WOLF UPDATE
Winter Study began this year on March 1 and will last through March 30. The Project is fielding just one crew team which is following the Rescue Creek Pack.
A successful collaring operation took place in late February. Although I was not able to get this information at the time, I have now received the new collar numbers for the packs I watch. Although wolf watchers like myself are no longer receiving the same volume of information from the Wolf Project as we have in past years, I have been able to piece together the following information and verify its accuracy.
JUNCTION BUTTE PACK: This pack currently consists of 8-11 wolves including the only surviving pup from 2023.
Alphas: uncollared black male (born a Prospect), 907F (gray, 11 yrs old; 1386F (black AKA New Mom – sometimes travels alone); 1385F black; newly-GPS-collared 1477F (black), newly-GPS-collared 1478F (gray), newly-collared 1479F black pup (often looks brown), a large, uncollared dark gray male, a large uncollared black male, an uncollared gray female and an uncollared black female (tucked-tail black)
This pack lost quite a few members between August and December 2023, to various causes: some to injury and others to dispersal. A few other disappearances are more mysterious.
In the fall, former alpha female 1382F died from a kick to the head. Around the same time, former alpha female 1276F was seen with a missing lower jaw. Most likely she was injured by an ungulate but some speculate the wound could have been from a gunshot. She was last seen in mid-September and could not have survived. Alas, her body was never found as her collar stopped working long ago.
Also in fall, people stopped seeing 1341F and 1394F with the Junction Pack. Both likely dispersed but the Project either has no information on where they went or is unwilling to divulge it. 1339M followed 1048M and joined the Mollies. Other Junction males have likely done this, too. I estimate that up to six former Junctions are still unaccounted for.
During the summer of 2023, one of my favorite wolves, 1386F (aka New Mom), spent time away from the Pack in the Hellroaring area, sometimes with other wolves (most likely other Junctions). After the deaths of 1382F and 1276F (both of whom would chase and pin her) she was seen traveling with the Pack in January (now led by the far more affable 907F).
But when mating season began in February, she went off on her own again (she cannot mate with the current alpha male as she is too closely related). She spent several weeks with 1407M of the Willow Pack and was observed in a tie with him at Hellroaring on Feb 22.
Junction Butte’s territory ranges from Hellroaring to Slough, through Lamar to Trout Lake and south to Cache Creek. When they are in the Hellroaring to Tower area, they often stay north of the Yellowstone to avoid the now larger Rescue Creek Pack.
RESCUE CREEK PACK: this pack has 14 current members; 10 black and 4 gray.
Alphas are newly collared black female #1490F (former 8 Mile), uncollared gray alpha male (former Junction); 1273M (GPS black-former Junction), 1393M (GPS black-former Junction), 2 uncollared black males, newly-collared gray male 1484M (former Junction) and 7 pups: 1392M (black), newly collared black pup 1489M, 3 more uncollared black pups, and 2 uncollared gray pups. Gender of uncollared pups is mostly unknown.
Their territory is from Rescue Creek to Tower, Blacktail Plateau. Their territory overlaps with Eight Mile to some extent and overlaps with Junction to some extent. They usually stay south of the Yellowstone River when in the Hellroaring-Tower area, but they crossed to the north at least twice during late March.
MOLLIE’S PACK – this pack now numbers 10; five blacks and five grays.
The alpha female is newly-collared black 1410F. I am not sure who is the alpha male. The pack has two older wolves; 1048M (former Prospect/Junction black going gray) and 1090F (black going gray). The majority of males in the Mollie’s pack are former Junctions.
There are two newly collared gray males in Mollie’s pack; 1483M and 1485M. I am not sure, however, if they were born Mollies or were born Junctions who later joined.
SHRIMP LAKE PACK: this pack has 7 members; 6 gray and 1 black.
Alphas are 1228F (former Junction) and newly collared gray 1488M (GPS); newly-collared black female 1487F, gray male, plus three remaining gray pups from the original four.
Their territory is the Soda Butte Valley from Confluence to Silver Gate. They often stray into Wyoming, where they are not safe.
LUPINE CREEK PACK: I have no new info on this pack, an offshoot of the Eight Mile Pack. I think they still exist in the Mammoth/Sepulcher area.
EIGHT MILE PACK: I have only scattershot info on this pack. It has increased in size due to high pup retention in 2023. 17 pups survived through summer’s end but then several were lost to the hunt. The pack currently numbers 19, with many more gray than black.
Alphas 1326M (former Wapiti) and 1328F; 1271F (black) ,1389F, at least 2 two-year-olds, and at least 3 yearlings, plus new collars: 1491F (black) 1492M (gray),1493M (gray), 1494F (gray), 1495F (gray), at least five more pups
Their territory ranges from Gardiner’s Hole to the Blacktail. I have only rarely seen this pack in the last several years, although they do make appearances along the new OGR from time to time, causing havoc.
WILLOW CREEK PACK: this pack was formed in 2022 by former Mollie wolf 1239F and three Wyoming wolves (possibly from the Pahaska Pack). 1407M had been the alpha male but was deposed this year, possibly by newly collared 1441M. 1407M spent time on the Northern Range with 1386F of Junction during mating season and was observed in a tie with her on 2/22 at Hellroaring.
Other adults include at least one gray and one black, plus three gray pups, including 1408F. This pack has mainly been observed by the plane, but some individuals have been spotted in Lamar.
Their territory is Upper Lamar including Willow Creek.