2003. First Yellowstone denning update

4-22-2003

Here is the first data on the denning of Yellowstone Park wolves this spring. It is getting near the end of denning season although a few wolves may yet den. The average den date for northern range wolves has varied between April 12 and April 15 over the years. Wolf 42F is almost always the first to den. She denned on March 31, and has probably brought her pups out of the den for the first time by now. However, trees obscure the view of the Druid den site, so it is not known.

The other Druids thought to be pregnant, 255F and the U-black female, seem to have localized too, so there might be 3 litters on Druid Peak. Large and multiple litters does not guarantee a substantial growth in pack size, however. Last year the Druids had 2 litters, but just two of the pups survived to become yearlings.

Rick McIntrye reports the remaining Druid wolves have been seen repeatedly coming and going from Druid Peak.

Here is the info on other Park packs.

Rose Creek II- probably denned

Geode Creek- probably denned.

217F (would be a new pack)- probably denned

Agate Creek- unknown

105F- unknown

Leopold- probably denned using one of 7F's old den sites.

Chief Joseph- probably denned

Cougar Creek- denned

251F- unknown

Nez Perce- probably denned

Swan Lake- unknown

Mollie's Pack- no

Bechler- an air flight showed they had dug a hole, but lack of recent flights makes den status unknown.

Yellowstone Delta- unknown.

There is some interesting data about Yellowstone Delta. It has generally been a large pack. Major successful efforts collaring these remote wolves have been made in recent years. However, this pack has shown an exception tendency to chew off radio collars. In addition, active collars have often dispersed. By last winter just one wolf in the pack wore a collar. Delta wolf 126F had dispersed (after many years in the pack) and was found with the Washakie Pack in the Dunoir. However, as good fortune has it, she has returned to the Delta pack inside Yellowstone in company with Washakie Pack wolf 276M. In addition, wolf 243M, with his functioning collar, recently returned to the Delta pack from wherever he had been. The pack now has 3 active collars.

Mollie's Pack has killed another bison despite death of one member and injury of 2 others in their successful battle with the bison bull last March. The alpha female 174F is still leading the Pack, despite her broken leg, which might explain the failure to den. Dr. Doug Smith, head of the Yellowstone wolf team, told me that 174F is a very dominant alpha, much in the style of former Druid 40F.

There have not been very many flights lately, but it is expected that this will change in 3 or 4 days. Then there will be an update.