First Steve Stuller emailed me saying he and his brother had watched 7 new Teton Pack pups on May 22.Today I learned from Bob Caesar, a resident of Jackson Hole, that on May 31 they had seen 9 pups in this long-standing, famous pack, which inhabits Grand Teton National Park and the national forest and private land to the north, east, and southeast.
The Teton Pack, which was founded in 1999 by a wolf from the Soda Butte Pack (24F) and the Washakie Pack (133M), grew over time to an astonishing 23 wolves by the winter of 2002-3 before dispersals reduced the pack to the current ten or so yearlings and adults. The pack has contributed many dispersers who have moved to south, repeatedly trying to form packs in the Upper Green River and near Pinedale. They might have also provided many of the wolves in the Daniel Pack, which is currently the most southern pack in Wyoming.
The Teton Pack's alpha female is 228F, daughter of the founder of the pack 24F, who met her fate to illegal poison back in 2000-2001. The alpha male is a large black wolf who has never been collared. 228F is (was) also black as have been most of the pups. This years pups are 7 black and 2 gray. Observers today indicated that the fur of the alpha pair has turned a beautiful light gray, with the alpha male being especially spectacular.
With so many pups, 228F needs help. She has been doing quite a bit of hunting, but seems to be the only member of the pack lactating, so all of the 9 pups are hers. Each day when the pack goes out to hunt different "baby-sitter" wolves are left behind, giving each a chance to tend the 9 rambunctious balls of fur.
Quite a few people watch these wolves. My theory is the more eyes the better because there is little doubt in my mind that the pesticide-laden hot dog prisoner, who felled so many local dogs, was probably after this pack.
A new menace faces the pack later this summer. The nearby pasture near Uhl Hill was thought to be finally, thank God! closed to cattle grazing. However, a local family has reactivated their lease and currently has their cattle in the Park in the Kelly Hayfields area, but are expected later to move their cows close to the wolf pack.
6-16-2004. "Teton Pack produces 9 pups." Jackson Hole Zone. This article says it may be a double litter.
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