Wolves in Yellowstone

7/18/95.

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The wolves in Yellowstone are still basically as they were several weeks
ago. The Crystal Creek pack is still in the Lamar Valley and on Specimen
Ridge chasing down elk and killing coyotes. Many people have seen them.
Biologists believe that they will follow the elk to higher pastures soon
(and would have already but the abundant moisture has kept the Lamar
Valley green longer than usual).

The Soda Butte pack remains deep in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and
avoids human contact. The pack appears to have a least one pup.

The alpha female from the defunct Rose Creek pack remains in the Rose
Creek wolf enclosure with her eight pups (sired by her mate who was
illegally killed near Red Lodge, Montana). The pups are healthy, and
have been vaccinated against about everything a canine can get. It is
hoped that by fall (when they will likely be released), they will be big
enough to fight off the coyotes.

I suspect their winter mortality will be high, since they have had no
opportunity to learn to hunt.

I believe the hostile western Republicans will have the program killed in
Congress, so there won't be any additional wolves brought from Canada next
winter. Contact your U.S. Representative and Senator now if you care.

--
Ralph Maughan
Pocatello, Idaho
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