Update on Rose Creek Pack

Since the very sad death of Alpha male #8 last July there hasn't been much news regarding the Rose Creek pack, but I do have a few things of interest to report at this time.

Several months ago it was determined that the pack had apparently split into at least two or more groups. One of those groups is now being referred to as the "Tower Group" and they are presently occupying territory near Mt. Everts, which is part of the Leopold pack's territory.

Alpha female #18 was recently observed mating with wolf #207(?) who is a large black yearling. I am assuming that this wolf has become the new Alpha male of the Rose Creek pack.

Female #18 was one of many wolves who were captured and fitted (or refitted) with new radio collars this past winter. But for #18 this was a totally unique experience! Up until her recent capture female #18 had not had any intimate contact with humans since she was a 3-4 month old pup!

The reason for that is because after Alpha female #9 and her eight pups were rescued following the murder of Wolf #10, female #18 escaped from the Rose Creek acclimation pen before she could be collared and all efforts to recapture her proved unsuccessful. See The Rescue - Page 2 for the complete story.

But though female #18 could never be tracked using telemetry, researchers never had any difficulty locating her. #18 has always been easily recognizable by sight partly because all three surviving original Rose Creek pack members, (#9F, #18F and #21M) have been observed and studied so closely through the years.

But most of the original 1995 and 1996 wolves who still roam the greater Yellowstone area, such as ex-Alpha female #5 of the old Crystal Creek pack, Alpha female #7 and Alpha male #2 of the Leopold pack, and Alpha male #34 and Alpha female #33 of the Chief Joseph pack, are all recognizable by sight. And the Park's Nez Perce pack, led by longtime Alpha female #48, has always been recognizable as a pack because, until recently, it remained the only pack in all of Yellowstone to consist of all gray wolves!

When denning season arrives I will update what's happening wih both the original Rose Creek pack and the newer Tower Group.