It has been well below -30⁰ F the last few nights in northern Yellowstone wolf country, but the wolves take it in stride and prosper.

There is some interesting news from the most observed pack -- the Druids.

It seems that the "U-black" female, who seemed to be the beta female behind 42F, went off with 302M for a while, When she returned, she was, like last winter, roughed up by her sisters, 255F and the "half black" female.  Moreover, 302M has left the area and seems to be in the vicinity of the Leopolds again, likely his native pack. The U-black has disappeared from the Druids since her unwelcome home, although she may well return.

253M's second limp (front paw) has largely healed, but the half-black's hind leg limp is worse.

The Druid pups are now about 10 months old and beginning to show some distinctiveness. Rick McIntyre says that collared pup, 348M seems to remain on his own quite a bit. It should be noted that wolves sometimes disperse from their packs as early as 10 months of age.

Mating season has not really begun yet. Although alpha 21M has shown some interest, the pack's females have not. The end of January is about the height of the season. Wolf gestation is 2 months -- 60 - 63 days. Pups are born from about April 1 (usually 42F's date) to about the end of April.

I asked McIntrye about the territory boundaries of the packs. There is some overlap, of course, and such places are places conflicts usually take place, and Park coyotes have learned are relatively safe areas to be.

The Druids occupy the upper Lamar Valley, Soda Butte Creek and Specimen Ridge. They also commonly use the lower Lamar to about the area of Junction Butte. From there they sometimes head north and cross the Lamar River and visit the vicinity of "Mom's Ridge" to the west of Slough Creek. The Yellowstone River seems to be a diving line, and the Druids have not been seen west of it.

The Slough Creek Pack owns Slough Creek and west to about Mom's Ridge. They also cross the Lamar River and travel south through Little America to the Crystal Creek area on Specimen Ridge. Rather than go south over the ridge, if they don't turn back, they sometimes then go east barely into the Lamar to about Jasper Creek Bench.

Agate Creek this winter is usually in the general area of Pleasant Valley and Elk Creek and the surrounding area. They butt up against the Geode Pack if they go north. The do cross the Yellowstone River and are sometimes in the Junction Butte area. In terms of numbers, the Geode Pack and the Agate Pack can't compete with Slough Creek or the Druids if there is a full pack encounter.