Report On Druid Peak Pack

This report comes directly from Kevin Sanders aka Bearman. I thought everyone might be interested in reading a first hand account of what's been happening with the Druid Peak pack since the death of Alpha female #40.

Kevin is a naturalist and a tour guide who lives and works in Yellowstone.

We watched 6 adults and 4 pups at the rendezvous site yesterday afternoon. #105 and remaining pups were still at the den site. There is speculation that the Druid pack is now numbering 27. Not sure where the #27 for total is coming from. So far we have seen 4-6 pups at any one time.

We are also just now beginning to see some differences in the pups which we can use to individualize each one and help us get an accurate count. Sometime in the next few days we should get a real good count after all the pack are together and at the rendezvous site.

This morning (sunday) the same 10 pack members were out but over at the confluence area. #105 and any ??? remaining pups were still at the den site.

Most of the pups are black. 2 are gray. There is a possibility that we could have 16 pups, but again this is speculation. The pack may have killed all of #40's pups after she died, or they all could be alive. Lets wait and see.

One pup in particular has everyone's attention. This particular wolf is colored very unique. Its rump, back, and underside are mostly black but his front shoulder and head/face are kind of creamy white. He/She will be easy to identify at very least, and is already showing signs of dominance and free spirit. Venturing far from the pack and exploring on its own.

As you can see from Kevin's report no one really yet knows the fate of deceased Alpha female #40's pups.

If you've read the two articles on the Druid Peak Pack (located on my main Wolf Updates page) you'll know that biologists "believe" that the pack has been raising them since #40's death. But it appears that this is still only speculation.

Kevin works closely with Park biologists and he would be one of the first to confirm most reports on the packs in Yellowstone, and in particular, the Druid Peak and Rose Creek packs.

A total of 21 pups have been observed with the Druid Peak Pack! This is now an official count.

The pups are the combined offspring of deceased Alpha female #40--estimated at 10, plus female #42, and female #106. It was originally thought that female #103 had also given birth, but she apparently did not.

I'm told that former Beta female #42 is the new Alpha female of the pack and that she and Alpha male #21 are getting along very well together.