Here are the data on the Yellowstone “mid-year” wolf packs — the pack names and number of adults, pups, total pack size. Finally a numeric ID has been assigned to the pack.
Yellowstone National Park = 143 wolves; 14 packs (13 packs producing 76 pups) [at least 12 potential breeding pairs). Northern Range 1) Swan Lake- 2, 6, 8; 2) Leopold- 8, 11, 19; 3) 536F Group- 4, 8,12; Hellroaring- 4, 4, 4; 5) Agate- 7, 6, 13; 6) Slough- 8, 0, 8; 7) Druid- 4,11,15; Non- Northern Range 8 ) Mollie’s- 5, 6, 11; 9) Yellowstone Delta- 6, 5,11; 10) Bechler- 3, 5, 8; 11) Snake River Group- 2, 7, 9; 12) Gibbon Meadows- 7, 5,12; 13) Hayden Valley- 4, 2, 6; 14) Cougar Creek- 3, 0, 3; Total: 67, 76, 143.
I’m not sure why the “536F group” is not regarded as a pack because they have eight pups. There might be the belief that they will still rejoin the Leopold Pack from which they came. I don’t think they will. I am not sure why the new pack near the south entrance is called the Snake River group, rather than “pack.”
The Cougar Creek II Pack is regarded as a non-Park pack although it denned in Daly Creek at the extreme NW boundary of Yellowstone Park. There is also a new pack, the Eagle Creek Pack, just across the Yellowstone River between Gardiner and Jardine.
As I mentioned in an earlier story, the Park wolf population is up this year, after the huge decline of the last year, but there are still fewer wolves than in 2003 and 2004.
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is past President of the Western Watersheds Project and the creator of The Wildlife News.
As to why the 536F Group and the Snake River Group are classified as “groups” (rather than “packs”), I think that in order to officially be considered a pack, the group of wolves must produce pups which survive until December 31 of that year.
That’s it. You are right, Kathie.
I try to keep myself as informed as possible but maybe I’ve missed an update in the last several months…has anyone posted an update on the new pack that 253 M (the old Druid male that had taken the journey to Utah several years ago) had “formed” down south of YNP last year? I know he was in a fairly remote area at one time – but has there been any updates?
Ralph, I may have missed it, but have you seen the 2005 wolf report yet?
Yes, it’s been out for quite a while. Maybe I should put up a link?
253M was last found somewhere in “the black hole of wolves”. I think that is somewhere in the Bondurant, Pinedale, Daniel area of Wyoming, but no information has been reported on him recently.
Sorry, was underway for the rest of the week. Yes, I think a link would be very helpful. I, as many people do, use your site as the homesite for wolf reintroduction. Thanks for all the hard work.