Wolf (Canis lupus)

[Ngala]

Photo and information credits: Running Wolf Nature Photography by Deby Dixon
"911M, alpha male of the Junction Butte Pack, was killed in Lamar Valley tonight by members of the Prospect Peak pack.
Life can never be taken for granted, for it is here one second and gone the next.
Today was one of those that makes one realize that they will never fully know wolves, for they are always full of surprises.
The Prospect Peak pack traveled from Blacktail to Lamar yesterday and were unexpectedly found just south of the Buffalo Ranch this morning. Rick said that he and Lizzie were up on the Confluence hill, looking for the Lamars, when they got word of a black down at the river. The last wolves that they expected to see were members of the Prospects, 8 of them, including 3 pups.
The wolves had an elk in the river, which was injured but still alive when they left to rest for most of the day.
And, then, unexpectedly, Junction wolves appeared from the north, above the ranch, and a black yearling chased another cow elk into the river. But, those wolves soon disappeared.
All was quiet and I left for about 30 minutes, during which time 911 came from the west, limping his way across the valley. 911 had a permanent injury to his left rear leg, but had recently sustained a new injury to his left front leg. There is some speculation that he had been shot in the shoulder. The new injury was painful and he tried hard to not put much weight on it.
As luck would have it, 911 came across the cow elk that the Prospects had left standing in the river. I am told that he was worse after testing the elk and could barely walk. When I finally saw 911 stand up and move about it was obvious that he had a new injury to his right rear leg. The poor boy had only one good leg and could barely get around. He had also lost much weight in recent weeks.
911 bedded next to the river and it looked as though the elk was standing right beside him for quite a long time. After awhile the Prospect wolves emerged from the forest on Amethyst Bench and two blacks, one pup and one collared, eventually made it down to the elk, each individually going into the river and testing it, emerging unsuccessful. My stomach was in knots, certain that they would kill 911 and my head was screaming at him to get out of there. But, 911 held his ground and didn't do any more that lift his head to watch the two wolves, before resuming his nap. The Prospects went back up the hill and all bedded down.
We saw 911 try the cow elk and there was a lot of splashing and some stomping before he came back to rest some more. I was completely baffled by 911 and his behavior - he knew that he was outnumbered and had to know that the other wolves would not go away but he seemed unconcerned. I wondered if they knew each other and if he felt safe somehow. But, that theory didn't ring true.
And, then, 911 did the most extraordinary thing - he hobbled back into the river and killed the elk all by himself. For a wolf with 3 bad legs, the takedown looked quick and fairly easy. But, unfortunately, he only got a couple of bites before the Prospects came rushing down, cautiously. Obviously, they did not know what to think of 911 and were not going to make any rash moves. 911 got up and curled his back and snarled at one of the blacks that had come to his carcass and the wolf backed off. I kept thinking that he would make his getaway, now that there were 8 wolves looking at him, wondering what to do, but he just walked off a short ways and laid down to wait.
Some of the Prospects went to the carcass but you could tell that they were nervous, maybe knowing that 911 had a big pack and worried that they would show up.
There was no attack and they were leaving 911 alone, and so I thought he might be safe. It was getting dark and so I packed to leave, stopping along the way to talk to Rick. I had to ask if he had ever seen anything like that before and he said no.
But, 911 had moved closer to the carcass and bedded again. Rick said, "You want to be watching this."
I grabbed my scope and saw the Prospects approaching 911. The first wolf got snarled at and turned back and I thought maybe he would be okay. But, a large black went forth, right up to 911 and the 2 began fighting before the others joined in. It was awful to watch - I had feared for 911's safety half of the day and suddenly he was no longer safe. Five or 6 of the wolves joined the attack. I kept turning away from the scope, breathing and going back to watch. I had never seen anything like this before and was glad to be there with Rick and John Kerr - it helped somehow. In less than a minute 911 was dead.
We talked about this some - 911's behavior was bizarre. He had time to leave but chose not to, despite knowing the danger. He was in tremendous pain from the injuries and it appeared as though he had not been with his pack for a couple of days. There was no way he could continue to live and thrive with his injuries, particularly if a lone wolf. It was almost as if he was waiting for the end that he knew would come once the Prospects got ahold of him. But, he never quit fighting.
In the end, 911 showed me what an extraordinary wolf he was. He was always steady, there for his pack, and got along well with other wolves. 911 never caused problems - he wasn't mean. He saved the den and the pups this year by jumping in front of a grizzly. And, he was an accomplished bison hunter. 911 stole 970 from 755 2.5 years ago and they had 12 pups (some of which might have belonged to 907) in 2015. Six of ten gray pups disappeared. In 2016 970 denned away from the pack and we never saw her pups. The wolf project got a mortality code on 970 in May but were never able to find her body.
After seeing the pain that 911 was in today, and watching his last, final, brave act of killing the elk despite his handicaps - he went out in a blaze of glory. His strength and dignity surpassing anything I have ever seen.
RIP 911, you did good on this earth and we are all better off for you having been here. You will be missed but you left behind a great legacy and story.
I'm sorry to all for our loss.
This has always been my favorite photo of 911, taken soon after he was collared, in Lamar Valley where he died today."

*This image is copyright of its original author

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