Wolves in New Location June 28
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 3:32 pm
We made a snap decision to go into the park on Sunday morning to hopefully see the Junction Buttes on a bison carcass. We debated going because it would be mid morning by the time we got there and rain was in the forecast. We decided to go ahead and ended up having one of our best experiences with wolves ever.
As we were coming into Gibbon Meadows (just south of Norris Geyser Basin) we noticed a few cars parked in the first pullout and some people looking toward and pointing at something in the trees beside the meadow. I figured it must be a black bear, but decided I'd roll down my window and ask. A teenage girl responded there was a "wolfpack" in the trees. So we parked and got out a beautiful black wolf emerged about 50 yards away followed shortly by another one. They proceeded to cross one of the creeks in the meadow, moving generally parallel with the road.
wolvesgibbonmeadow 010 by William Reinke, on Flickr
wolvesgibbonmeadow 009 by William Reinke, on Flickr
We watched them wander around the meadow generally moving east, stopping occasionally to investigate something or even play, splashing in the water and chasing each other. They just seemed to be having fun.
wolvesgibbonmeadow 089 by William Reinke, on Flickr
wolvesgibbonmeadow 024 by William Reinke, on Flickr
wolvesgibbonmeadow 074 by William Reinke, on Flickr
wolvesgibbonmeadow 075 by William Reinke, on Flickr
There were two elk grazing in the northern section of the meadow, and as the wolves got closer, the elk actually started moving closer to the wolves. I don't know if they had calves hidden or what. The wolves decided to take on the challenge and it got a bit serious for a time with a wolf getting a bite on the heel of the elk.
wolvesgibbonmeadow 101 by William Reinke, on Flickr
wolvesgibbonmeadow 106 by William Reinke, on Flickr
The wolves then chased the elk, somewhat haphazardly, into the trees where they all disappeared.
This was a great look and lasted at least 20 minutes. We had only seen a wolf in that meadow once before and that was 4 years ago. Not sure if these are siblings from an existing pack, maybe Wapitis, or if they are a new courting pair. Wouldn't that be great! If anybody has an opinion, please let us know. There was no dominant behavior between the two and they were very playful at times. So I'm hoping it's a new pair.
We did make it to Lamar and there were seven wolves around the carcass. They got up once and with tails wagging got all engaged with each other which was cool to see. On our way back out Karen spotted a loan wolf trotting parallel to the road, presumably heading to the carcass. It skirted a large herd of bison before challenging a bison for a brief period. The bison responded but did not seem overly concerned. After the brief standoff the wolf moved on.
wolvesgibbonmeadow 122 by William Reinke, on Flickr
wolvesgibbonmeadow 125 by William Reinke, on Flickr
Another great day in the best place on earth!
As we were coming into Gibbon Meadows (just south of Norris Geyser Basin) we noticed a few cars parked in the first pullout and some people looking toward and pointing at something in the trees beside the meadow. I figured it must be a black bear, but decided I'd roll down my window and ask. A teenage girl responded there was a "wolfpack" in the trees. So we parked and got out a beautiful black wolf emerged about 50 yards away followed shortly by another one. They proceeded to cross one of the creeks in the meadow, moving generally parallel with the road.
wolvesgibbonmeadow 010 by William Reinke, on Flickr
wolvesgibbonmeadow 009 by William Reinke, on Flickr
We watched them wander around the meadow generally moving east, stopping occasionally to investigate something or even play, splashing in the water and chasing each other. They just seemed to be having fun.
wolvesgibbonmeadow 089 by William Reinke, on Flickr
wolvesgibbonmeadow 024 by William Reinke, on Flickr
wolvesgibbonmeadow 074 by William Reinke, on Flickr
wolvesgibbonmeadow 075 by William Reinke, on Flickr
There were two elk grazing in the northern section of the meadow, and as the wolves got closer, the elk actually started moving closer to the wolves. I don't know if they had calves hidden or what. The wolves decided to take on the challenge and it got a bit serious for a time with a wolf getting a bite on the heel of the elk.
wolvesgibbonmeadow 101 by William Reinke, on Flickr
wolvesgibbonmeadow 106 by William Reinke, on Flickr
The wolves then chased the elk, somewhat haphazardly, into the trees where they all disappeared.
This was a great look and lasted at least 20 minutes. We had only seen a wolf in that meadow once before and that was 4 years ago. Not sure if these are siblings from an existing pack, maybe Wapitis, or if they are a new courting pair. Wouldn't that be great! If anybody has an opinion, please let us know. There was no dominant behavior between the two and they were very playful at times. So I'm hoping it's a new pair.
We did make it to Lamar and there were seven wolves around the carcass. They got up once and with tails wagging got all engaged with each other which was cool to see. On our way back out Karen spotted a loan wolf trotting parallel to the road, presumably heading to the carcass. It skirted a large herd of bison before challenging a bison for a brief period. The bison responded but did not seem overly concerned. After the brief standoff the wolf moved on.
wolvesgibbonmeadow 122 by William Reinke, on Flickr
wolvesgibbonmeadow 125 by William Reinke, on Flickr
Another great day in the best place on earth!