Yellowstone Wolves Denning Update

This is the latest news on the Druid Peak pack's denning and pups.

Four pups were observed outside the den of Alpha female #42 on May 9th. This sighting was made during a routine fly-over and it is quite possible that #42 could have more than just the four pups seen. Some pups may have been inside the den at the time the observation was made.

Meanwhile, female #105 and female #106 have both apparently abandoned their dens. #106 has not been observed at her den for nearly a week now. One possible reason for the sisters to have abandoned their dens is that their pups did not survive. It's hard to believe that all the pups from both litters died, but anything is possible.

Another possibility, though thought to be less likely at this time, is that the two sisters carried all their pups to the Druid's traditional den site to join their mother and her pups. This is what female #42 and female #106 did last year. After Alpha female #40 died last May leaving behind a litter of about 10 pups, the two females brought their own pups to her den and all three litters were then raised together.

The last female in the pack to have denned, #103, does definitely appear to have some pups though. #103 has stayed faithful to her den and much of the pack's activity has been centered around her den site. All the Druids seem to be dividing their time between the den sites of Alpha female #42 and female #103.

I'll updated the news on this pack as I learn more.

Alpha female #42 has been observed with 5 pups to date and her daughter, female #103, was observed with at least 3 pups after moving her den to a new location. It has been confirmed that female #105 and female #106 do not have any pups. There is some speculation that both sisters may have experienced false or pseudo pregnancies. It also remains a remote possibility that one or both sisters may have given birth, but that none of their pups survived.

I still havn't received confirmation on the status of Alpha female #9 or her granddaughter, #77, but Wyoming U.S Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Mike Jimemez suspects that at least one of the females has denned. Mike is pretty sure that female #77 denned, but he is not optimistic about #9. She may just be too old to have any more pups. With a little luck Mike might be able to confirm the status of both females either way within the next few weeks.

There is still no confirmation on the denning of either female in this pack. The reason for this is because the pack's location is in such a remote and heavily timbered area that it cannot be seen by air. Female #9 is not believed to have denned though.