Volume 15, Number 4
Winter 2003

Yellowstone Wolves: Their Footprint on the Land
Renee Van Camp, Wolf Program Director

While standing above Yellowstone National Park's Antelope Creek on a crisp fall morning I felt their presence. I was straining my eyes and my imagination to catch just a glimpse of them high up on the ridgeline or far below running along the swift moving creek. I knew they were there, somewhere in that valley, I could feel them in the morning air. I just had to be patient. Finally, they were spotted, one gray, now two more grays, and then two blacks chasing each other along the high tree line. They looked content, at peace and absolutely stunning. All was silent as they passed through the valley almost as the land and its creatures were in wait. Then, from on top of the ridge, very faint at first then louder until it filled the entire valley, the howl of the wolf. The silence was broken not only by their song, but also by the cry of the ravens circling above and the whistle of the huge bull elk who suddenly ceased his grazing to lift his head and scan the meadow. This valley belongs to the Agate Creek pack. This pack of 10 wolves has held residence here since the 2000 break up of the original Druid Pack in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley. Their presence is bringing this piece of wilderness into ecological balance, one tree, one drop of water, and one creature at a time.

The return of the wolf has not been all bad news for coyotes. Coyotes benefit greatly from wolf kills and have been verified at nearly every winter wolf kill in the park.

This scenario is happening throughout Yellowstone. The return of the wolf is proving to be a very successful fix to an ecosystem that had been critically off balance for the better half of a century. Some of these changes began as soon as the wolves set foot outside of the release pens to begin their lives as wild wolves in this, our first national park. Immediately wolves affected the exploding coyote population. Some studies say as much as 80% -though 50% is probably more realistic- of Yellowstone's coyotes have been displaced or have perished with the reintroduction of wolves as the "top dog." With the reduction of coyote numbers smaller species such as red fox, weasels, fishers, badgers, martens and wolverines are on the rise, adding diversity and the necessary balance of large, medium and smaller carnivores. The return of the wolf has not been all bad news for coyotes. Coyotes benefit greatly from wolf kills and have been verified at nearly every winter wolf kill in the park.

Wolves take down large prey, which provide a great deal of food. Besides coyotes, nine other scavenger species have been known to benefit from a wolf kill. In Yellowstone, each wolf kill lures predatory birds including eagles, magpies and an average of 29 ravens per kill site. Both grizzly and black bears have been documented at wolf kills. In Yellowstone's Pelican Valley, home of the Mollie's Pack, Dr. Douglas Smith reported that nearly every wolf kill was taken over by grizzly bears within a few hours. In one encounter, a grizzly bear was successful in holding 24 wolves from their kill.

Although wolves do occasionally prey on bison and moose, the primary prey of Yellowstone wolves is elk. Representing nearly 92% of their diet, each wolf kills roughly 1 elk every 15 days. Wolves in Yellowstone normally prey on older (14 years of age or older), and therefore weaker elk. Their selective hunting leaves the herds stronger, healthier and at population levels that available forage can support. By eliminating older cow elk, wolves pave the way for younger cows in their reproductive prime to successfully produce young and further the future of the herd. The survival rate of breeding females in the park is around 95%. Wolves are not out to decimate elk herds; they depend on elk for their survival and will selectively cull the herds to ensure future sustenance.

A record 135 ravens were once reported at one wolf kill site in Yellowstone.

It is true that wolves have not significantly reduced elk populations, but they have made them move. Before wolves were brought back into the park in 1995-96 elk were known to take up residence at a particular willow or aspen stand and effectively stunt growth and eliminate future production. Having wolves back on the ground has made elk more leery and less likely to stay in one place; especially aspen or willow stands, which provide good cover for wolves. Elk still forage on willow and aspen, however they are forced to move from stand to stand in quick succession, therefore doing less permanent damage. With the regeneration of willow and aspen, beavers are recovering in areas where they have long been missing. Beavers create natural pools in streams and rivers that provide habitats for insects, frogs, toads and birds.

The benefits of the return of the wolf don't stop with the wildlife they share the landscape with. Guides, tourist services and private citizens have greatly benefited as well. Yellowstone hosted its 100,000th person viewing wolves last year, and averages 20,000 tourists annually simply to have the chance to hear or see a wolf. One guide service has increased its staff by five times to accommodate over 1,000 wolf watchers each year. Programs and conferences have increased by 20-35% allowing many more to become involved and interested in wolf ecology and future survival.

Wolves have made a tremendous, yet gentle and ecologically sound, footprint on the land with their renewed presence. The changes that they have orchestrated are just beginning to take shape with future possibilities yet to be seen but possibly endless. The next time you are fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a wolf or hear their amazing song, don't simply think of how much that moment means to you, but think of what that existence means to the surrounding wilderness. Their impact is grand, after all, even the tiniest of butterflies benefit from the nutrients in wolf scat.