Druid Pups Prosper:
20 are still alive

Oct. 3, 2000

When the Druid Peak Pack had an incredible 21 pups last spring, few thought the majority would live to see autumn, but it appears that 20 of the 21 are still alive. 12 of the pups are black and 8 are gray.

There are six adults in the pack and one yearling as well. At 28 wolves it is the largest pack in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana; and a far cry from the Druids of the past which typically had only a couple pups survive the summer. This has led to speculation that the late alpha female 40F, probably killed by her sister and daughters last spring, suppressed the production of pups in the pack, perhaps indirectly by intimidation and/or directly by killing pups that were not her own.

The pack is still led by the alpha male 21M. 40's sister 42F is the new alpha female. Other pack members are 103F, 105F, 106F, a yearling (probably male), and a new adult wolf, believed to be former pack member 107M who had dispersed. 105F is the new beta female.

This is the most difficult time of the year for wolves--the pups are large and require more food, but are not hunters yet. Moreover, the elk and deer are fat and healthy; and hard to bring down.

Discovery Magazine has a good feature on the Druids by Kari Grady Grossman, including RealPlayer video clips. 

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