It’s been two months since I have been in the Park due to a combination of expected and unexpected travel to travel to NY. Alas, these events caused me to miss being in the Park during the Wolf Study, but today I am on my way back. Laurie and Dan arrived last night and are on the road a few minutes ahead of me.

Bozeman got a small amount of snow overnight but it’s nearly all burned off already. So far, this winter has been nearly snow-free.

The highway is wet in spots but easy to drive so far. 89 is dry. The mountains show a dusting with thicker snow up top.

I see some mule deer grazing in a snow-free meadow near Pray.

As I near Gardiner, I see start seeing elk. One grazes in someone’s front yard on the south side, and a small herd is bedded on the lawn of the Yellowstone Village Inn.

The day is overcast; 37 degrees.

At the Entrance gate I see both bison and pronghorn on the rolling hills to the south.

I stop in a high pullout with a view of McMinn bench and quickly find some bighorn rams.

Then I get a call from Laurie, informing me of long-dreaded news. Our dear 907F has been found dead at Slough, succumbing to the wounds she received on 12/22 when the Rescues attacked the Junctions there.

A light snowfall begins as I cross the high bridge.

Laurie relays that the Project went to Slough this morning to retrieve her body. We are both very sad to hear this news. 907 was a wonderful wolf.

I am glad I got to see so much of her life play out as I did. I take comfort that she died a wild wolf, rather than at the hand of man. She will be missed.

As I drive on, I notice more snow in the park than I expected. In fact, the roads are quite full of it and I find many icy spots. I also see many areas of disturbed snow from cars going off the road.

There are small herds of bison at Blacktail ponds, Phantom Lake and the marsh east of Floating Island.

As I near Tower, I hear a radio call that makes me smile. There are wolves in view from Boulder.

However, when I arrive here, I see Rick driving east so I follow him. We set up just past Longs pullout and turn our scopes north, scanning the Aspen Drainage.

Another watcher is looking from Aspen. He finds them heading towards the most recent bison carcass, on an open slope above the mixed forest.

Rick helps me find the spot and soon I’m looking at 10 Junction wolves. Some of these wolves were not present on 12/22 when the Rescues attacked.

I do not see the alpha male among these 10 and Rick tells me he has not been seen for quite while (since before 12/22)

We get the same total: 7 blacks and 3 grays. I am struck by the fact that these 10 wolves seem to be behaving quite normally, showing no sign of mourning the death of 907. They are just living their lives.

Laurie & Dan stop but do not get out since they are not in their winter clothes. They continue east.

The day has brightened, revealing several patches of blue sky.

Most of the Junctions are feeding while a few others are bedded down. Three adult blacks have their tails quite high. I’m pretty sure one of these is 1479F. I also see a limping black adult, which Rick confirms is 1385F. I’m not sure who the third high-tailed black is, but I’d peg the candidates as either 1386F or the black male.

It always feels good to see wolves on the first day of a visit. And this one feels especially good, given the heavy loss of 907.

I bid Rick adieu just before 4PM. I drive into Lamar, seeing even more snow has accumulated here.

At Round Prairie I am happy to see 3 moose.

As I approach Silver Gate, it begins snowing lightly again.

I reach my “home away from home” at 4:30. I lug in my stuff and have a pleasant evening with Laurie and Dan in front of a crackling fire.

Today I saw: bison, coyotes, mule deer, elk, a moose, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, 10 Junction wolves (7 black and 3 gray including 1385F, 1478F and 1479F) and the spirits of Allison, Richard, Jeff and Chloe.