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Yellowstone National Park Aerial photo of wolf pack in snow.
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Yellowstone National Park
Wolves of Yellowstone
The large Druid pack rambles across the snowy landscape.
NPS Photo/Dan Stahler
The Druid pack traveling.
 

Wolf Restoration

Wolf Management

• To learn more about wolf management visit the United States Fish and Wildlife Service— USFW provides weekly updates on the wolves of the Rocky Mountain region including wolves of Yellowstone.

• Learn more about Montana's Wolf Conservation & Management Program.

• Visit the Greater Yellowstone Science Learning Center.

2010 Executive Summary

At the end of 2010, at least 97 wolves (11 packs and 6 loners) occupied Yellowstone National Park (YNP). This is nearly the same size population as in 2009 (96 wolves) and represents a stable population. Breeding pairs increased from six in 2009 to eight in 2010. The wolf population declined 43% from 2007 to 2010, primarily because of a smaller elk population, the main food of northern range wolves. The interior wolf population declined less, probably because they augment their diet with bison. The severity of mange declined in 2010 and there was no evidence of distemper being a mortality factor as it was in 1999, 2005, and 2008. Pack size ranged from 3 (Grayling Creek) to 16 (Mollie's) and averaged 8.3, slightly higher than in 2009 (7.1), but lower than the long-term average of 10 wolves per pack. Eight of the 11 packs reproduced (73%). The average number of pups per pack in early winter for packs that had at least one pup was 4.8, compared to the 2009 average of 3.8. A total of 38 pups in YNP survived to year end.

Wolf Project staff detected 268 wolf kills in 2010 (definite, probable, and possible combined), including 211 elk (79%), 25 bison (9%), 7 deer (3%), 4 wolves (1%), 2 moose (<1%), 2 pronghorn (<1%), 2 grizzly bears (< 1%), 4 coyotes (1%), 2 ravens (<1%), and 10 unknown species (4%). The composition of elk kills was 43% cows, 25% calves, 18% bulls, and 15% elk of unknown sex and/or age. Bison kills included 4 calves, 6 cows, 7 bulls, and 8 unknown sex adults. Intensive winter and summer studies of wolf predation continued.

Other research included population genetics, disease, hunting behavior, spatial analyses of territory use, wolf pack leadership, multi-carnivore–scavenger interactions, breeding behavior, dispersal, and observations of wolf, grizzly bear, and bison interactions in Pelican Valley. Eighteen wolves from eight packs were captured and collared during 2010. At year end, 28 of the 97 (about 30%) known wolves in the park were collared. Wolf management activities included den site closures and four incidents of hazing habituated wolves, each of minor significance (yelling, horn blowing, etc.). Staff continued to manage wolf viewing areas in Slough Creek, Lamar Valley, and other places where wolves were frequently sighted. Wolf Project staff made 16,225 visitor contacts and counted about 38,000 people observing wolves; both figures were record highs for the program. Wolf Project public outreach included 248 talks (30% more) and 83 interviews (10% fewer).

Yellowstone Wolf Project Annual Report 2010 (1.9 Mb pdf)
 
Color coded map of 2010 Yellowstone Wolf Territories.

2010 Yellowstone National Park Wolf Map Territories

 
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Yellowstone National Park Wolf Population Estimate as of 7/29/2010

 
Pack
Adults
End-Of-Year Pup Count
Total
Northern Range
Agate 4

4

8

Blacktail

8

6

14

Lamar Canyon (formerly 755 Group)

3

4

7

Quadrant Mountain

7

0

7

Loners/Non-Pack Wolves (470F, 692F)

2

0

2

Northern Range Totals
24
14
38
Non-Northern Range
Bechler (no working radio collars in pack) 4
7
11
Canyon
3
3
6
Cougar Creek

4

0

4

Grayling 3 0 3
Mary Mountain (formerly 636M group)
4 2 6
Mollie's 9
7
16
Yellowstone Delta 4 5 9
Loners/Non-Pack Wolves 4 0 4
Non-Northern Range Totals 35 24 59
YNP Total
59
38
97
This lower portion of the table will be updated once the numbers are available.
Wolf Population Estimate by Recovery Area (as of 2009)
Central Idaho Recovery Area
913
GYA
455
Northwestern MT
319
Total (113 breeding pairs)
1687
   
Wolf Population Estimate by State (as of 2009)
Idaho
843
Wyoming
320
Montana
524
Total (115 breeding pairs)
1706


 

2009 & Earlier Data: Yellowstone Wolf Project Annual Reports

2009 (1.9 Mb pdf)2002 (980K pdf)

2008  (2 MB pdf)

2001 (541K pdf)
2007 (1.8 MB pdf) 2000 (248K pdf)
2006 (1.63 MB pdf) 1999 (693K pdf)
2005 (1.7 MB pdf) 1998 (320K pdf)
2004 (1 MB pdf) 1997 (643K pdf)
2003 (903K pdf) 1995-1996 (1.1 MB pdf)

2004 Map
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem wolf pack territory map

The Yellowstone Park Foundation raises money each year to help support Yellowstone's Wolf Project. They are a non-profit organization whose mission is to fund projects and programs that protect, preserve and enhance Yellowstone National Park.


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Last Updated: August 15, 2011 at 11:21 MST