Trail Log 1995-1997 - Lamar at Colorado State University

Mech thinks that wolves are not subject to inbreeding depression. But there is worry that there will
not be enough genetic diversity in the Yellowstone wolves. So an effort is being made to get
wolves from different areas in Canada.
Sunday, March 3.
Out at 6.45 a.m. We stopped at Slough Creek. There were no wolves on yesterday's kill. 3
coyotes on yesterday's carcass. Another coyote 50 yards off. Several dozen elk. 65 bison,
bedded down.
Another coyote walked by close in while we were out looking around at Slough Creek. We heard
the wolves howling again; Nathan Varley and Dan McNulty arrived; radios indicate; the pack is now
on the south side of the road. But we couldn't spot them.
We drove up to Soda Butte to see if we could spot that pack. 3 bighorns, 1 nice ram on the skyline
above the road. Good coyotes howling. No sign of the Crystal Bench pack.
Returning, at the lower end of Lamar Valley, Candy spotted something coming across the valley;
and we couldn't believe our eyes. It was the Rose Creek Pack, perhaps a 100 yards away. Jim
said this was the closest to the road he had ever seen them. There was a scramble for cameras
inside the van. The wolves turned to retreat down toward the river and we got out and watched.
They got more comfortable at more distance from us and spent time around the river, even
frolicking and playing some. (This is on videotape; ending just before the scenes of making casts.)
Then they went up onto the bench behind the river and walked the flat ridge. There were 8 wolves
in a line, a great sight. The ninth kept much further behind.
We walked down to where the wolves had made tracks in the snow and made casts. There was
a carcass with antlers and ribs nearby, but seemingly not a recent kill. Coyotes howling.
There is a carcass in the Narrows area between Lamar Valley and the Slough Creek area; up the
hill from the road. Coyotes are on it, but no evidence of wolves, and no evidence that the wolves
killed it.
Back to the bunkhouse for lunch and afternoon seminar.
Nathan Varley and Dan McNulty brought in the skull and jaw of the elk on which we saw the wolves
feeding Saturday morning.
We watched an unpublished videotape by Bob Landis, Yellowstone Wolves, Part 2, 23 mins.
08/05/95. D 81836. Landis Wildlife Films. Shows wolves chasing various elk in a herd of several
dozen and picking out one that is limping in the rear legs and taking it.
End of formal seminar.
Back out at dusk with Jim Halfpenny and Bob Barber. Down to Slough Creek area. One grey wolf,
then four black ones going over the ridge beyond Crystal Creek.
Monday, March 4. Good snow overnight. Out about 7.30 a.m. 3 coyotes, 3 elk in snow. At Lamar
Bridge, we saw, rather dimly in the snowstorm, on the hill south of Crystal Bench, 3 wolves and 6-8
elk.