Terry and Karen McEneaney are a husband/wife team and co-owners of Yellowstone Wildlife Guides (YWG). Karen McEneaney, a former art teacher and retired Yellowstone National Park ranger specialized in guiding film crews from around the globe. If you have ever seen a Yellowstone documentary or news clip on Yellowstone, chances are Karen was involved as the parkʼs film monitor for those projects. She has extensive field knowledge of the park, its wildlife, and its geothermal features. Karen has illustrated two books, Birds of Yellowstone and Birding Montana. In addition, she is a great business manager and organizer of logistics and meals, and has, according to many past tour participants, a wonderful glowing personality. She is one of the many hidden treasures of YWG and a valuable asset to any wildlife guiding business.
Terry McEneaney is a retired Yellowstone staff ornithologist and park ranger, and owner/ senior guide of Yellowstone Wildlife Guides (YWG). And is a certified wildlife biologist of The Wildlife Society, the leading NA organization of professional wildlife biologists. Few if any wildlife guides in Montana or Wyoming have this certification. He is also a scientist, author, lecturer, world traveler, adventurer, skilled mountaineer, and member of the American Alpine Club, Western Field Ornithologists, and the American Ornithologist's Union. His vast knowledge of Yellowstone (and Montana for that matter) and its wildlife is based on his extensive field experience. If finding wildlife and having fun is your goal then you have found the right wildlife guide. He learned mammals while assisting and mentoring under the famed mammalogist and ornithologist Dr. Phil Wright, at the University of Montana Bird and Mammal Museum. He spent four and a half decades in Montana and more specifically 34 years in the field as a professional full-time ornithologist(which is very rare in today’s world) primarily at Yellowstone National Park. He is very familiar with the Yellowstone frontcountry and backcountry while conducting both ground reconnaissance and aerial surveys for the National Park Service. And is well versed on park history, issues and management, and wildlife populations, distribution and ecology.
For Terry, the mammals are the easiest to find in the field, yet few guides know Yellowstone wildlife (mammals and birds) like he does. He is also featured as a unique international wildlife guide in the book by Chris Santella entitled 50 Places to Bird Before You Die. Even though he retired from YNP he has not slowed down and does not collect dust, and during his spare time continues to live life to the fullest. Besides the Yellowstone ranger life he has worked all over Montana (e.g. Red Rock Lakes NWR, Charles M. Russell NWR, Garnet Ghost Town) and has lived in 13 towns in the Big Sky state. In his spare time he is a guide for the world bird tour company, Field Guides, Inc. (Austin, Texas). The rest of the time he plays, exercises, and travels and counts his lucky charms. For more specific information on Yellowstone and Montana birds please visit our link www.ravenidiot.com.
Current and Forthcoming Yellowstone Wildlife Guides Publications
2014
- McEneaney, T. 2014. Birds of Yellowstone revision. Yellowstone Wildlife Guides.
- McEneaney, T. 2014. Birding Montana revision. Falcon Press.
- McEneaney, T. 2013. Field Observations, Analyses, Interpretations of a 77 Year Yellowstone Trumpeter Swan Set (1931-2007): What This All Means. Yellowstone Wildlife Guides.
- McEneaney, T. 2013 . Birds of Yellowstone reprinting. Yellowstone Wildlife Guides.
- McEneaney, T. 2013. Lucky Feathers-Adventures and Experiences of a Yellowstone Ornithologist. Yellowstone Wildlife Guides. New book.
- McEneaney, T. 2013. Field Identification and Ecology of Raptors—a unique field approach. Yellowstone Wildlife Guides. New book.
- McEneaney, T. 2012. Field Checklist of the Mammals of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Wildlife Guides. YWG Publication #2. Revised. Free.
- McEneaney, T. 2012. Field Checklist of the Birds of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Wildlife Guides. YWG Publication #3. Revised. Free.
- McEneaney, T. 2008. Field Checklist of the Herps(Reptiles and Amphibians) of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Wildlife Guides. YWG Publication #4. Revised. Free.
McEneaney, T. 2008. First Sight Record of a Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) in Yellowstone National Park. YWG Publication #5. Free.
Testimonials
| "We spent two days in Yellowstone Park with Terry McEneaney this spring and it was a fine experience. We saw near 100 different species, from rare birds and their nests to wolves, grizzlies, elk, etc. The predator/prey relationships were played out before us. Briefly, if it's in or near the Park and you want to see it, he can find it and tell you its tale. He'll put you at ease -- Terry can talk to ten-year-olds, octogenarians, scientists and laymen alike -- and his anecdotes are rivetting. He can also move through the forest in silence and let the bird sounds and animal signs reveal their own stories. In a word, to be in the wilds with Terry is delightful. Please feel free to call us if you have any questions." |
 Harold and Jan Hoem |
| Missoula, Montana |
| "Our journey with Terry McEneaney began with a course on waterfowl identification in Yellowstone National Park, followed by identification of birds by sound, and then the glorious raptor watch and private raptor course, as he shared with us his knowledge and passion for the splendors of birding. Beyond that, we treasure his incredible depth of knowledge and experience which helped give us an understanding of the entire Yellowstone ecosystem. We join him wherever and whenever we can." |
| Jim and Nancy Wiggins |
| Billings, Montana |
| "After a very random and fortunate meeting with Terry's wife Karen on the trail to Trout Lake, my wife and I (intermediate-level Midwestern birders) knew we had to book a day with Terry. Fortunately he was free on the last day of our honeymoon in Yellowstone, the 4th of July. We met Terry at 4:30 AM that morning. We met early and all hit it off immediately. Right way we were astounded at his in-depth knowledge of not only where to find the avian specialties of Yellowstone, but his deep commitment to educating his guests on the life histories of these birds. Terry demonstrated a tremendous talent for knowing the habitats and showing us what to look for. The trip was perfectly paced throughout, and we were able to enjoy the birds against the backdrop of Yellowstone without feeling rushed or too slow. Even species we were familiar with gained new life with Terry's observations and knowledge. We saw around 90 species that day, but the insight and great experiences we shared with Terry and the birds of YNP will always outlast the simple numbers of species. My wife and I would recommend a trip with Terry to anyone truly interested in the wildlife and wildness of YNP, whether they are lifelong birders or tourists seeking to discover Yellowstone off the beaten path. We felt it was worth every penny, as we enjoyed Terry's company immensely and left Yellowstone feeling we had developed a great friendship with him and Karen. We'll be back and we'll always recommend Terry to anyone venturing out his way."
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| Melissa and Matt McDonald |
| Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin |
| "We have traveled the world and have met many wildlife guides, but few have had the field experience, wildlife knowledge, subject depth, resource commitment, and personality of Terry McEneaney. I highly recommend this guide." |
| George Jones |
| London, England |
| "With Karen's eye for design and Terry's eye for all things wild, one could have no greater experience for the senses….And those gracious and warm personalities. You are this special place and it is you." |
| Dayton Misfeldt |
| Palo Alto, California |
| "Thank you for the wonderful memories we will have of you both, your wonderful home, the superb cabin, and our 'Park' experiences"! We had such fun and excitement throughout our time here, which really went quickly and we are sorry to have to leave." |
| Tommy and Mary Mone |
| Derrynoose, Ireland |
| "Our experiences with Terry and his wife Karen have always been enlightening and full of fun and laughter. Terry truly has a passion for wildlife, evidenced by his vast knowledge and commitment to the wildlife of Yellowstone National Park. Terry is willing to tell it like it is without the window dressing often portrayed by most consultants or employees of our governments. We will again attend trips or classes offered by Terry (and wife Karen). Those who might miss such an opportunity, certainly would be missing an adventure of a life-time." |
| Jarlath and John Mortenson |
| Pinedale, Wyoming |
