Wildflower Watch
TNC scientists are enlisting the community’s help in studying the impacts of climate change on local plants.
The timing of when plants flower and fruit is critical to the survival of many animals, from bees and hummingbirds to grizzly bears. As our climate gets warmer and drier, these seasonal patterns are shifting, with potential ripple effects cascading throughout the food chain.
A 2022 study by Nature Conservancy scientists in Wyoming found that many of the wildflowers and other plants in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are blooming and bearing fruit nearly three weeks earlier than they did in the 1970s due to the changing climate. And those changes could be critical to the wildlife that depend on them for survival.
Throughout the region, the questions indicate serious concern. Will berry bushes produce fruit at the right time for bears to load up on critical calories before hibernation? Will sage-grouse have enough food during their spring mating and nesting season when they need it most?
You Can Help!
You can help scientists find answers by joining Wildflower Watch, a community science effort to monitor the seasonal cycle of wildflowers across the Greater Yellowstone area. As a volunteer, you’ll help gather data to inform conservation strategies and support plants and wildlife as they adapt to the impacts of climate change.
With the support of dedicated partners, Wildflower Watch currently operates at six locations throughout the Greater Yellowstone, where data is collected from spring through summer.
Learn more and explore Wildflower Watch locations by exploring this StoryMap.
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Thank You
Wildflower Watch is made possible thanks to support from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole.
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