The Druid Wolf Pack of Yellowstone

The Druid Peak wolf pack (formed 1996) was born from the first group of wolves that were released into Yellowstone National Park. The Druid pack grew very fast from five members, and up to 37 members at its peak in 2001. It was to be one of the biggest wolf packs in recorded history. The first alpha pair were #38 and #39. #40 took dominance after her mother #38 left. Then a roving male #31 joined the group from the Chief Joseph Pack. #40 sadly was killed by three of her subordinate sisters and a female wolf dubbed Cinderella, Cinderella then assumed the position of Alpha female. It was at this point that the pack grew rapidly with three litters of pups being raised that year for a total of 21 pups, 20 of which survived. The dominant male had been shot previously when the pack had wandered out of the park. Then #21 took dominance after joining the group. #42 and #21 led the pack as the alpha pair for many years until in 2004, Sadly #42 was killed by a neighboring wolf pack and #21 died soon after at the age of 9 after curling up under a tree and crossing over, some might think from Heart Break…. . #302 "Casanova" then became the alpha male for a period of time. He was given the name Casanova because of his promiscuous lifestyle as a wolf, living on the outskirts of Druid territory often trying to lure the females druid wolves over. Then #480 soon after joined the pack as alpha male with Casanova being a beta male and not a fighter. #569 became the alpha female. We can thank The Government for the demise of the Druid Pack In the winter of 2009-2010, when the pack contracted mange causing many of the wolves to die from border skirmishes or starvation. The males who took over the pack after #480 was chased off did not stick around as the remaining females were too weak to bear pups. The alpha female #569 had died the previous fall, and #480's body was later found near the Hellroaring drainage. The Druids were down to one wolf in 2010, a female, 690F, who was believed to be unable to last the winter. She was later shot in Butte, Montana sometime in May that year by a rancher after she attacked his cattle out of desperation. Many wolves in Yellowstone have Druid bloodline so they still live on as many wolves were chased out or left the pack including 4 female wolves and a male wolf who left to form a pack with a different alpha male.

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