For the third year in a row, the 20 plus, central Yellowstone Nez Perce Pack has taken off somewhere. In November 2001, they were eventually found between Ashton and Tetonia, Idaho before they slipped back into Yellowstone Park. Late last winter after a long search, the big pack of all gray wolves showed up almost under everyone's nose on the National Elk Refuge. Despite being in the most extreme elk bounty possible, the pack soon went back to the snowy tough country of central Yellowstone.

Dr. Doug Smith suspects that each time they began their "vacation" by leaving the west side of Yellowstone Park, and indeed there was a report of a wolf or two near the Henry's Lake/Island Park, Idaho area, although a flight recorded no wolves.  For over a week now, the bad transition weather of fall to winter has kept tracking flights on the ground. Flights will resume as soon as the weather permits.

In other Yellowstone Park news two important wolves were recently discovered, both long dead. Only the head of one wolf remained. Both carcasses had been scavenged.

207M, the alpha male of the Rose Creek Pack and 220F, the bearer of the Leopold Pack's second litter of the year were found dead on Oct. 20. Both are thought to be dead of natural causes.

Despite his relatively high ID number, 207M was 6 or 7 years old.

Folks will recall that last spring two Leopold females had litters, 259F and 220F. 259F was thought to be the alpha female. Early in the summer 6 black pups were seen at 259F's den. Eight grays were also seen in pack's territory, probably 220F's. 220F's status seemed lower. At any rate both died during the course of the spring, then the summer both died. Current 8 grays are observed and no black pups. The most reasonable assumption is that 259F's pups died.

With 8 surviving pups, the size of the Leopold Pack is currently about 17 wolves, near their high population point.

In 2002 the Leopold Pack lost its founding pair 2M and 7F in separate incidents with other wolves (probably the Geode Pack). Nevertheless, 7F's pups survived. This large multi-generational pack seems to be able to deal with this kind of adversity.

The alpha male of the Leopold Pack has not been collared and, of course, there is uncertainly about the identity of the alpha female.

Update 11-10-2003. Rose Creek wolf 260F was found dead and largely consumed on Hellroaring Slopes in the territory of the Geode Pack on Oct. 23, three days after the discovery of 220F and 207M. Unlike 207M, 260F was a low status wolf in the pack, often remaining by herself. 207M's carcass found about 3 miles up Hellroaring Creek in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, so the deaths were probably not related. It is being assumed 260F's death was also natural perhaps killed by her prey, or likely caught by the Geode Pack in its territory.