First wolf den update for YNP, 2005

So far it looks like only visible packs to den is one or two Slough Creek females. They did not take over the Druid den but went back to the general Slough Creek area. I think their traditional den.

Pregnant Druids 255F and 286F were seen out and about today (4-6) as were the pregnant Agate alpha female and the pregnant Leopold alpha female.

Update 4-11. The Sloughs are clearly denned in Slough Creek. The Druids are up the Lamar near Cache Creek and no wolves observed at the traditional den site on Druid Peak. However, 286F is not radio collared and it is possible she denned away from the rest of pack (not likely, I think).

The next tracking flight is tomorrow, April 12.

Update 4-14.

The Slough Creek Pack is denned in a location publicly visible from Dave's Hill on the mountain slope upstream, across and above Slough Creek. The area has not been closed despite its visibility because Slough Creek is at present not capable of being forded, nor is the road to the campground upon for another month. This may be a good spring for viewing the new powerhouse pack in the area. Here is a map of the location of Dave's Hill and other informally named wolf watching areas in and near the Lamar. I am not sure who created this fine map.

The Druids appear to have denned in Cache Creek in a timbered area about 3 miles from their usual den. This location is well away from people and the Slough Creek Pack.

The Geode Pack is now denned as well as the Agates, Slough Creek, and the Druids. The Geodes denned north of Yellowstone River in a new den, but one not far from their old den.

The status of Mollies Pack denning is not known. Three collared wolves are in Astringent Creek, but 379M was track alone in the Pelican Valley and 378M is missing.

The Cougar Creek pack is now denned at their traditional den site.

The Swan Lake Pack, group 1 is not denned, but was on a winter killed bison between Gardiner and Mammoth. Swan Lake Group 2, just one radio collar, has returned to the pack and was near Blacktail Ponds on April 12.

The Gibbon Pack may or may not have denned. They were tracked near 7-mile bridge on the Madison River.

The Biscuit Basin Pack has not returned to the Park.

The Nez Perce Pack, now the only all gray wolf pack in the park, has not denned. Alpha female 48F was spotted on April 12 looking very pregnant. She is an amazing nine years old !

There are no collars on the Round Prairie Pack and the Hayden Valley pack. The Specimen Ridge Pack has not been seen for a while (no collars there either).

Although it was reported the Leopold Pack was denned, alpha female 209F was seen several miles from the den. In addition a minimum of 14 members of the Park's largest pack was seen north of the road challenging a huge male black bear for an elk carcass. The outcome is not known. The next day the carcass, wolves and bear were all gone.