RESCUE CREEK PACK

In the month or so since I was last in the Park three new collars have been added to the Rescue Creek pack. Once I get more information about them, I will update this chapter.

JUNCTION PACK

The main change in the Junction Pack is that newly collared former alpha female, 1382F has been located by herself in the Hellroaring area. It appears she is no longer traveling consistently with her pack. It makes sense during mating season for her to seek an un-related male. It’s possible that she will eventually return to her natal pack after mating season, or she might try to start a pack on her own.

There is also some evidence that newly collared “New Mom” 1386F is on the outs with her pack. It’s too soon to tell whether this is temporary or permanent.

MONTANA HUNT NEWS

On February 7 the legal harvesting season of wolves in Units 313/316 (adjacent to Yellowstone) ended when the sixth wolf in the allowable quota was shot.

Yellowstone Pack wolves killed during 2022/2023 are: 3 Eight Mile, 1 Rescue Creek, 1 Lupine Creek (#1325M), 1 Junction Butte (#1229F - trapped)

COLLARED GRAY WOLF PHOTOGRAPHED IN NOVEMBER 2022

On November 18, while I was engrossed in watching Brave Elk 1706 face the Junctions at Slough, many visitors to Lamar Valley were thrilled to get close-up photos of a handsome collared gray wolf travelling east on and off the road. Most people (including me, when I saw some photos) naturally assumed this was Shrimp Lake alpha female, 1228F, who is a large gray collared wolf, who occupies territory nearby and who is known to be comfortable with the road.

However, it has been confirmed that she was elsewhere on November 18 and this is Wyoming wolf #1355M, a dispersing male from the Grand Teton’s Wildcat Pack. He is truly a handsome fellow, and I hope he stays in Yellowstone and finds one of the Park’s available females.