Druids Fight Off Invaders

[Connie]

Interesting report from Wendy on another chat page:

http://www.yellowstoneupcloseandpersonal.com/wwwboard/messages/11265.htm

[Sarah]

Great stuff...bet that would've been awesome to see. We missed it by a couple of weeks, Connie!

[Connie]

Great stuff...bet that would've been awesome to see. We missed it by a couple of weeks, Connie!

Oh, I know. . . what a difference a few days can make. After you left, I watched the Druids a few times. 480's sides were almost bare and there was a black wolf that scratched continuously. I felt so sorry for them. Now, to hear that they mustered the strength to protect their territory just amazes me. But I still fear for their future. Seems that all the wolves want to stake claim to the Lamar Valley.

Oh, and it snowed after we left. Can you believe it?!

[Sarah]

Great stuff...bet that would've been awesome to see. We missed it by a couple of weeks, Connie!

Oh, I know. . . what a difference a few days can make. After you left, I watched the Druids a few times. 480's sides were almost bare and there was a black wolf that scratched continuously. I felt so sorry for them. Now, to hear that they mustered the strength to protect their territory just amazes me. But I still fear for their future. Seems that all the wolves want to stake claim to the Lamar Valley.

Oh, and it snowed after we left. Can you believe it?!

Yeah, I felt sorry for them also. The first night I got in I watched the Druids in Lamar with the elk in the river. There was a black wolf that also continuously scratched, I'm sure it was the same one you saw. The Druids are tough, they will pull through.

LOL...you and your snow! We sure had beautiful weather when we were there, I was grateful for that. Although, I did want to see a little snow, too.

[ELK]

I want to know how they knew they were "Wyoming wolves", little license plates on their tails? Aren't all wolves residing in Yellowsotne "Wyoming wolves"?

[Steve]

I want to know how they knew they were "Wyoming wolves", little license plates on their tails? Aren't all wolves residing in Yellowsotne "Wyoming wolves"?

Why?

[ELK]

I want to know how they knew they were "Wyoming wolves", little license plates on their tails? Aren't all wolves residing in Yellowsotne "Wyoming wolves"?

Why?

Last I heard Yellowstone is in Wyoming. Wyoming has to guarantee wolves in Yellowstone, supposed to be 8 packs, (20 breeding pair outside right now I believe).

[Steve]

I want to know how they knew they were "Wyoming wolves", little license plates on their tails? Aren't all wolves residing in Yellowsotne "Wyoming wolves"?

Why?

Last I heard Yellowstone is in Wyoming. Wyoming has to guarantee wolves in Yellowstone, supposed to be 8 packs, (20 breeding pair outside right now I believe).

But why do you care that they were called Wyoming wolves? ID'ing them seems to be a concern for you, "little license plates..."

[ELK]

Actually I thought it was pretty funny, and I was curious as to how anyone determined that a particular wolf or wolves are "Wyoming" wolves. I thought we have been told that a wolf is a wolf and that there was no such thing as a Canadian wolf even though in that case we knew they were captured and flown from Canada.

[mywolvesrock]

Oh, Elk, you are so entertaining.

[moabsue]

Thanks for posting, Connie!! Sure wish we could've had pics and/or video.

Sue

[Mike]

I have seen almost the same "maneuver" in January of 2008 but that time it was a interloper wanting to mate with a female Druid(black wolf laying down on right)

Might be coincidence or this might be in the "Druid Playbook"



Here four Druids on his east flank move south pushing the interloper toward the road



Joined by a fifth wolf they call out to the rest of the pack west of the road



I didn't know there was wolves behind me until I heard them return the howls,first three,then eight in total



And then the chase is on



Now joined by the others about twelve strong



The interloper has a look at what is headed his way and flees into the trees east of DPH

[Sarah]

I want to know how they knew they were "Wyoming wolves", little license plates on their tails? Aren't all wolves residing in Yellowsotne "Wyoming wolves"?

What's the matter ELK? Didn't get the proper response when you posted this exact question on the other message board so you had to try your luck here, too?

[ELK]

I want to know how they knew they were "Wyoming wolves", little license plates on their tails? Aren't all wolves residing in Yellowsotne "Wyoming wolves"?

What's the matter ELK? Didn't get the proper response when you posted this exact question on the other message board so you had to try your luck here, too?

I guess so, since it seems no one can tell me how they know they are "Wyoming wolves".

[Sarah]

I want to know how they knew they were "Wyoming wolves", little license plates on their tails? Aren't all wolves residing in Yellowsotne "Wyoming wolves"?

What's the matter ELK? Didn't get the proper response when you posted this exact question on the other message board so you had to try your luck here, too?

I guess so, since it seems no one can tell me how they know they are "Wyoming wolves".

Maybe, just maybe no one answered your question because of the way it was asked.

[PokerChip]

Mike, any chance that interloper is 302M?

[Mike]

Uncollerd tan,don't think anyone ID him

[PokerChip]

Ah, I misunderstood your post. I thought you were saying the black laying down was the interloper, I now understand your post to read that the tan is the interloper having eyes for the black laying down. My confusion, sorry. The tan is definitely not 302M.

[Connie]

Ah, I misunderstood your post. I thought you were saying the black laying down was the interloper, I now understand your post to read that the tan is the interloper having eyes for the black laying down. My confusion, sorry. The tan is definitely not 302M.

Yes, I think you're correct. But did you notice how much the black in Mike's third photo looks like 302? I didn't know until my last visit that 480 is 302's brother and they resembled each other quite a bit. Could this guy in the photo be 480M?

Great photos and a wonderful story, Mike. A once-in-a-lifetime experience!

[dalite]

Hmmm. Mangy Druids vs 3 healthy "Wyoming wolves". I'd say the Druids simply outnumbered the three interlopers.

[Rhyolite]

Connie - Thanks so much for sharing about the Druids! They are my favorite pack. I'm very concerned about how the pack will fare this winter. . . .

Pokerchip - 302M died in early October this year. Cass was killed by other wolves. Very sad - he is gone . . .

[PokerChip]

Rhyolite, the post indicates the photos were taken in January 2008, when he was still roaming the environs and being the Cassanova we all remember.

[Connie]

I want to know how they knew they were "Wyoming wolves", little license plates on their tails? Aren't all wolves residing in Yellowsotne "Wyoming wolves"?

What's the matter ELK? Didn't get the proper response when you posted this exact question on the other message board so you had to try your luck here, too?

I guess so, since it seems no one can tell me how they know they are "Wyoming wolves".

Elk, it's my understanding that a couple of the invaders were collared, so they could be identified from that. It's also my understanding that a YNP wolf is not the same as a Wyoming wolf, at least as far as reporting and monitoring is concerned. Ex: Snake River Pack, Sunlight Basin Pack are not YNP packs.

[ELK]

Connie, the Yellowstone wolves count as part of the Wyoming requirement even though we have 27 packs outside of the park, I believe it is. We are supposed to maintain 8 packs inside of the park. I realize all of the packs have different names that are related to the area where they live?, but they all live in Wyoming. As for the collars do the watccher have the tracking numbers so they can tell what wolf and where it is from if it has a collar? If so were these wolves from the Tetons or elsewhere in the state? Do you know where?
Thank you for that information, that just seemed such a strange way to put it, expecially when most of the "Wyoming wolves" are migrants from those planted inside of the park. I do appreciate you taking the time to do it.

[Connie]

Connie, the Yellowstone wolves count as part of the Wyoming requirement even though we have 27 packs outside of the park, I believe it is. We are supposed to maintain 8 packs inside of the park. I realize all of the packs have different names that are related to the area where they live?, but they all live in Wyoming. As for the collars do the watccher have the tracking numbers so they can tell what wolf and where it is from if it has a collar? If so were these wolves from the Tetons or elsewhere in the state? Do you know where?
Thank you for that information, that just seemed such a strange way to put it, expecially when most of the "Wyoming wolves" are migrants from those planted inside of the park. I do appreciate you taking the time to do it.

Based upon my limited knowledge, I think each wolf has a unique radio frequency which allows identification, but those frequencies aren't common knowledge. No, I don't think wolfwatchers have them, but surely researchers do. Does Wyoming maintain a website with information on the non-YNP wolves? Perhaps there's more information there.