Visitation to Yellowstone on its opening day of the 2020 season was low, as expected/NPS, Jacob W. Frank

Visitors to Yellowstone National Park this week have not fully embraced social distancing practices, but overall Superindendent Cam Sholly is pleased with how the reopening has gone so far. That could change, though, if the long Memorial Day Weekend draws greater numbers of visitors to the park.

Through Wednesday, though, Sholly sounded pleased.

"Overall, the first three days of operations have gone smoothly, especially with the very reduced amount of visitation in the park. I expect these numbers to go up significantly in the next few weeks," he said Thursday.

According to the park's tally, 2,834 people came through Yellowstone's two open gates -- the South and East entrances -- through Wednesday. Those numbers represented 90 percent of normal through the East Entrance (near Cody, Wyoming) for this time of year, and approximately 60 percent of normal through the South Entrance (near Jackson, Wyoming).

Last year, with all five park entrances open on these same dates, there were 5,022 cars in the park on May 18, 4,880 cars in the park on May 19, and 4,723 cars on May 20. This year the tallies were 1,046 through the East and South entrances on Monday, 1,086 on Tuesday, and 702 on Wednesday.

It is estimated that over the past three days there was less than 20 percent of the normal traffic volume in the park compared to when all five entrances have been open at this time of year, the park reported.

"Overall, the Old Faithful boardwalk was one of the busiest sections of the park in the first three days of operations. A mix of compliance and non-compliance with social distancing was observed by park staff," Yellowstone staff reported. "Most families and groups traveling together were not socially distanced, as would be expected. Clear separation between these groups was observed in many cases, but not all. Masks are not required but are highly recommended in the park especially when social distancing is not possible. Park staff observed limited use of masks in outdoor areas."

Sholly said visitors not comfortable being around others who are not wearing masks should skip a trip to Yellowstone for now. 

"We have put substantial mitigation in place and our measures will continue evolving daily. However, to visitors intending to visit Yellowstone: If you are not comfortable being in places where other visitors are not wearing masks, I suggest one of two things: 1) plan your visit for another time and don’t come to the park now; or 2) don’t put yourselves in situations where you’re around visitors who are not following health recommendations," he said.

While Montana's entrances to the park -- through Gardiner and West Yellowstone -- remain closed due to that state's requirements that out-of-state travelers self-quarantine for 14 days, Sholly said Montana's governor plans to lift that requirement on June 1 and soon after the park and the state will announce when those two entrances will reopen.

"The decision to reopen Yellowstone is not and has not been a unilateral decision. These decisions are being made in close concert with our state and local partners, including health officials, and with support from the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service," said the superintendent.

"We have implemented a reopening plan that is limited in nature. It gives us time to observe and make adjustments, expand operations if conditions are favorable, and contract them if they are not. We welcome realistic feedback on how we can continue improving our reopening strategy while working together to maintain the safety for our employees and visitors. Keeping Yellowstone closed is not a viable strategy."

The superintendent did not mention an incident Wednesday in which a visitor got too close to a bison and was butted to the ground. She was not seriously injured and didn't need medical attention.

Monday visitor traffic at Old Faithful/NPS, Jacob W. Frank

The Park Service has invested nearly $150,000 at Yellowstone to deal with the coronavirus pandemic:

• Nearly $30,000 was spent for personal protective equipment (PPE) (N-95 masks, Tyvek suits, face shields, regular masks, and gloves);
• Nearly $50,000 for new electrostatic disinfectant sprayers to more effectively and expeditiously clean restrooms and facilities;
• $20,000 for facial coverings and thermometers;
• $16,000 for visitor center and entrance station mitigation (plexiglass shields, stanchions, other);
• and nearly $20,000 for signage.

The park has another $40,000 pending in back-ordered charges for additional PPE and mitigation equipment.  

As the superintendent has said before, park staff will not be policing visitors when it comes to social distancing, and will not tell them to don masks.

"While we are taking many actions to mitigate health concerns, including widespread messaging, signage, and direct public interface, the National Park Service in Yellowstone will not be actively telling citizens to spread out and put masks on, especially outdoors," he said. "While we recommend it, per CDC guidelines, primarily in areas where social distancing cannot be adhered to, we will not be enforcing the wearing of masks in outdoor areas. Once facilities begin to open, the park will evaluate more rigid guidelines on social distancing and facial coverings indoors."