Yellowstone Wolf Update. Late Dec. 2000
Druids move in on Rose Creek
Nez Perce displaces Leopold
Dec. 27, 2000
Here is the latest news on the wolves in the Yellowstone Park.
There has been a lot of movement of wolves, and the partial displacement of 2 packs.
Druid Peak Pack- The Druids, for which I don't have a count, but may still be at 27 wolves, moved east out of the Park for over a week and probably went to the Crandall Creek area in the North Absaroka Wilderness. Then they came back and moved west as far as the slopes of Hellroaring Creek which has been the core of Rose Creek Pack winter range for several years now. Some Druids were observed chasing some Rose Creek wolves. Most recently they were back in the Lamar Valley.
The Rose Creek Pack seems to have divided into two. The largest is informally being called the "Yancey Hole" group. The smaller, led by no. 18F (who has never been radio collared, but is recognizable by sight) was not located on the last tracking flight, but Rick McIntyre may have picked up a signal on the slopes of the Buffalo Plateau. 155F from the pack is in the general area, but may be dispersing.
The Nez Perce Pack, which has become a really large pack with recent observations 16 to 18 wolves, continues to expand its range. In a really big move they came out the Hayden Valley area and occupied the core of the Leopold Pack's range on the Blacktail Deer Plateau, including the den site area. The Leopolds, which have been about the least exploratory Yellowstone Pack were pushed to the Mt. Everts area (that's the big broad, flat top and steep-sloped mountain visible just the NE at Mammoth). Most recently the Nez Perce pack has moved into the Oxbow-Geode Creek area which had been kind of a buffer zone between Rose Creek and Leopold. That is just north of the Mammoth to Tower Junction road.
The Crystal group was in their usual territory--Pelican Valley--more specifically the Sulphur Hills.
The Soda Butte Pack seems to love deep snow, so they moved to where it is deeper. They were located on The Promontory, a big peninsula that sticks out into Yellowstone Lake from the south.
Number 152's pack, which has just officially been named the Swan Lake Pack, moved from the Swan Lake Flat and Mammoth area to Turkey Pen Peak/Rattlesnake Butte area. This is just north of Mt. Everts near the lower end of the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone, about 5 miles upriver from Gardiner, Montana. This is good elk and deer winter range.
The Chief Joseph Pack moved quite a way north in the Gallatin Range to the Big Creek area and Paradise Valley, but then they moved back to the core of their range at Daly Creek in the NW corner of the Park.
And of course the newly released Sheep Mountain Trio, north of the Park on the east side of the Yellowstone seems to have been joined by 4 wolves of unknown origin. They range from Basset Creek on the south the Daily Lake on the north, centering on Dome Mountain.
Right now the following packs seem to be jostling in the northern range of the pack: Rose Creek (2 groups), Nez Perce, Leopold, Swan Lake, and Druid Peak.
Email addresses for members of Congress, other officials, and the media
Return To Maughan Wolf Report Page
Copyright © 2000 Ralph Maughan
Not to be reprinted, archived, redistributed, etc., without permission.
Ralph Maughan PO Box 8264, Pocatello, ID 83209