Wolf (Canis lupus)

[Tshokwane]

Credits to Yellowstone Wolf Family Tree.

THE AMAZING HERO STORY OF BIG GRAY, WOLF 925M

The Lamar Canyon Pack might have completely dispersed and ended with the ’06 Female’s untimely death in December 2012 had it not been for the appearance of a very large and loyal gray wolf with a drooping left ear.

Known as Big Gray because of his impressive size, he came on the scene and paired with Middle Gray in February 2013. Middle Gray was ‘06’s daughter from her first litter in 2010 and one of the two beta females in the pack – the other being her sister and 2010 littermate, 776Fg.

But ’06’s younger daughter born in 2011, a thin black female with the spirit of a spitfire, was drawn to the big male from the beginning.

After Middle Gray’s pups born in April 2013 did not appear to survive, she in November 2013 to join her sister 776Fg who was leading her own new pack east of the park.

The young female and Big Gray then became a pair, and they were both radio-collared in January 2014 as 926 and 925, respectively.

I still remember seeing the pair during the winter 2013-14, eking out survival as the smallest pack in Yellowstone National Park and putting their very lives and bodies on the line in search for food.

It’s rare for just two wolves to make a go of it, but defying the odds in 2014 they raised six healthy pups and the new Lamar Canyon Pack of eight delighted watchers all that year. Each morning of 2014 was ripe with anticipation and excitement, wondering what spectacle and breath-taking moment they might provide.

The pups would eventually become some of the most well-known wolves in Yellowstone and were known to all as Little Gray (male), Big T (female), Little T (female), 967Mb and 820Fb – the darlings of Yellowstone National Park.

But the lives of wolves can turn in a heartbeat, in a change in stride from one day to the next, and our time with them often seems shorter than it should be. And in early 2015, the pack traveled outside their home territory in search of food – as wild wolves who are being wild wolves must do.

In the Hellroaring Creek area of the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone – home today to Yellowstone’s newest Crevice Lake Pack -- they successfully hunted and fed , several miles to the west of their home territory in Lamar Valley.

But, on their return trip back to their home, tragedy would strike …

You see, the larger Prospect Peak Pack had moved eastward from their home territory on the Blacktail Deer Plateau and were hunting in the Slough Creek area of eastern Lower Lamar Valley, also known as Little America. And not only were they larger in number, they were better represented in older adults – a critical component in any conflict between two different packs.

Howling is often a way for packs to be aware of and avoid each other, but the Lamars were travelling in earnest back home and the Prospects were feeding from a recent successful hunt the day before. 925 led his family down into Slough Creek from the west and the Lamars were unaware of the pack directly in their path ….

The Prospects picked up the rival pack entering from the west, and charged in earnest, tails high and confident of their numbers.

Too late the Lamars caught sight of the charging Prospects, and doom for the entire Lamar Canyon Pack seemed at hand …

But it was then that a most remarkable and memorable thing happened …

You see, 925 – thinking only of the safety of his family – then ran directly toward the dozen charging Prospects. This tactic created enough space for his pregnant mate 926 and pups to outdistance their pursuers.

All twelve Prospects converged on the large alpha of the Lamar Canyon Pack and immediately began attacking him.

As human watchers looked on in dismay, something remarkable happened …

One of 925’s boys, Little Gray, came charging down the hill at break-neck speed toward the wolves attacking his father. Human onlookers gasped beside their scopes as he hurtled toward the melee!

And then, at the very last moment, he veered to the left … and half of those attacking his father broke off the attack to chase him! He sped ahead of them and led the half-dozen pursuers further and further away from his dad.

Then a second wolf charged down the hill

It was 925’s other son 967Mb …

He hurtled downward until he was nearly upon the remaining Prospects attacking his dad and then – like his brother before him – veered off at the last minute and drew the remaining attackers away and in pursuit as well.

The tactics of his sons worked, and 925 was able to limp away from the scene of the attack …

But the pounds of pressure per bite that wolves – especially adult wolves – can inflict is significant, and 925 had deep-tissue and severe organ damage from the attack.

He had put himself directly in the path of death in order to save his family … but as he limped off into the sagebrush of Yellowstone’s landscape, he didn’t know whether his sacrifice has truly saved him family or not. He’d done what he could, but was unaware of whether his family was safe or not.

But he would know before the end …

Sometime during the night before his last breath of life the next day, evidence exists of several younger pawprints around his body and telemetry readings indicated that his mate 926 was in the area.

He had been visited by the family he gave his life to save, revealing the undeniable family bonds that exist between wolves …

And what they can teach us.

Submitted with undying respect,

Leo Leckie.

*This image is copyright of its original author

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