Field Report on the investigation of 42F's carcass
2-4-2004
On February 3, Doug Smith and Dan Stahler skied in to investigate 42F's carcass on the ground. Previous observation was from aircraft.
Stahler reported that when they arrived they were several ravens and golden eagles feeding on her.
Mortality clearly caused by other wolves. Stahler wrote: "42F had lacerations and hemorrhaging on her head, neck, along her back and on her sides. Heavy scavenging had already occurred. There was track evidence of a chase and several areas of trampled snow with pooled blood in snow, blood stains along some drag marks, and hair in the snow."
"By piecing together all the evidence from our ground and air crews, we believe Mollie's pack is the most likely cause of her death, however, due to Agate Creek's proximity in the days surrounding the event of 42F, they can not be ruled out. We simply will never know the true course of events and who all was involved."
It was very interesting to learn that while 42F was an old wolf, she was hardly on her last legs. Stahler indicated, "For a wolf of nearly 9 years old (she would of been nine this April), 42F was in very good condition, and despite her graying, she still had strong black tones throughout her underfur. She was a large wolf for a female, with a massive head. Of particular mention, her teeth were in excellent condition for an old wolf, with no significant chips, only slight wear on her canines, and some wear on her incisors. As a wolf who spent time in a pen upon being reintroduced from British Columbia, and was a primary hunter for many years with the Druids, she managed to avoid any significant
chipping or damage to her teeth, unlike most of the other wolves living to be her age."Finally, he wrote: "Because of the historical significance of 42F to the Yellowstone ecosystem, her skull was collected for this reason along with scientific purpose as part of an ongoing skull morphometrics database on wolf skulls. We specifically left her remains on site, as they should be, to return back to the earth and animals of Yellowstone. She couldn't have come to rest in a more beautiful spot - the backside of Specimen Ridge, overlooking the Yellowstone River."
Here are some photos of 42F's carcass. Be warned. 42 is dead and some folks will not find these photos pleasing. Ralph Maughan
Carcass at site.
Copyright © 2004 Ralph Maughan
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