent ice skates at WestMart (just across the field) for $5/day for adults; $5 deposit for kids. WestMart is open M-F 8-5 Sat 8-4. Rentals can be kept overnight.