Agates, Druids, Geodes . . . lots of activity in YNP

Kathie Lynch who is a wolf watching biology teacher from Los Gatos High in California has contributed another one of her detailed reports from her trip of 12/18-23/04.

I want to thank her for this great detail for all Yellowstone wolf watchers.

___________

Field Notes, 12/18-23/04:

The 8 Druids present included: New Black (acting every inch an alpha,

but still limping slightly on his right front), 286F (looking good), 302M

(definite limp on one rear leg and looking tired; often getting the worst of

skirmishes with the black yearling for the beta male position), 375F (always busy and

watchful; the pack's best hunter), 255F (now subordinate to 375F, but very

independent), uncollared black male yearling (big and jet black, vying with 302M

for beta male), gray pup (very light gray already, male/female?), and black

male pup (salt and pepper color).

The Druids ranged all over, from Round Prairie to the slopes of Norris

to Little America to Specimen Ridge. The only two working collars in the

Druids are those of 255F and 375F, so wolf watchers could be in trouble if they

both disperse and no others get collared this winter.

Little America was humming with wolves running in every

direction--Druids, Agates, and Geodes. With so many packs in close proximity, we were treated

to massive group howls on numerous occasions. One day, a group of 9 Agates

(including the beautiful alphas, the big gray, 113M, and his silvery black mate)

got separated as they tried to cross the road at Straightaway in Little

America. They put on a great howling show, but we worried that the black pup who

got separated might have been the victim of the Druids later that day.

That afternoon we saw the black Agate pup howling mournfully near

Boulder, when, all of a sudden, the Druids erupted from a probable Geode kill

(strong Geode signals and lots of bird activity) among the trees on the south side

of the Yellowstone River. The Druids ran east past the Peregrine Hills and

Mom's Ridge and then turned and headed back west to Straightaway. The Agates

howled mightily from above on Specimen, and the Druids answered and approached.

At near dark, by the frigid light of the moon, we watched from Curve

Pullout as all eight Druids charged in all-out attack on some of the Agates (I

saw two running for their lives) on the face of Specimen. The bone-chilling

howls made it sound like they had caught and killed one, but there was no carcass

or bird activity the next day, so most likely no wolves died in that

territory dispute.

We watched at first light one morning as 375F, 302M and 255F had an elk

calf cornered in the Lamar River near Cottonwood Picnic. The calf had

probably been in the freezing water all night and appeared to be doomed. 375F

approached quite closely to the calf. Then two people got out of a car, walked

toward the calf and scared the three wolves away. While the wolves joined the

rest of the pack nearby, the calf ran across the road and slipped away.

About 15 minutes later, we noticed 255F "playing" with a large, gray,

uncollared wolf, who turned out to be an unknown male. It was fascinating to

observe the courtship/acceptance behaviors between 255F and the intruder:

face-off (stiff postures and chin rest across the back), lateral display (stand

tall, ears pricked, fixed stare), nose to tail whirling and jumping back. 255F's

tail wagged excitedly, while the male's was tucked way underneath.

Eventually, she'd had enough, snapped at him and headed back toward the pack, but he

followed. 302M came out and moved between the two, and the intruder started to

walk/trot away. Then the whole pack started to chase him, with New Black

leading the way at a dead run. Eventually the intruder ran into the trees and got

away, but he didn't go too far--we saw 255F with him away from the Druids

several times over the next few days, and she even led him on a tour up to the

traditional den!

Winter is a great time for wolf watching--lots of activity, the wolves

are easier to see against the snow, and their breath sure looks pretty hanging

in the air as they howl at -17 degrees F!

Agates, Druids, Geodes . . . lots of activity in YNP

12-28-2004