Aftermath of the death of 42F

2-3-2004

Billings Gazette picks up the story 2-4-2004, plus field report on examination of 42F's carcass

The death of 42F has raised many questions. I have received a lot of email. There have been questions on the web boards, and I'm sure Rick McIntrye and others have been on the phone a lot even though I have yet to see any newspaper stories.

Rick McIntyre told me this evening that on the surface, at least, things appeared normal with the Druids. 21M is  still the alpha male and 253M in his same beta position. Although immediately after the loss of his mate 21M was howling a lot, now he seems to be all business about holding the pack together.

All three of the older Druid daughter have left the pack as they did during mating season last winter. At the Druid den site today were 12 wolves. In addition to 21M and 253M, there were two yearling females -- black 286F, and the recently collared gray female, 376F. Although wolf 21 had breed with his late mate the day before her death, folks have wondered if the Druids will have any pups this year. There are several possibilities. 286F might not have been sired by 21M. While DNA analysis has not yet been completed, there is thought that she was fathered by a Nez Perce wolf who passed through the Lamar in 2002. Moreover, she and 21 are showing some interest in each other.

The three absent older Druid sisters -- the U-Black, Half-Black and 255F might also return to the pack pregnant as they did after last mating season. There are not really any areas for new packs on the northern range, so each of them with a sole mate would more than likely meet the same fate as 251F's short lived pack last spring. So, these sisters might return to the Druids. One or more of them might be rejected, or they might be accepted as last year, or there could be a power struggle between them and, let's speculate, 286F.

Recently the Half Black mated with 378M of Slough Creek, but today he returned to his pack, bringing its numbers to 13 wolves. The Half Black has developed a permanent limp like her brother 253M.

The U Black is still with dispersed, traveling with Mollie's Pack wolf 194M and a third (probably an uncollared Mollie's? gray male). They were at Mom's Ridge today.

255F is with the uncollared new black wolf who showed up recently in the Lamar in the company of 302M. For lack of a better name, folks are calling him "302 Jr" due to his similar appearance. Significantly 255F and 302 Jr, are observed double urination marking.

302M's collar has stopped working and he hasn't been seen for a few days. Recently, he spent so much time near the road the Park wolf team was considering using cracker shells or rubber bullets on him to make him keep his distance. Park wolf procedure does not permit seemingly "bold" wolves. They are to be harassed from the road or people, and if they persist, killed.

It is not clear where is the main body of Mollie' Pack, the probable killers of 42F.  McIntrye thought it more than likely that they have left the area.

• 2-4-2004. "And then there was 1; matriarch wolf dies." By Mike Stark. Billings Gazette.
• 2-4-2004. Field Report on the investigation of 42F's carcass. By Ralph Maughan.
• 2-23-2004. Writers on the Range. The life and death of a wolf named 42. By Greg Gordon. Gardiner, Montana.
  
   

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  Copyright © 2004  Ralph Maughan

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