Wolf (Canis lupus)

[Tshokwane]

Running Wolf Nature Photography by Deby Dixon:
RIP to Yellowstone's Dear Wanderer, 968F

Another child from the union of 870F and 890M is now gone, taken at the hands of a hunter in a place called Paradise Valley.
It seems like just yesterday when I watched Yellowstone's "Happy Pack," from Hell Roaring. Wolves being viewed from Hell Roaring are always a long ways out and I only stop to watch at that distance when wanting to catch up with the pack and see how they are doing.
On this day, in the Winter of 2014, forever etched in my memory, 870 and 890 were the proud parents of five happy and healthy pups. If memory serves correctly, there were 3 blacks and two grays, and none of them had a serious bone in their bodies. While the adults were getting down to business, these pups couldn't go 5 yards without playing. But 890 and 870 appeared easy going and content with their family and I couldn't get over how close all of the pack members were. The two alphas were raising two daughters and a son that were born to Puff and Ragged Tail in 2013. They originally had 3 daughters but "Drab," had been killed in the hunt.
And, so, on that day, I laughed and giggled at the antics of the Junction Butte pups and went home smiling that 870 had gotten her family and about what great alphas she and 890 were.
But, it was only days later when the world turned upside down. The Junction Buttes maybe paid for their not too serious lifestyle when they wandered into Prospect Peak territory. The Prospects responded by scent trailing the JBs back to their rendezvous area the next day, only no one was home. In a matter of days, however, the Prospects returned, and the Mollies and 755's group came for a visit. There were more wolves than we could count and when all was said and done, two JB pups were missing (one later found dead), one tried to join the Lamar Canyons and got bit in the butt by 926 and 870 was badly injured in an attack by unknown wolves. From happy to a real and tragic life in a matter of seconds, it was so hard to comprehend what had happened to the "Happy Pack."
We celebrated victories - the day 870 got up and returned to her pack. The day that the bitten pup returned. And then 970 and 911 took over the pack and sent 870 and 890 out on their own. The pair did not stay together and eventually our dear survivor, 870 was on her own. By the time she passed away in March, there had only been one pup left - a grey female. But, as if by magic, on the day her body was retrieved, both bitten and 968 came back to the pack and we smiled and celebrated. It felt like an incredible coincidence and a small easing of the pain from losing 870.
But, neither black pup stayed and the bitten pup was eventually found dead.
968 had wandered near and far - she had been in Paradise Valley before but had made her way back to Lamar. Today, when I talked to the wolf project crew, they said that her GPS collar showed she had been absolutely everywhere - lived in Cache Valley for a while, spent time out of the park - she was a young girl of the world.
And, I remember the smiles when 968 returned to her pack late in September. Coincidently she returned right after the first wolf was killed near Gardiner, in the hunt. That wolf was reported to be with a black GPS collared wolf and given the timing of 968's return I will always wonder if it was her. And, I was surprised that she stayed so long - the pack was 19 strong with 968 and all were beautiful and healthy. She was back with dad, 890 (he was allowed to rejoin the pack) and her sister, as well as 969 and 907.
But, not long ago, the pack had a carcass in Crystal and 970 was picking on 968. When the pack left to travel over to Lamar Valley and come down along the Lamar River where I photographed 14 of them, 968 stayed behind. My heart was already aching for her then and I hoped for a miracle. And, when she was seen with the pack a week or so later, I remember the crew smiling to see her again. I smiled at the news.
And, then she was gone. It has only been about one week. And, as I often do, I dreamed a positive outcome of 968 and 965 hooking up and becoming a pair. I reasoned that 968 could nurse 965 back to health and they could be a great pair, just like with what happened when 911 and 970 got together.
But, that fantasy ended yesterday afternoon when I learned of the death of our famous wandering yearling. A hunter shot her. There was one set of wolf tracks in the snow out there near Emmigrant, and so we know she was alone. And then she was shot - one bullet has taken another wolf from thousands who love these animals.
RIP sweet dear - you will never be forgotten - we didn't see you much but your short life made an impression on us. You did your mother proud. And, now we have only your sister to carry on for all of you we have lost.
Thanks for giving me a little time to compose my thoughts about losing 968 before talking to the world. These wolves, each one of them, live in my heart. I have watched them in life and now mourn them forever in death. Luckily, my heart always finds room for the next ones, even though from 820 until today, they each have taken a piece with them.
Deby
968 is the young black female with the GPS collar. She is in every one of these images.

968 is the black wolf.

*This image is copyright of its original author

968 is the black on top of the hill, with the shiny white box on her collar.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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