More Yellowstone den news
Druid 376F, 255F, U-Black, Chief Joe, Nez Perce and "Firehole" Packs are denned.

4-27-2004.

More wolves have denned inside Yellowstone Park. Please add this information to the earlier report on denning.

Druid Peak Pack-
The second Druid female 376F has now denned. She did not use the traditional pack den site on Druid Peak, but instead used an area near the pack's traditional rendezvous site across the Lamar Valley, away from the road. Meanwhile the Druid's alpha female, 286F, who used the traditional den, was spotted by Rick McIntyre with the pack outside her den for the first time on since April 7, on April 24. The size of the pack remains at 13 wolves -- 4 adults and 9 yearlings.

255F and the U-Black female-
Both 255F and the U-Black (both former Druids) have denned in the lower Lamar Valley area. The U-Black remains with big wolf 194M, and 255F, who seemed to have been alone might have attracted Slough Creek wolf 378M.

Slough Creek Pack-
The Slough Creek Pack probably denned, but this is not certain because the alpha female lacks a radio collar. If they denned, it was probably north of the Park.

Agate Creek Pack-
The denning status of the Agate Creek Pack is still unknown. The pack's size seemed to have grown. It was recently counted at nine, probably with wintertime dispersers that returned. The pack also has been split at times, with some of the pack near Garnet Hill and Elk Creek and others to the SE in Antelope Creek. Failed radio collars make tracking the pack difficult.

Geode Pack-
106F's radio collar has failed, but she is denned. One of the pack's former alpha males, 300F, a distinctive black wolf, might have been found dead near Junction Lake. A decomposed body matching his description was found there. His radio collar had come off, so his location could not be monitored. 106F has paired in succession now with 3 ill-fated males.

Chief Joseph Pack-
Chief Joe has denned in its traditional drainage, Daly Creek in the NW corner of the Park. An area closure is now in effect. People can use the Daly Creek trail, but they can't travel off the trail. On the other hand, most of the pack might be found outside area. Lots of elk are just outside the Park in devleoped Cinnabar Basin and semi-developed Tom Miner Basin. US Fish and Wildlife Service just reported

"Wolves [likely Chief Joe pack members] in Cinnibar Basin continue to harass cattle and a small bison herd. Initially only three wolves were seen but 11-12 were counted on the 11th by one of the producers. A monitoring flight on the 22nd found the pack denned in YNP. If they return to Cinnibar or Tom Miner Basin areas, trapping to radio collar and release will be initiated. Fladry has been placed on one pasture and the producers have been trained and provided with less than lethal munitions."
 

Mollies Pack-
It is still not known if they denned. The alpha male was located near Pelican Cabin on the last tracking flight. He wasn't seen, but was in the timber. Other wolves might have been with him.

Nez Perce Pack-
It is now confirmed that the often-hard-to-spot Nez Perce Pack has denned in one of its traditional den sites, well away from Park roads.

"Firehole Group"-
This new probable pack of 5 wolves, led by 340F, has denned south of Old Faithful.

"Gibbon Group"-
The status of this group is not known due to lack of radio collars, but they might have denned in the Gibbon Meadow area.

Copyright Scott Christensen. Member of the Gibbon Group.
Photo taken in the Gibbon Canyon in early May 2004.

Yellowstone Delta Pack-
Their location is still not identified. A longer flight path is planned because they might be to the south or SE in the Teton Wilderness. The same is true of the Bechler Pack, which is far away in the Cascade Corner (SW corner) of Yellowstone Park.

As reported earlier, Cougar Creek, and Leopold Packs all denned. Swan Lake appears to have denned.

Tracking the wolf packs has suffered because of an unexpectedly high amount of radio collar failure. Many collars are failing well before their 3-year guarantee.

Stahler said that their analysis of elk killed recently by wolves shows the killed elk to be in poor condition, despite the absence of snow. The area is greening up, but deaths due to winter only just ended. Stahler said the condition of the elk, despite their decline in numbers, is similar to after the severe winter of 1996-7. The difference is that the current poor condition is not due to a severe winter, but to the drought which is now going into its 4th year.

This information was provided by Dan Stahler and Rick McIntrye of Yellowstone Park.