Bears, Birds, Wolves and More at Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge

Most of us in southcentral Montana have probably been to the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge. I've been there at least ten times, and my coworker Heather said they stop every time they're in the Lodge.

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My latest trip was from a slightly different angle.

After taking our last-minute school background check, my wife and I were cleared to help chaperone my 3rd grader's field trip to the Sanctuary. The two buses were crowded with kids and a handful of teachers and helpers, so we drove separately and met everyone there.

The weather was picture-perfect spring in Montana.

Everything is fleetingly green this time of year, and it's one of my favorite times to visit Red Lodge.

Temps were mild at 70ish, skies were still smoke-free, and we didn't get any mosquito bites. Kids applied sunscreen, ate snacks, and divided into our tour groups.

Kudos to the staff.

This was my first time experiencing a guided tour through the facility. While it was geared towards 8 - 10-year-olds, I learned SO much too.

We had three guides who each took a group of roughly 15 kids. They were incredibly patient and knowledgeable, answering dozens of questions from inquiring grade schoolers.

Read the signage when you walk through.

Guided tours are relatively affordable, but if you spend time reading the placards throughout the sanctuary, you can learn much about how each animal came to its forever home here, including their species, habitats, etc., on your own.

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 All of the animals here can be found in the Yellowstone ecosystem.

Some of the animals were found injured, others were pets, and almost all are unable to survive in the wild. Ask a staffer to tell you how they came to have two tiger salamanders. One is named M&M and the other Scherbatsky, and how they ended up at a wildlife sanctuary in Red Lodge is quite a story.

The Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary is open every day except Tuesday from 10 AM to 4 PM during the summer. They currently have 33 animals.