Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA: Spring and early summer in Grand Teton National Park is the best time of the year to spot wildlife, and visitors to Grand Teton National Park during the months of May and June are virtually guaranteed to observe the park's incredible mammals and birds even if they don't venture into the backcountry. Wyoming's 310,000-acre park - located in the northwest corner of the state - has been called the best place for wildlife-viewing in the continental U.S.

Among the mammals and birds that make their home in Grand Teton National Park are elk, moose, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, bison, wolves, black and grizzly bears, bighorn sheep, coyotes, bald and golden eagles, white pelicans, woodpeckers, prairie falcons, trumpeter swans and sandhill cranes. In all, there are 17 species of carnivorous mammals, six species of hoofed mammals, three species of rabbits and hares, six species of bats, four species of reptiles, 22 species of rodents, five species of amphibians, 16 species of fish and more than 300 species of birds.

"A visitor to Grand Teton National Park isn't likely to soon forget the memory of a moose and her newly born calf lounging in the willows near Jackson Lake Lodge or an elk cow shepherding her calf through the Snake River bottomlands," said John Rutter, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Grand Teton Lodge Company. "Grand Teton National Park is a haven for wildlife of many kinds, and the employees of Grand Teton Lodge Company are dedicated to teaching guests how to observe the park's incredible creatures in the safest, most memorable ways."

In the spring and early summer, many of the park's most fascinating mammals are birthing. Elk, moose, pronghorn antelope and bison calve during the months of May and June. These young, often playful arrivals to the park provide visitors with an appreciation of family values, mammal-style. The baby calves follow their mothers on wobbly legs while the elders nurse their young and gently encourage conformity to their species' particular version of park life.

Often, the mothers are quick to defend their young, making spring and early summer a potentially dangerous place for unaware human visitors. Moose and bison will charge humans if they perceive danger to their young or feel threatened or cornered.

Den-bound bears give birth in January and February, and then emerge from their dens with their young in April and May. Most black bear mothers have two cubs at a time. Unlike some other species, there is a relatively low mortality rate among bear cubs, primarily because the young are precocious and generally receive excellent maternal care.

Moose are also abundant in Grand Teton National Park, and young moose, with their gangly appearance and ungraceful gait, are a particular favorite among springtime wildlife-watchers. Powerful bull moose can stand as high as 6«« feet and weigh as much as 1,300 pounds. The largest members of the deer family, moose are known for their distinctive high shoulder hump and the "bell" of skin and hair that hang from the throat. They enjoy willow bottoms, sloughs and beaver ponds and are commonly seen along water courses and forested uplands in warmer months.

"There is an incredible amount of animal activity in the park when the lodges open for the summer season, and many of our employees believe that spring is the best time of the year for watching animals," said Rutter. "It's also a beautiful season, when wildflowers begin to spring from the ground and the grass begins to turn green."

Grand Teton Lodge Company manages lodging, restaurants, tours and activities at Jackson Lake Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge and Colter Bay Village as well as the Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club in Jackson, Wyoming.

Jackson Lake Lodge opens on Friday, May 21, and Jenny Lake Lodge and Colter Bay Village cabins and RV Park open Friday, May 28.