Three Druid Females likely pregnant.

3-30-2003

Today is the expected due date for Druid alpha female 42F. Visibly very pregnant she was, nevertheless, out with the pack on a kill just yesterday morning. 42F goes to the den just shortly before birth, unlike many other female wolves who enter their den sometime earlier.

Three of 42's wayward daughters recently returned to the pack (see update March 20), and now two of them appear pregnant after running with 301M and 302M. Rick McIntrye says Daughter 255F and the "U-black" female look pregnant. The U-black and 255F mated later than their mother. It will be interesting to see if all three use the traditional den on Druid Peak, especially since her  daughters may give birth about 2 weeks later. Of course these three daughters of 42 are now just about at their second birthday. While there is no assurance what will happen, it is unlikely the Druids will successfully raise large multiple litters as in 2000 and 2001 with the bulk of pups surviving. Last year, there were believed to have been 5 pups, but only 2 survived into 2003. The other yearling Druid female, the "half-black" has been traveling alone recently.

McIntrye said that 42F seemed to be treating her daughters well, although there has been a little squabbling between the two pregnant daughters.

In other Druids news, I reported on March 20 that the wandering Druid yearling male had returned to the pack. I asked McIntyre how this wolf related to the alpha male 21M and the loyal 253M, the wolf that went to Utah. The uncollared yearling male had been giving 253M a bit a trouble, perhaps trying to push him from his beta male role, but 21M finally came to 253's defense, pinning the young male.

Other alpha females observed to probably be pregnant are the Geode alpha 106F, the new Leopold alpha 259F; alpha female 217F, of the yet-to-be named pack that holds out in Slough Creek; and 251F, formerly of the Agate Pack, who has seems to have staked out the plateau behind Tower Junction.

105F's group was observed from Hellroaring overlook Saturday. This was the first time they had been visible from the Park road for quite a while. It was not possible to tell if she looked pregnant.

Agate Creek Pack wolf 296M was largest wolf to be radio-collared this winter, weighing 130 pounds. He was found dead of natural causes on about March 20. A necropsy is being done for the cause, but he was very likely killed by an ungulate (elk or moose). His death shows once again that large wolves are hardly invulnerable. The largest wolf ever weighed in Yellowstone, Crystal Creek alpha 6M, was killed by a bull elk.

No information on denning status of the large Swan Lake Pack, the Rose Creek II Pack, or the Chief Joseph Pack.

There is an exciting story about bison and Molly's Pack which I hope to write tomorrow.

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Note: 302M continues to travel with the Leopolds, making it very like they are his native pack.

Also noted; Dan and Cindy Hartman have an excellent photo of the U-black Druid female, although with other fine photography at
http://www.wildlifealongtherockies.homestead.com