"Bearman's"
Yellowstone Park Wolf Updates
Photo by Jim Peaco--NPS
Updates on Yellowstone Park's wolf population, and location-territory map
©Kevin Sanders 2004
Information provided courtesy of Yellowstone Gray Wolf Restoration Project
Please note that this count is likely to include any pup mortalities not yet discovered
Total
Wolves Reintroduced : 14+9 pups-1995
17+14 pups-1996,
additionally 10 pups were brought in from Augusta,
Mt-1996 = 64
Total Free-Ranging Packs: 12 packs, and 3 +pairs
Dispersal's: Numerous
Loners: 6+
Wolves In Acclimation Pens: 0
Total Pups Observed
During First Three Years
11; 6 litters 1995-96
64 during 1997
42 in 1998
61+ in 1999
includes mortalities not listed
Total Wolf Population Inside Park Borders: 2/4/10 less than 100~ estimated
2008 Summary
At the end of 2008, at least 124 wolves in 12 packs and various
groups occupied Yellowstone National Park. This is one more pack
than in 2007, but several long-term, stable packs were lost and
smaller, newly formed packs replaced them. This represents a 27%
decline compared to the 2007 population and was similar to the 30%
decline in 2005. Only six of these packs were breeding pairs, the
smallest count since 2000 (when wolves first reached the minimum
requirement for delisting of 30 breeding pairs in Idaho, Montana,
and Wyoming). High mortality of both pups and adults caused the
low breeding pair count, despite there being 12 packs. Disease and
intraspecific mortality are the two primary factors that caused
the wolf population decline.
Updates/Notes
Yellowstone Guide Services---Winter Wolf Viewing, Summer Bear Viewing
Wolf Researcher and
Seasonal Park Ranger Rick McIntyre (left)
Bob Landis, Cinematographer and National Geographic Filmmaker (right)
©Kevin Sanders 2004
2-4-10
The "unknowns" now called the Silver Pack have been occuping the Lamar Valley for the past couple of weeks. A black male from the Lava Creek pack has been following the pack around and attempting to run off with the alpha female. The pack made a kill near the old picnic ground yesterday AM. Doug Smith attempted to radio collar several members during the early afternoon hours but by the time he had flown into the area the Silver pack had moved up close to the timber and it is unknown whether he was able to capture any of those individuals before they escaped into the trees. The black Lava Creek male was captured near the carcass site and his radio collar was replaced.
The Druid Peak pack have been viewable off and on over the past month, primarily in Little America Valley. Yesterday AM I came upon the pack sleeping in the road just East of Slough Creek with a young 3 year old grey female from the Agate Pack nearby attempting to lure the males away. The females with the Druid pack all have very bad mange. The alpha female has it so bad that she is unable to lay down to sleep and we often see her attempting to sleep while standing. Her tail hair is completely gone and much of her body hair is also gone. The males all seem to be unaffected at this point.
The mating season is at its peak right now. So far we have only heard of one report of a pair mating. The black lava creek male was reported to have mated with one of the younger females with the silver pack but this is unconfirmed and not witnessed by any wolf team members.
Winter, and early Spring is the best time of year to view wolves in Yellowstone Park, join me for a Yellowstone wolf viewing tour!
Read over the Wildlife Viewing Etiquette page prior to your visit. Don't get caught up in the "herd" or group mentality.
Yellowstone Wolf Pups
Emily Almberg Tracking Wolves Winter 2005/06
1999 Final Yellowstone Pup Count---HERE
2000 Final Yellowstone
Pup Count---HERE
2001 Final
Yellowstone Pup Count---HERE
2002 Final Yellowstone
Pup Count---HERE
2003 Final
Yellowstone Pup Count---
2004 Final Yellowstone Pup Count---HERE
Note how large the head of #194M's head is, in relation to Deb Guernsey's body in photo.
Yellowstone Wolves Receive Handouts
Reports of visitors giving handouts or food to wolves and coyotes in Yellowstone park have occurred off and on over the years. Visitors were reportedly observed feeding the Hayden Pack in 2007 at Canyon, and the wolf recovery team was forced to conduct some adverse behavior modifications on the pack---firing rubber bullets.
Anyone observing someone feed or leave food for a wolf, coyote or any other animal in the park is encouraged to record the license plate and description of the vehicle, along with the time and location and report the incident to the nearest park ranger.
In the past, coyotes have been fed by visitors, only to then attack cross country skiers and sometimes visitors standing near the roadway after they became habituated to humans and learn that humans often have food with them. Wolves could do the same thing, and they also will loose any fear they have of humans and leave the park placing them in even greater danger.
PLEASE DON'T FEED THE WILDLIFE!
If a wolf or coyote comes in close to the road and appears to be begging or looking for food, it is recommended that you not stop. Just drive on by, they will live a lot longer if we do so.
Past
News:
Predation Payments To Ranchers
Alpha Male Number 8 Found Dead
Female #217 Found Dead, 1/23/04
The Last Remaining Released Wolf Dead
Druid Alpha Male, #21 Missing, Found Dead
Bears, not wolves killing more elk calves--research data 2004
Wolf Numbers Decline and elk getting older--December 2005
Wolf Pack Locations in Yellowstone National Park
and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Note: The wolf pack territory map is the most up-to-date data that is available. Information and data is supplied by the wolf recovery team once per year, but tends to be at least a year behind. For the most part, the wolf territories remain about the same___+/-, and are always fluctuating.
Wolf Location Map Courtesy Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone park wolf updates. Where to see wolves in yellowstone park. How to see wolves in yellowstone park. Druid Peak Wolf Pack, Hayden Wolf Pack, Slough Creek Wolf Pack, Unknown Wolf Pack. Wolf packs in yellowstone park. Wolf pack locations in yellowstone. Location map for wolves in yellowstone park. Tour guide to see wolves in yellowstone park. Yellowstone park wolves. Wolf Updates in Yellowstone Park. Kevin Sanders, the Bearman in Yellowstone Park.