JUNCTION BUTTE PACK:
This pack remains the most visible pack in Yellowstone’s northern range. This spring, the pack has been at a consistent number of 11 wolves; 9 adults and 2 pups born in 2024 – now yearlings.
The pack is currently male-heavy, all are former Rescue Creek wolves. It is currently unknown whether the two pups/yearlings with the pack are the surviving Junction pups from 2024 or if either or both came over with the males who courted the Junction females.
There are 3 females (all born into Junction) and it now looks like all three conceived during mating season. Throughout May we thought only alpha female 1385 and 1478 (both three years old) were pregnant. But in Late May we realized that 2-year-old 1479 also had at least one pup.
There are 8 blacks and 3 grays in the pack.
The blacks include alphas 1385F and 1392M, 1479F, 1489M, and 1545M (GPS). There are also three uncollared blacks; two adults and one pup/yearling.
The grays include 1484M, 1478F and one uncollared male (born to Rescue) possibly a yearling
When Laurie and I first were getting a handle on who was who in this newly reconstituted pack, we mistook 1489M for 1545M and vice versa. We also mis-identified the smaller pup/yearling as a female. These mistakes have now been corrected.
RESCUE CREEK PACK:
The usual number for this pack is between 11-15. I still know very little about them as I just don’t see them often enough. Alphas are both collared blacks: 1393M and 1490F. 1273M (aka Tripod) is now black going gray. All the rest are black except for one uncollared gray.
Note: Three of their collared wolves (1392M, 1484M and 1489M) left to join the Junctions. So the Project will likely want to collar one or two during the winter collaring operation.
MOLLIES PACK:
This pack currently numbers 9; alphas are 1090F and 1339M; the pack has localized around a presumed den area on the western slope of Mt. Norris, above the new growth, south of Hitching post pullout and have been hanging out and hunting in Soda Butte Valley and eastern Lamar.
6 grays (all male and all former Junctions) and 3 blacks (all females, born in Mollies) 1411F, 1483M and 1485M are the other collars. Three more gray males are uncollared and one black female is uncollared.
In early June a few lucky watchers spotted two pups (one black and one gray) above the new growth.
WAPITI PACK
This large pack may have split again. The group most often seen in the areas west of Alum and Grizzly overlook vary from 10-15. The current alpha female is again light gray (white). The alpha male is 1270M (I think)
In June, 9-11 pups were seen, but as of July, only one pup (black) is with the main pack consistently. The others may have moved
to an unknown area, or they may have died due to illness or predation. As of this writing (August) we just don’t know.