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"Bearman's"Yellowstone Park Wolf Updates
Updates on Yellowstone Park's wolf population, and location-territory map ©Kevin Sanders 2004Information 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 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 Total Wolf Population Inside Park Borders: 2/4/10 less than 100~ estimated 2008 Summary
Updates/NotesYellowstone Guide Services---Winter Wolf Viewing, Summer Bear Viewing
Wolf Researcher and
Seasonal Park Ranger Rick McIntyre (left)
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 2002 Final Yellowstone
Pup Count---HERE 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
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