The 4 th of the original ten Sawtooth "pups", now yearlings, was killed early Monday, July 14, when it was hit by a car in Yellowstone National Park. The dead wolf was number 66M. It was also the 4 th Yellowstone wolf to die after being hit by a vehicle.  In contrast none of the Idaho wolves has been killed by a vehicle. The driver did not report the accident and there were no witnesses. Under the terms of the wolf reintroduction, failure to report and accident like this becomes a crime.

The accident occured on the Canyon to Norris road, a fairly straight stretch where motorists often speed. Last year we saw a big RV that was exceeding the speed limit just miss a grizzly sow and her two yearling cubs on that stretch of Park road. The accident took place near the Grebe Lake trailhead.

Number 66 was one of the last two of the Sawtooth yearlings to be released. He was released in June and had generally remained with the rest of the wolves released then in the Hayden Valley.