Former Crystal Creek alpha female seen on carcass with Druid Peak Pack
Nov. 11, 2000
Several folks have contacted me with the story that Yellowstone wolf no. 5F, former alpha female of the Crystal Creek Pack, was seen on the morning of Nov. 2 feeding on an elk carcass with a number of the now greatly enlarged Druid Peak Pack.
Nos. 4M and 5F were the original alpha pair of the Crystal Creek Pack, brought from Alberta to the Park in the late winter of 1995. A number of their pack mates were brought with them and they were released from the pen on Crystal Creek Bench in March 1995.
The Crystal Creek Pack dominated the Lamar Valley in 1995 and early 1996. During that time, however, two of their pack dispersed. One became the alpha male of the Rose Creek pack (8M), and the other the alpha male of the new Leopold Pack (2M). Number 3M was shot north of the Park by Wildlife Services after killing some sheep. That left the pack with just three members 4M, 5F, and what was thought to be their son, 6M.
In May 1996 the alpha male (4M) of the Crystal Creek pack was killed by the new Druid Peak Pack. The Druids may have also injured 5F and killed her litter of pups (that she had pups is speculation). Story 5-22-96: YNP Mortality: Crystal Cr. alpha male.
5F and 6M then left the Lamar and drifted south to the Pelican Valley and eventually formed what became the large rejuvenated Crystal Creek Pack. No. 6M continued to grow and may have become the biggest wolf in Yellowstone. In early 1998 he was trapped for re-radio-collaring and weighed 141 pounds! The also became the first pack to kill bison, and they continue to do so today.
Nevertheless, 6M was killed in late August 1998, probably by an elk that was found dead of wolf attack nearby. It is also possible a grizzly bear killed him. Story (9-1-98): Crystal Creek alpha male dead in natural mortality.
Still the pack prospered, but last fall it was discovered the 5M was no longer its alpha female; and because the pack had no pups in 2000 and many members had dispersed, it seems to be a pack on the decline. Nevertheless, the remaining members of the pack all seem to be notable for their large size.
There is irony that no. 5 has now been observed with her arch-enemy the Druid Peak Pack, but that pack too is now much different, with only the present alpha female, no. 42F, having any possible memory of the events of May 1996.
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