# @usgs on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DcjLdulFFtC
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/69687797-usgs-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/bab6f040c3.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-08-27T16:07:39.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (@USGS) — https://gondola.cc/USGS

## Caption

What do mountain goats, a streamgage, and DNA have in common? 

They are all part of how USGS science supports Grand Teton National Park’s wildlife, waters, and visitors.

📷 1: Though iconic in the West, mountain goats are not native to Grand Teton, and their growing numbers raise concerns about competition with native bighorn sheep. USGS scientists use genetic sampling and movement modeling to track their origins and population changes, helping park managers make informed decisions about goat management. Credit: NPS

📷 2: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Credit: NPS

📷 3: Below the surface of Jackson Lake, a different kind of threat is being monitored. Autonomous environmental DNA samplers are helping detect invasive quagga mussels (pictured) before they can take hold. These tiny mussels can clog water infrastructure and disrupt entire food webs, making early detection important for protecting the lake’s ecosystem. Credit: USGS

📷 4: The wildlife of Grand Teton draws visitors from around the world, and a recent USGS study shows just how much that matters. Surveys of park visitors indicate that the chance to see a wide range of animals, especially grizzly bears, significantly increases what people are willing to pay to visit. This research highlights the economic and personal value of supporting healthy wildlife populations. Credit: NPS

📷 5: At the outlet of Jackson Lake Dam, a USGS streamgage (13011000 Snake River near Moran, WY; pictured) has been recording flow data since 1904, making it one of the oldest streamgages in Wyoming. More than a century later, this station is still providing critical, near real time data used to manage irrigation, protect fisheries, and support recreation throughout the region. Credit: USGS

#NationalParkWeek

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