Soundscapes
Visitors watching Old Faithful Geyser erupt; Jim Peaco; June 2015
Yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus); NPS/Jacob W. Frank; May 5, 2017
About
A soundscape is a term for all of the sounds that can be heard in an area including those produced by inanimate sources, wildlife, and humans. In Yellowstone, some natural inanimate sounds are those of geysers erupting, rivers rushing over rocks, and wind rustling through tree branches. Wildlife sounds include elk bugling, birds singing, bison pawing the ground, and wolves howling. Human sounds include talking, aircraft flying overhead, car horns, the rumble of snowmobiles and snow coaches, and people walking on trails.
It is important to protect soundscapes so that all visitors can better experience the park’s natural environment and connect to their surroundings. For wildlife, it is also important to have quieter places so that they can communicate with each other, listen for predators or prey, and minimize stress levels.
Helpful Links
- Natural Sounds, National Park Service
- Soundscapes, National Park Service
- Winter Use Monitoring Summary of Findings 2014-2020, National Park Service. Talks about soundscape research monitoring starting on page 10.
- Yellowstone Sound Library, National Park Service
- Yellowstone Soundscapes Program, National Park Service
From the Archive
Library Resources
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Ask a Question
Submit questions to yell_research_library@nps.gov. You can alternatively call the library at (307) 344-2264, or visit us in person.
