The first phase of the annual Yellowstone Park wolf winter study is now in its third week. Population counts for the year are underway. Preliminary counts indicate that the total Park wolf populations is about the same as last year, or maybe down just a little. On the northern range, however, the final count may have the wolf population down by 20% from last year.

The lack of decline in the entire Park is due to a compensating increase in the number of wolves on Park's west side -- from Norris down to Old Faithful.

Each year of the winter study has shown considerable variations on the predations rate on different classes of elk. This winter has so far shown a very large increase in the number of bull elk killed. One pack killed four the other day. On the other hand, the number of elk calves killed is down. Predation on elk cows is mostly the old cows, some very old. Doug Smith examined a kill the other day. The elk cow appeared to be about 25 years old, he said.

The Specimen Ridge Pack-

Not much was known about this new pack after they left their den on Specimen Ridge in late spring. The pack consisted of the U-Black female (famous former Druid who was never radio collared) and wolf 194M and a gray uncollared beta male. They had a litter of 5 pups. They gradually moved up the Ridge and onto the Mirror Plateau and disappeared.

Now, however, they have been rediscovered. The body of 194M was found dead in remote Wrong Creek of natural causes. 194M was a big wolf who originated with the Rose Creek Pack, later joined Mollies Pack, and then returned last winter to the Lamar/Little America area to consort with the U-Black.

The pack as it consists now is the U-Black (who has largely lost her distinctive "U" marking, and according to Rick McIntryre looks somewhat like her mother, the late 42F). She is accompanied  by a grey male who was probably the beta male, now the alpha, 379M (that guy really gets around!), and 2 surviving pups. That's five wolves in the pack.

The Druids and Slough Creek-

More and more members of the 15 count Slough Creek Pack are entering the Lamar Valley. They stay north of the highway and don't go east much beyond the Lamar Ranger Station at Rose Creek. Down in the Valley the Druids hang out. The packs howl back and forth, but no recent confrontation have been seen.

There are now 9 Druids. Druid 348M has rejoined the pack after making a long exploratory trip to Paradise Valley north of the Park. The alphas are the New Black and 286F. 302M still limps from the attack by sometimes Mollies Pack wolves 378M and 379M (currently with Specimen Ridge Pack). 375F has now become dominant over older Druid 255F as the beta female. Folks may recall last winter 255F left the pack, consorted with numerous male wolves and had a least a pseudo-pregnancy. She was eventually allowed back into the Druid Pack.

Agate Creek Pack-

They were recently seen feeding on a bison near Tower Junction. It has not been determined yet if they killed it.

Geode Creek Pack-

The Geode Pack has finally some breathing space because the huge Leopold Pack stopped pushing east and has returned to their traditional range on the Blacktail Deer Plateau to the west. Yellowstone wolf team leader Doug Smith told me that the Geodes had been pretty much pushed around and chased by the 20+ Leopolds.

The New Pack in Round Prairie-

Well, so far their appearance seems to have been a one time thing. They have disappeared. I'm glad Alan Sachanowski provided us with that great photo of them -- the one our main Wildlife Reports page.

The Hayden Valley four-

Doug Smith said this quartet, with the white wolf, continues to been seen from time to time and is being counted is a distinct group or pack in the population count.

The Nez Perce Pack, after wandering all over the place, has finally returned to their traditional territory in central Yellowstone.

The new Gibbon Pack made an unprecedented trip north, and visited Lava Creek, but soon returned to the Gibbon/Norris area.

My summary. As many have predicted, I think the Park's wolf population growth is over and will go up and down from now on. I also think the wolf population growth in Wyoming is about over, with a measly 80 or so wolves outside the Park, with the final Wyoming count of about 250-300 wolves as I predicted years ago.

Note. If you want to help the wolves, every time some Wyoming politician or news reporter writes or speaks how the wolves are multiplying while the Wyoming wolf case drags on, they should be corrected with your email, letter to the editor, or whatever. It would be nice to see facts win over rumor once in a while.

12-21-04. Eleven days have passed since I wrote the above, and now Dr. Doug Smith has confirmed to the Billings Gazette that the population has stopped growing, and overall is down slightly slightly in Yellowstone Park. The Northern Range wolf population is down 15%. The entire Greater Yellowstone ecosystem wolf population has also stopped growing. The mild winter is also helping elk escape wolf attacks. "Wolf population declines in Park,"  By Mike Stark. Billings Gazette.  AND ON
12-31-04. A Gazette editorial further acknowledges the news. Billings Gazette opinion: Good news as wolf tally levels off.

Now let's see if the official news is picked up politicians and anti-wolf groups.