Draper Natural History Museum

Draper Natural History Museum staff and volunteers conduct long-term ecological research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and keep up with all the wildlife and science news and issues related to this world-renowned, natural treasure. Keep up with Draper Museum fieldwork and Greater Yellowstone news and information here.

Turkey Vulture landing on the ground, wings outstretched. Its excellent sense of smell may have lead it to carrion.
December 4, 2019

Exploring the Turkey Vulture’s Sense of Smell

Finding Unseen Carrion In 1979, David Houston did a study on the efficiency of Turkey Vultures finding carrion by smell. The study…

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Tall snow covered mountains in central Asia with migrating birds in the foreground.
October 15, 2019

The Basics of Bird Migration Part II-Travel Direction, Navigation, Flyways, and Dangers

Click here to read part 1 When thinking of bird migration, many people think of flocks of geese moving in their typical…

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September 30, 2019

Museum Minute: How Wounds Can Help Tell a Story

Late in the spring a couple years back, Leslie Patten went hiking and came upon something pretty spectacular. When she looked more…

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Artic Terns have the longest migration or any animal.
September 17, 2019

The Basics of Bird Migration Part I-Knowing When, Grouping, and How They Prepare

Migration can be one of the most dangerous times in a bird’s life, yet it is intended to improve their long term…

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Video still of bison and a too-close crowd. Greater Yellowstone Sights and Sounds Archive. 430.177.003 / DRA501.177.3
August 28, 2019

Museum Minute: Historic Video Archives Teach a Lesson: Don’t Get Close to Wildlife

The McCracken Research Library has been working to compile historical video footage of natural history events in the Greater Yellowstone Area.  There…

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Dr. Monica G. Turner, winner of the 2019 Camp Monaco Prize
July 25, 2019

University of Wisconsin-Madison professor awarded $100,000 Camp Monaco Prize research grant

The Camp Monaco Prize Partnership has announced the winners of the $100,000 Camp Monaco Prize, which supports integrated scientific research and public…

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