Soda Butte Pack and the Jackson Trio move out onto the National Elk Refuge and make their first publicly seen kills.

Soda Butte Pack and the Jackson Trio move out onto the National Elk Refuge and make the first publicly seen kills.

1-9-99 (rev. 1-13)

Well, the wolves that have moved into Jackson Hole are clearly in sight now, and they have made their first publicly-observed kills on the National Elk Refuge just north of the small city of Jackson, Wyoming.

Earlier this week, the wolves now named the "Jackson Trio," nos. 29M, 129F, and 137 were observed near Kelly, just north of the Refuge. Now they have been observed hunting on the Refuge and the six-member Soda Butte Pack, led by venerable alpha female 14F has also moved onto the Refuge.

The elk apparently have so far not reacted markedly to the new predators and have tended to stand their ground. There are 4000 elk on the Refuge now. By the end of winter more than 11,000 could reside there. Last weekend when I was in Jackson there was almost no snow on the Refuge. Of course, elk numbers increase as the snowpack builds.

The elk refuge is fenced on two sides -- the west where the busy Jackson Hole highway passes, and the south where it bounds directly on the city of Jackson. It is open to the east (the Gros Ventre Mountains) and the north (the flat portion of Grand Teton National Park).

Looking across the northeast side of Refuge toward the
Tetons in June (after the elk have mostly left).
Copyright Ralph Maughan

Visitors to the Refuge are reported to be thrilled. This event has been expected for a long time. Most of us thought it would happen a year or two ago.

A good place to scan with binoculars for the wolves is the Wildlife Museum Parking Lot. I understand the wolves have been seen as far south on the Refuge as the visitor center. I got email this morning indicating the number of viewers is now like the Lamar Valley, and the wolves have not disappointed, with the six Soda Butte wolves walking close by the sleigh ride that goes out onto the Refuge.

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Ralph Maughan PO Box 8264, Pocatello, ID 83209