Jackson Trio continues to inhabit National Elk Refuge area
Soda Butte Back to Heart Lake?

(2-3-99) (updated 2-4-99)

The National Park Service has announced that the Soda Butte Pack gradually moved north of the National Elk Refuge onto Grand Teton National Park in recent days.  From there they moved to near Moran Junction at the north end of Jackson Hole, and then their radio track was lost.

Grand Teton National Park biologist Mason Reid speculates that "It is likely that the Soda Butte Pack returned to their historical home range, the Heart Lake or Thorofare areas of Yellowstone National Park." If this is so, I think such a move from the land of plenty to that of poverty is truly amazing.

Meanwhile the Jackson Trio remains on, or near the Refuge and the Teton Duo, number 24F and 133M remain near the  Moran Junction/Spread Creek area.

Radio collaring of these wolves is slated to begin, but high winds have prevented things from getting underway. The winds have also cleared the Refuge of most snow, and I understand the elk have broken up into smaller groups and some have left the Refuge.

The wolf team confirmed today (2-4-99) that the Soda Butte Pack was just located just north of Heart Lake.