"Bearman's"
Yellowstone Park Wolf Updates
Photo by Jim Peaco--NPS
Updates on Yellowstone Park's wolf population, and location 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: 10 + packs, or 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: 12/24/07 171~ estimated
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
It has become increasingly more difficult for me to provide up-to-date wolf reports due to the amount of time that I spend in the field. There are others who have the time to post this information, and even compete to see who can post an update the fastest.
I recommend going to Yellowstone National Parks official page, for up-to-date information on the wolves of Yellowstone as well as photographs and other information. An excellent resource for information.Yellowstone National Park Wolf Information Page
4/14/08
Here is a brief synopsis of what is going on this week in wolf and bear country.
The Druid Peak Pack has returned and have denned at their historic den site below Druid Peak and to the north of Footbridge Pull-out. The pack members minus the alpha female have been active on the south side of the road from Hitching Post East to Soda Butte Cone, hunting and traveling around. This morning the alpha male was West of that location just north of Mid-way Point feeding on an elk carcass by himself.
Note: The park service expanded the "no stopping, no walking,
no parking" 1/2 mile area around Druid Peak to 2 miles this
year so beware! We have a new law enforcement ranger patrolling
and he does NOT play around! He gave out quite a few tickets yesterday
to folks parked on the road and not in a pull out in Little America.
So use a pull out or pull off the road past the white line.
The Slough Creek Pack has denned back at their traditional den site
up above Slough Creek. I had my doubts that they would re-use that
denning site after what happened last year but they have returned.
We believe that at least three females gave birth in the natal den.
This morning "Slant" was observed running around frantically
digging in various spots until she settled on a location just a
few yards to the right of the natal den and dug out what appears
to be a new den site. Rick theorizes that she will move her pups
into it tonight or tomorrow and that she was pushed out by the other
two females. Most of the pack has stuck pretty close to the den
site area for the past few days.
A yearling black wolf has been feeding on a bison carcass by itself
at Crystal Creek the past two days. Sorry, no status update on Agates,
or any other pack.
Several bison carcasses have popped up in Little America with grizzly
bears feeding on them. One very large and impressive grizzly bear,
nearly black in color has been making his way from carcass to carcass
and pretty well dominating the valley.
The Rocky Mountain Blue Birds started showing up yesterday, and
the first bison calf was spotted at Tower Junction yesterday morning.
The earliest I have ever seen one. Also, the Yellowed Bellied Marmots
have come out of hibernation as well. No Ground Squirrels yet though,
and lastly the Osprey have returned in mass numbers up and down
the Yellowstone River, as well as the first Sandhill Cranes. Spring
is hear, if not in sight but at least in sound :-)
Fall, Winter, and 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: The information below, including 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.
Radio Collared Wolves -- 2003/04
Information Courtesy of
the Yellowstone Wolf Recovery Team
Note: The next radio collaring mission will begin January 2008
In 2003, the capture and collaring of wolves was split into two time periods.
Twenty-one wolves were captured in January and February, and another 17 in November. The November capture was the earliest in the winter that the team had ever attempted, and it was very successful.
Simply getting an early start helped considerably in reducing the strain of getting all the capture work done in just two months. Visitor impacts from low level helicopter flights were minimized because the interior of the park is closed at this time.
Weights ranged from 70 pounds (female pup in Leopold Pack) to 130 pounds (two males, one from Swan Lake and the other from Mollie's Pack).
At the end of 2003, 53 (30%) of the 174 wolves that use YNP were radio collared.
Note how large the head of #194M's head is, in relation to Deb Guernsey's body in photo.
View listing of wolves captured and collared during the 2003-04 season.
Yellowstone Wolves Receive Handouts
Reports of visitors giving handouts or food to wolves in Yellowstone park have occurred off and on the past few years. Last winter--2005-06 was no exception. Visitors and guides were reportedly observed feeding the Hayden Pack 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
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. Anti Spam Anti Spam Anti Spam Anti Spam Anti Spam Anti Spam Anti Spam Anti Spam Anti Spam Anti Spam Anti Spam Anti Spam