Draper Natural History Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West

09/16/2026

Meet the yellow-bellied sapsucker—a woodpecker with a name as memorable as its feeding habits. Anne's latest blog explores how these resourceful birds tap neat rows of sap wells in trees, sip the sweet rewards, and create a snack stop that can benefit other wildlife, too.

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are woodpeckers that feed on tree sap. They drill holes in trees, which causes sap to flow out for them to feed on.

09/14/2026

🔬 The data is in. Now comes the tricky part: identification!

For the past three years, the Draper has been using blue vane traps to learn which pollinators call Park County, Wyoming, home. While collecting specimens is one thing, figuring out exactly what we’ve collected can be much more challenging—especially when it comes to bees!

Thankfully, Michelle Toshack with the Xerces Society joined us in August to identify all the bumble bees in our collection. 🐝

Curious about what she found? Learn more about our bumble bee research on our website!

https://centerofthewest.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Pollinator-Census-2025-Report.pdf

09/10/2026

Join us tomorrow for a film screening of What Bison See: Restoring Yellowstone's Lost Migrations, followed by a discussion panel and opportunity to mingle with researchers and filmmakers!

Friday, September 11, hosted by the Draper Natural History Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Doors open at 6:30. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, first come first serve.

What Bison See is a film by the Wyoming Migration Initiative at the University of Wyoming and provides an intimate look at the first bison fitted with video collars. The film is presented by Yellowstone Forever and produced in partnership with the National Park Service.

The event will run from 6:30-8:30 PM in the Coe Auditorium at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. A moderated discussion panel will follow the film with time for Q&A from the audience and a free raffle for attendees.

Panelists include Chris Geremia (Yellowstone National Park), Matt Kauffman (Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit with the University of Wyoming), Janey Fugate (Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration with the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit with the University of Wyoming), and Patrick Rodgers (Wyoming Migration Initiative).

09/05/2026

Happy International Vulture Awareness Day!

This September 5, we’re celebrating some of nature’s most misunderstood—and most important—birds!

Vultures may not win any beauty contests, but they play a vital role in keeping ecosystems healthy. As nature’s cleanup crew, they efficiently dispose of carrion and help reduce the spread of disease. Despite their important ecological role, vultures around the world face serious threats, including poisoning, habitat loss, electrocution, and other human-caused dangers.

Here at the Draper Natural History Museum, we think vultures deserve a little more appreciation!

Want to separate vulture fact from fiction? Check out our blog: https://centerofthewest.org/2020/08/31/vultures-fallacies-and-truths/

09/04/2026

Two word of the days in one week, but they describe vastly different processes!

09/02/2026

09/01/2026

Don't forget this Saturday-September 5th is International Vulture Awareness Day!!

Vultures are so vital to our healthy ecosystems they deserve their own day of recognition 👏

Spend some time outside and appreciate your local vultures! ❤️

08/30/2026

Heads up, everyone! August 31st is the last day of our summer "Eagle Feeding" programs. We are so grateful to everyone who attended these new programs to learn more about bald eagles and our girl, Jade.

Don't worry, Jade will still get fed every day, we just won't be able to hang out with guests like we had been as our staff starts to shift some of their focus to fall programs at local schools and online classrooms.

Thanks for a great summer!

08/28/2026

Curious about the research happening beyond the walls of the Draper Natural History Museum?

The newest edition of The Pinyon Jay Journal is here! Dive into the latest updates, including:

🔹 A statewide Pinyon Jay summary from Frank Stetler of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department
🔹 A behind-the-scenes look at what technicians Moira and Amber have been up to in the field
🔹 Insight into the museum side of Pinyon Jay research from Andy Engilis (UC Davis MWFB)
🔹And more of Lucky #4’s story, courtesy of Jason Riggio (UC Davis MWFB)

It’s a packed edition—and one you won’t want to miss!

📖 Read it on our website:
https://centerofthewest.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Pinyon-Jay-Journal-_-CS-Newsletter-August-2026.pdf

08/26/2026

Another summer is coming to an end. While we are sad to see our interns go, we are so grateful for all they do for us and all we can offer them. Check out Sophie's blog about what she learned from the birds of the Draper Museum Raptor Experience.

As I near the end of my Raptor Internship at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, I reflect on the knowledge I have gained over the past 12 weeks. From