Riparian Habitat
Work on The Banks of the Madison River Otter/Riparian Habitat has begun. The blueprints have been completed and work can start on the preliminary site this year as we begin the big push to fully fund the project. Characterized by lush vegetation along freshwater streams and rivers, riparian habitats support a diverse array of wildlife. This planned series of aquatic exhibits will highlight the interrelationships between bears, wolves and the associated species within a typical Yellowstone riparian habitat. Situated along the southern perimeter of the new River Valley Wolf Habitat, the building and landscape will be a complex system of streams, ponds and land habitat which will represent a living example of the ecosystem. Visitors will learn about how the presence of wolves in Yellowstone has had an impact on riparian habitats. The planned exhibits include the North American river otter, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, American dipper and boreal toad.    

The conceptual see-through rendering below shows the view from the River Valley Wolf Habitat. Visitors will walk through the building while being immersed into the habitat literally as a “visitor.” Our guests will be submerged below grade allowing a level, eye-to-eye relationship with the otters, birds will be elevated, trout are at an equal level to viewers, and the wolves outside will be above eye level. A series of interactive interpretive materials will walk the visitor through the cascading interrelationships between wolves, elk, willow/aspen, insects/beaver, birds/amphibians/trout, otters/bears.    

The Center plans to raise the needed $3.1 million dollars over the next few years to build this facility. The first $300,000 has produced the construction blueprints.