The 4 Druid Dens are a puzzle

May 10, 2001

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I recently reported that the Druid Peak Pack had an incredible 4 dens, but Doug Smith leader of the Yellowstone wolf team tells me, the situation is complicated and not clear.

All four adult females used separate dens.

105F denned first and her den was the focus of activity. Soon afterward 42F denned in the pack's traditional den and that too became a focus of wolf activity, and still is. 105F does not visit her den anymore.

106F denned, but no other wolves visited it and neither does 106 anymore.

103F denned last and that is now the main focus of activity. So it is possible that only 2 litters of pups were born, or only two survived. A lesser possibility is the pups were born and moved to the traditional pack den on Druid Peak, to mingle with 42's pups. The idea that 105, and maybe 106, brought pups to the traditional den is not particularly likely because pups are not usually moved at such an early age. If 10 or 15 pups show up at a rendezvous site the question may never be answered. It will be answered, however, if only 4 or 5 pups show up or if 20 or so appear later this spring.

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