Doug Smith. leader of the Yellowstone wolf project reported today that all Park wolf packs seem to be in their usual summer pattern with a few additional wolves wandering around.

Some specific news is that it has finally been confirmed that Mollies Pack has pups -- 5 of them, although only 4 have been seen lately.

"The only pack yet to confirm pups is the "Old Faithful" group.

In unhappy news, for the first time mange has invaded Yellowstone Park with at least one member of the Chief Joseph Pack being seen with moderate fur loss in Daly Creek.  Mange has been a problem in most of the packs to the north, northwest and northeast of the Park.

Outside the Park, mange has served to wipe out one wolf pack -- Taylor Peaks; maybe another -- Absaroka; and reduce the survival rate of many others. Mange is reportedly also taking a toll of wolves in Minnesota where the wolf population has stopped growing. In the past it has wiped out wolf packs in NW Montana. It has not been detected in the thriving Idaho wolf population.

Dr. Doug Smith and wolf team flyers saw an amazing chase in the Pelican Valley recently.

Wolf 343M was waiting near a bull elk carcass, which he probably killed, while six grizzly bears, including a 500 pound male and a sow with a cub, were squabbling over the food.

343M suddenly noticed the approach of 2 strange wolves who had never been in the Pelican -- Druids 255F and 375F. Smith speculated that the 2 Druids, who have not joined the rest of the pack at its summer range way up the Lamar River, were led to the Pelican by Mollies wolf 378M, who has been hanging around with them in the Lamar. 378M, of course, would not fear going into Mollies' territory.

343M quickly took off after the 2 Druids and chased them at least a mile, maybe more, as the end of the chase was hidden in the deadfall and regrowth of a 1988 burn area.

255F and 375F have been the only Druids left in the Lamar, although 302M keeps coming around. 286F's collar is not working, but she is presumed to be with the rest of the pack, indicating to me, Smith didn't say this, that 253M has been successful replacing 21M as the Druid's alpha male, at least for the time being.

8-6 correction. 286F has remained in the Lamar Valley, and often with 302M.  Her radio collar isn't dead, rather she had a GPS collar that automatically dropped off about a year ago. 

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