The wolf pack that left Yellowstone, moved a hundred miles west to near Dillon, Montana, but was recaptured about a week ago, has escaped from its Yellowstone Park enclosure!
Apparently no. 29M, who escaped the Nez Perce enclosure last March by climbing a tree, escaped again. This time he jumped the fence, and this time he freed his pack mates by digging a hole in the ground back under the chain link fence. On the inside of the pen, there is an "apron" that keeps wolves from digging out.
Smart wolf!!
For the story on 29's first escape, read my article posted on 3-17-97.
The other escaped wolves appear to be 29's mate no., 37F, three of the Sawtooth yearlings (Sawtooth yearlings no. 67F, 70M, and 72M), and one of the three pups whelped to no. 37 last May. When the pack was recaptured south of Dillion two of the three surviving pups of 29 and 37 were not with them.
Since their get-away, the pack has moved to the Hayden Valley in the center of Yellowstone from where, now-dead no. 27F, apparently decided to take the pack on their long journey. Hopefully the pack will remain in the prey-rich Hayden Valley.