The soaring mountain range is hardly the sole gem in the crown of Grand Teton National Park; the area’s wildlife is one of the most significant draws for visitors from around the world — of which there were 2.8 million in 2022. The park is also home to a small team of wildlife biologists who study the animals throughout the landscape and keep a close eye on whether they’re thriving or not.

My first visit to Wyoming eight years ago was during elk mating season. On a brisk early October day, I ventured to Yellowstone National Park with a naturalist guide, who explained the fierce mating ritual I was witnessing en masse. The high-pitched shriek of bugling bulls was entirely unexpected, and in just one day, I saw multiple battles as bulls violently crashed antlers to prove their power to females.