It has been one of the most stable packs in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, but the Soda Butte Pack appears to have reorganized itself substantially in the last two weeks. The pack now seems to consist of long-time alpha female 14F, new alpha male 104M (a famous wolf, originally from the Druid Peak Pack, but who later became alpha male of the Crystal Creek pack), 126F, perhaps wolf 125, maybe 44F, and maybe a disperser from Crystal Creek, 120M.
In 1997 the year the pack whelped its last litter of pups, the pack consisted of the alpha female, no. 14F; her daughter born in 1995; 24F; 43M, born in 1996; 44F, born in 1996; 123M, 124M, 125, and 126F, all born in 1997.
In fall of 1998, after 3 1/2 years with the pack, 24F finally dispersed to join with Washakie Pack wolf 133M. They had pups in 1999 to become the Teton Pack.
In the late winter of 1998-9, in likely search of a mate, no. 14F led the pack northward and close to the territory of the large Crystal Creek Pack. She not only did not find a mate, but instead the Crystal Creek Pack killed a member of her pack, wolf 43M.
Earlier last winter, 123M seemed to have dispersed, but later on he returned. So by spring 1999, the pack consisted of 14F, 44F, 123M, 124M, 125, and 126F. The big wolf of the pack was 124M, who weighed 130 pounds when radio-collared in early 1999. No. 125 was the only pack member without a radio collar. 125's sex has never been determined, but this wolf has, nevertheless, been a one people can pick out, because it walks and runs on three legs due to an old injury. A number of folks noticed this when the pack wintered on the National Elk Refuge near Jackson. Many people saw the six-member pack a number of times.
About a month ago, trackers noticed 104M was gradually approaching the Soda Butte Pack, and for the last two tracking flights he has been tracked travelling with 14F, 126F (and probably 125, who has no collar). Crystal Creek wolf 120M, far from his pack, has also approached the Soda Butte Pack, which is currently in the Yellowstone River delta area in the SE corner of the pack. Because he knows 104M, he may have been allowed to join the pack.
A new alpha male often means that other wolves will leave the pack, and two have clearly dispersed. Big wolf 124M in just south of Cooke City, far to the north of the Yellowstone Delta. Even further afield is 123M who was just located on Parker Point, just north of Yellowstone Park, a few miles east of Jardine, Montana (this is near Gardiner). The status of 44F is not clear. Her radio signal was not picked up in the last flight, but that flight was not primary a tracking flight.
The original alpha male of the pack, and the father of all its members, was 13M "Old Blue." He died of old age near Heart Lake early in 1997.
An interesting question is whether 14F will lead her new pack to the National Elk Refuge again this winter?
Previous stories on the Soda Butte pack (and also 104M).
- Soda Butte Pack Returns to Yellowstone. Dec. 1995
- Soda Butte Pack on Beartooth Front Again. January 1996.
- Soda Butte Pack Still on the Beartooth Front. January 1996.
- Wolf no. 12M Found Dead Near Daniel, WY. Feb. 1996.
- More on the Death of No. 12. Feb. 1996.
- Number 12 was Illegally Killed. Feb. 1996.
- Ranch Hand Shoots wolf 11F; Pleads Guilty. April 1996.
- The Soda Butte Pack, including 3 new pups, is captured. June 1996.
- Last free member of the Soda Butte Pack is caught. July 1996.
- Soda Butte Pack is Re-released and misc. news. October 1996.
- Death of a Patriarch. Wolf R13M is dead in Yellowstone. March 1997.
- Soda Butte Pack Moves South of Yellowstone (and other wolf news). Dec. 1997
- Various wolf news, inc. Soda Butte Pack. Dec. 1997
- Misc. wolf news (including Soda Butte Pack). Jan. 1998.
- Is a grand dispersal between Soda Butte, Thorofare, and Washakie About to Occur? July 1998
- Druids Move South, Will 104M Disperse to the Crystal Creek Pack? Sept. 1998
- No. 104M becomes alpha male of Crystal Creek pack. October 1998.
- Soda Butte Pack comes to Grand Teton National Park. Dec. 1998
- Soda Butte Pack Claims the National Elk Refuge. Jan. 1999
- Soda Butte disperser located on Northern Range with Rose Creek female. Jan. 1999 (link to outside website).
- Soda Butte Pack Unexpectedly Returns to Heart Lake. Feb. 1999.
- Jackson Trio makes some surplus kills. Soda Butte collared in the Hayden Valley. Feb. 1999
- Soda Butte Pack Comes and Goes Again. March 1999
- Interesting encounter between former Druid 104M and Druid yearling 163M. June 1999
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