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The Alpha Wolves of Yellowstone #3
The Redemption of Wolf 302: From Renegade to Yellowstone Alpha Male
From the renowned wolf researcher and author of The Rise of Wolf 8 and The Reign of Wolf 21 comes a stunning account of an unconventional alpha male.
A lover, not a fighter. That was wolf 302. A renegade with an eye for the ladies, 302 was anything but Yellowstone’s perfect alpha male. For starters, he fled from danger. He begged for food from other wolves, ditched females he’d gotten pregnant, and even napped during a heated battle with a rival pack!
But this is not the story of 302’s failures. This is the story of his dramatic transformation. And legendary wolf writer Rick McIntyre witnessed it all from the sidelines.
As McIntyre closely observed with his spotting scope, wolf 302 began to mature, and, much to McIntyre’s surprise, became the leader of a new pack in his old age.
But in a year when game was scarce, could the aging wolf provide for his family? Had he changed enough to live up to the legacies of the great alpha males before him?
Recounted in McIntyre’s captivating storytelling voice and peppered with fascinating insights into wolf behavior, The Redemption of Wolf 302 is a powerful coming-of-age tale that will strike a chord with anyone who has struggled to make a change, big or small.
“With this third installment of Rick McIntyre’s magnum opus, the scope and ambition of the project becomes nothing less than a grand serialization of the first twenty years of wolves in Yellowstone, a kind of lupine Great Expectations .”—Nate Blakeslee, New York Times -bestselling author of American Wolf
A lover, not a fighter. That was wolf 302. A renegade with an eye for the ladies, 302 was anything but Yellowstone’s perfect alpha male. For starters, he fled from danger. He begged for food from other wolves, ditched females he’d gotten pregnant, and even napped during a heated battle with a rival pack!
But this is not the story of 302’s failures. This is the story of his dramatic transformation. And legendary wolf writer Rick McIntyre witnessed it all from the sidelines.
As McIntyre closely observed with his spotting scope, wolf 302 began to mature, and, much to McIntyre’s surprise, became the leader of a new pack in his old age.
But in a year when game was scarce, could the aging wolf provide for his family? Had he changed enough to live up to the legacies of the great alpha males before him?
Recounted in McIntyre’s captivating storytelling voice and peppered with fascinating insights into wolf behavior, The Redemption of Wolf 302 is a powerful coming-of-age tale that will strike a chord with anyone who has struggled to make a change, big or small.
“With this third installment of Rick McIntyre’s magnum opus, the scope and ambition of the project becomes nothing less than a grand serialization of the first twenty years of wolves in Yellowstone, a kind of lupine Great Expectations .”—Nate Blakeslee, New York Times -bestselling author of American Wolf
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2021
75 people are currently reading
1576 people want to read
About the author
Rick McIntyre
17 books330 followersRick McIntyre is the acclaimed author of the Alpha Wolves of Yellowstone Book Series, which includes The Rise of Wolf 8: Witnessing the Triumph of Yellowstone's Underdog and The Reign of Wolf 21: The Saga of Yellowstone's Legendary Druid Pack (coming October 2020). McIntyre is currently at work on the third book in the series, about Wolf 302. McIntyre has recorded over 100,000 sightings of wild wolves--which is more sightings than any other person in history--and has written more than 7 million words of wolf observations, making him one of the world's foremost experts on wild wolf behavior. He has been featured on NPR, 60 Minutes, the Washington Post, the podcast This is Love and his book, The Rise of Wolf 8, was an Amazon Best Science Book of the Year and selected as a Notable Book by the prestigious Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Awards.
McIntyre worked as a ranger naturalist and wolf researcher for the National Park Service for four decades including many years in Alaska's Denali National Park, where he first began to study wolves. In 1994 he became Yellowstone National Park's first Wolf Interpreter, educating thousands of park visitors each year on Yellowstone's now-famous Wolf Reintroduction Project, which sought to reintroduce wolves to the park after the last wolves were shot and killed by park rangers 60 years earlier, in the 1920s. One day, McIntyre observed one of the first reintroduced wolves--a small, unassuming pup, the runt of his litter--stand up to a grizzly bear to protect his brothers. Over the next few years, McIntyre watched the small pup grow into a powerful alpha male, whose acts of bravery, loyalty, and kindness impressed McIntyre so much that he made him the subject of his first book, The Rise of Wolf 8. McIntyre profiles Wolf 8's equally remarkable adopted son in The Reign of Wolf 21.
In 1998, McIntyre transferred to the Wolf Reintroduction Project full-time and helped with research on the park's wolf population. He continued to work with the public by presenting talks along the roadside and showing visitors the wolves through his telescope. McIntyre retired from the National Park Service in 2018 to focus on his books, however, he continues to observe the Yellowstone wolves on an almost-daily basis, rain or shine. He lives in Silver Gate, Montana.
McIntyre worked as a ranger naturalist and wolf researcher for the National Park Service for four decades including many years in Alaska's Denali National Park, where he first began to study wolves. In 1994 he became Yellowstone National Park's first Wolf Interpreter, educating thousands of park visitors each year on Yellowstone's now-famous Wolf Reintroduction Project, which sought to reintroduce wolves to the park after the last wolves were shot and killed by park rangers 60 years earlier, in the 1920s. One day, McIntyre observed one of the first reintroduced wolves--a small, unassuming pup, the runt of his litter--stand up to a grizzly bear to protect his brothers. Over the next few years, McIntyre watched the small pup grow into a powerful alpha male, whose acts of bravery, loyalty, and kindness impressed McIntyre so much that he made him the subject of his first book, The Rise of Wolf 8. McIntyre profiles Wolf 8's equally remarkable adopted son in The Reign of Wolf 21.
In 1998, McIntyre transferred to the Wolf Reintroduction Project full-time and helped with research on the park's wolf population. He continued to work with the public by presenting talks along the roadside and showing visitors the wolves through his telescope. McIntyre retired from the National Park Service in 2018 to focus on his books, however, he continues to observe the Yellowstone wolves on an almost-daily basis, rain or shine. He lives in Silver Gate, Montana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
November 13, 2021
4.5* Every time I pick the next book in Rick McIntyre's series, I think: "what's so great about these books that I preorder them every year and end up loving every single one?" And then it hits me again: the style is simple, but the stories are not. These wolves have complex social lives that are always a thrill to read about. Most of them don't even have names, just numbers - and yet one can tell apart these characters easily. The titular 302 - Casanova - is only one of many wolves McIntyre writes about this time. And just like the previous books, this one proves that wolves are individuals - anything but stereotypical.
While I'm hesitant to agree with some of Rick McIntyre's interpretations here, The Redemption of Wolf 302 is still one of the best books to read for anyone who wants to learn about wolves. Even after all the published literature on these animals, Rick McIntyre manages to provide the readers with a lot of new and fascinating observations.
Can't wait for the next book about 06 and the she-wolves of Yellowstone!
While I'm hesitant to agree with some of Rick McIntyre's interpretations here, The Redemption of Wolf 302 is still one of the best books to read for anyone who wants to learn about wolves. Even after all the published literature on these animals, Rick McIntyre manages to provide the readers with a lot of new and fascinating observations.
Can't wait for the next book about 06 and the she-wolves of Yellowstone!
December 8, 2021
My rating is likely unfair as my expectations were likely off base. I knew we'd get a healthy dose of wolf life in Yellowstone, but I assumed there would be more about daily park life and the other wildlife. For those who are into wolves or very interested in wolf habits and rituals, the style is easy to follow, and the book will shine a light on the many aspects of this animal. While I learned some interesting nuggets about wolves--their eating/killing/mating/family life--which I feel enriched by, it's an arduous read if you're the wrong target audience.
November 27, 2022
When we read tales of real-life animals that are not human, it is difficult to know how much we should view them from the human standpoint. For example, when Jane Goodall began her researches on chimpanzees in the wild, she broke with tradition by giving the chimpanzees she was observing names, rather than numbers (and I am led to believe that plenty of people disapproved of this). Rick McIntyre, a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park, has been observing wolves there since they were reintroduced in the late 20th century. This is his third book on the subject, each with a different protagonist, and they are mostly given numbers rather than names (a few, which have not been fitted with radio-collars, are referred to by visual description, for example Light Bar and Dark Bar for two wolves that have colored bars on their fur). But, it is evident, he does not shy away from using words such as "courage" or "clever" when describing a particular wolf.
There are reasons to be wary of doing this, of course. Once we call one wolf "courageous" because it charges at a rival pack of wolves trying to encroach on its territory, we are then more or less bound to call another wolf which does not do this "cowardly", especially if it refrains from doing so on several occasions. It is apparent to McIntyre that wolves have personalities; even if of the same sex and approximate age, they can have very different behavior in the same situation, and that difference can be repeatable and predictable for a given individual wolf. But if a wolf is "cowardly", we may be tempted to judge their behavior more harshly, or even be biased against seeing other traits they have which are more positive.
On the other hand, I have to admit, it is just easier to read and stay focused and attentive, if one wolf pack is "defiant" of another, larger one that has encroached on its territory, as opposed to if McIntyre had said something like "cognizant of the risk of violent conflict but not sufficiently motivated to avoid the territory". I also, personally, think that when the Druid wolves (a pack named after Druid Peak, near the center of their range) howled even though they knew that the larger Slough pack (which had recently attacked them) were likely to hear, what they felt while doing it was more like defiance. I cannot, of course, prove this at all, but then even with regard to other human beings I can only guess at what their emotions are, and surely I am often incorrect. But, they knew there was another pack in hearing, they knew it was larger and dangerous, and they did not choose to stay quiet (although they could have, and on other occasions did). I believe they were defiant, and knew themselves to be defying a more numerous enemy.
The "hero" of our story, 302, began life as a bit of a miscreant. He was quick to desert comrades if they were under attack, but quick and able at getting the attention of adult females who were in heat (even if he had to evade the alpha wolf's attention while doing so). Then, once they had pups, he was quick to desert again, unlike more "responsible" male wolves that would bring back food to the den to help the mother keep the pups fed. The low point is probably the "siege" (McIntyre's term) when the pack which 302 was running with was trapped in its den by a newly arrived, larger wolf pack.
In case there is any doubt that wolves possess long-term strategic thinking, it is answered here, as the invading pack traps the mother wolves (and their pups) in their den, not letting them leave to get food for their pups. The mothers fought them off, protecting their young, but when they made long and desperate howls for the males of their pack to return and help them to break the siege, they got no response. Wolf 302 was among the (few) remaining adult males in the pack, and he abandoned the mothers and their pups to their fate. Once the pups had all died, the invading pack left, having successfully robbed the rival pack of a new generation of wolves, and thus insuring their dominance in the coming year.
But, over the course of the 10 years or so that he was alive, Wolf 302 did in fact change. Gradually, he learns how to hold his own in a fight. Gradually, he learns to stick around after the female gives birth, and help with feeding them. Gradually, he changes from the kind of young adult male you recognize, and don't like, to the kind of leader that, were I a wolf, I would probably look up to. Is it anthropomorphizing? Perhaps. But we are not the only mammals that learn, have personalities, and thus can change over time from someone fairly despicable to someone admirable. There may be a way to tell the story of wolf 302 that does not use the language usually reserved for human narrative, but I am not at all convinced that it would be more informative. We can respond to McIntyre's tale of Henry V-like youthful irresponsibility turned to adult heroism, because we are also mammals, and we easily recognize the stakes and the motivations. It is a tale of blood, deceit, cowardice, courage, duty, and yes, redemption. I shall be remembering it for a long time to come.
There are reasons to be wary of doing this, of course. Once we call one wolf "courageous" because it charges at a rival pack of wolves trying to encroach on its territory, we are then more or less bound to call another wolf which does not do this "cowardly", especially if it refrains from doing so on several occasions. It is apparent to McIntyre that wolves have personalities; even if of the same sex and approximate age, they can have very different behavior in the same situation, and that difference can be repeatable and predictable for a given individual wolf. But if a wolf is "cowardly", we may be tempted to judge their behavior more harshly, or even be biased against seeing other traits they have which are more positive.
On the other hand, I have to admit, it is just easier to read and stay focused and attentive, if one wolf pack is "defiant" of another, larger one that has encroached on its territory, as opposed to if McIntyre had said something like "cognizant of the risk of violent conflict but not sufficiently motivated to avoid the territory". I also, personally, think that when the Druid wolves (a pack named after Druid Peak, near the center of their range) howled even though they knew that the larger Slough pack (which had recently attacked them) were likely to hear, what they felt while doing it was more like defiance. I cannot, of course, prove this at all, but then even with regard to other human beings I can only guess at what their emotions are, and surely I am often incorrect. But, they knew there was another pack in hearing, they knew it was larger and dangerous, and they did not choose to stay quiet (although they could have, and on other occasions did). I believe they were defiant, and knew themselves to be defying a more numerous enemy.
The "hero" of our story, 302, began life as a bit of a miscreant. He was quick to desert comrades if they were under attack, but quick and able at getting the attention of adult females who were in heat (even if he had to evade the alpha wolf's attention while doing so). Then, once they had pups, he was quick to desert again, unlike more "responsible" male wolves that would bring back food to the den to help the mother keep the pups fed. The low point is probably the "siege" (McIntyre's term) when the pack which 302 was running with was trapped in its den by a newly arrived, larger wolf pack.
In case there is any doubt that wolves possess long-term strategic thinking, it is answered here, as the invading pack traps the mother wolves (and their pups) in their den, not letting them leave to get food for their pups. The mothers fought them off, protecting their young, but when they made long and desperate howls for the males of their pack to return and help them to break the siege, they got no response. Wolf 302 was among the (few) remaining adult males in the pack, and he abandoned the mothers and their pups to their fate. Once the pups had all died, the invading pack left, having successfully robbed the rival pack of a new generation of wolves, and thus insuring their dominance in the coming year.
But, over the course of the 10 years or so that he was alive, Wolf 302 did in fact change. Gradually, he learns how to hold his own in a fight. Gradually, he learns to stick around after the female gives birth, and help with feeding them. Gradually, he changes from the kind of young adult male you recognize, and don't like, to the kind of leader that, were I a wolf, I would probably look up to. Is it anthropomorphizing? Perhaps. But we are not the only mammals that learn, have personalities, and thus can change over time from someone fairly despicable to someone admirable. There may be a way to tell the story of wolf 302 that does not use the language usually reserved for human narrative, but I am not at all convinced that it would be more informative. We can respond to McIntyre's tale of Henry V-like youthful irresponsibility turned to adult heroism, because we are also mammals, and we easily recognize the stakes and the motivations. It is a tale of blood, deceit, cowardice, courage, duty, and yes, redemption. I shall be remembering it for a long time to come.
August 15, 2024
Buy.
Wonderful.
Wonderful.
December 15, 2021
I wasn't sure whether I would like the focus on 302 - the wolf is nicknamed "Casanova" for goodness sake! Turns out I found it very interesting. I don't necessarily agree with McIntyre's take on 302 - that he was a "renegade" who was then "redeemed". What this third volume made clear to me was there is more than one way to be a successful, and even admirable and inspirational, wolf. Wolf 302 is not an alpha wolf for most of his life, but he lives longer and fathers more surviving pups than most of the alphas. This book gave me the impression that wolves such as 8 and 21 are even more exceptional than I had thought - the part where the Slough Creek males basically gave up and abandoned the Slough Creek females to the unknown pack is a case in point. When 302 finally becomes an alpha at the end of his life he fights for his pack even though he is old. McIntyre seems baffled by why all the females are attracted to 302 at first, but it seems pretty clear to me. McIntyre concludes that he treats them the way they want to be treated, and that probably helps, but much more important I feel, 302 is smart, healthy, strong, and a survivor - just the genes any female wolf would want for her pups. For much of the book 480 is the alpha of the Druids, and McIntyre talks about how 302 does not contribute much to the pack at the beginning, but 302 brought 480 to Druid territory and helped him be in the position to become the alpha. Wolf 302 also fathered a significant number of the pups that restored the pack during much of 480's leadership. It takes more than good alphas to make a strong pack. McIntyre continues to provide fascinating and incredibly detailed observations of the Yellowstone wolves. I am looking forward to his next book focusing on 06 and other alpha females.
March 18, 2022
It's easy to get lost in this absorbing story. In context with the other books in the series, it is beginning to feel like a true epic.
> That was the first time I had seen 302 refuse to give up while fighting another male, even when his opponent had given him what must have been a very painful bite to the face. The wolf continued to surprise us with how he was changing. 302 had known three greatly accomplished alpha males in his long life: his father, wolf 2; his uncle, 21; and now his nephew, 480. They were all aspirational role models on how proper alphas should behave and it looked like 302 was finally beginning to emulate them. Can a tiger change his stripes? Can a person or a wolf change his basic character in his later years? Against all my expectations, it looked like 302 was starting to do just that.
> 302’s reactions to all this attempted mating activity impressed me. He acted like a chaperone, guarding 06 from the unwanted advances of the young males, and did not pester her like the others. I saw 302 gently lick 06’s back and lightly rest his head on her when they bedded down next to each other. She accepted his attentions and did not snap at him or bite him. Based on his many years of romancing females, 302 seemed to know how to treat them. In human terms, he was suave
> March 21 was the thirteenth anniversary of the release of the original reintroduced wolves. I had been out in the field for 81 percent of the days the wolves had been roaming free in Yellowstone. We were in the middle of a Golden Age for wolf research. During those years we had so many wolf sightings and were seeing so much intense behavior, some of which had never before been observed, that I often had no time to eat my lunch, even though it was within easy reach.
> the biologist overseeing a long-term study of wolves at Isle Royale National Park, was in Yellowstone at that time. Because that island is heavily forested, wolves are hard to see. Rolf told me that a researcher hiking around the park can go years without spotting a wolf. The park gets about eighteen thousand visitors annually and Rolf said that collectively they have about fifteen to twenty wolf sightings a year. In contrast, the open country in much of Yellowstone meant we could see wolves almost every day. At that time, I was in a stretch where I had seen wolves for nearly six hundred days in a row.
> wolves with black coats have an increased immune response that enabled them to recover from distemper, a naturally occurring virus, at a higher rate than gray wolves. All three surviving Slough pups were black. The research at UCLA also traced black coats in wolves back to a genetic mutation in an early version of the dog, likely after the last Ice Age about ten thousand years ago. Back then all dogs would have looked just like wild wolves since they were only a few generations away from their wild relatives and often interbred with them. The black mutation quickly spread through both wild wolves and dogs. Gray coats come with genetic advantages, as well. For reasons not fully understood, gray mothers have better overall pup survival than black females, even with the periodic outbreaks of distemper. The Yellowstone wolf population tends to be half black and half gray, and we found that our wolves tend to pair off with a mate of the opposite color.
> Mange is caused by infestations of parasitic mites just below the skin. Rebecca Raymond, a biologist who worked for the Wolf Project, had previously been a veterinary technician. She told me the mites live at the base of hair follicles. When a dog or wolf scratches at the spot, it pulls out fur along with the mites. The loose mites can then easily get on another wolf in the group and the infestation spreads much like lice in children. … Mange was a significant threat to Yellowstone’s wolf packs because wolves need thick fur to insulate them from extreme cold weather. Thermal images of wolves with mange indicate that the animals need to double their energy expenditure to keep themselves warm in winter
> In 1905 the Montana legislature passed a bill instructing the state veterinarian to oversee a program to capture wild wolves, infect them with mites, then release them “in hopes that they would return home and infect their fellow pack members.” The bill was entitled “An Act to provide for the extermination of wolves and coyotes by inoculating the same with mange.”
> I was struck by the number of cases where Yellowstone wolves were injured or killed while hunting elk and bison. Those incidents made clear how dangerous it is for wolves, who average about 100 pounds as adults, to fight with adult elk that can weigh from 300 pounds to 700 hundred pounds and bison that can get up to 2,000 pounds.
> Mike Phillips, the original lead biologist of the Yellowstone Wolf Project, worked in Alaska early in his career and did a study where he examined 225 wolf skulls. Twenty-five percent of them showed evidence of blunt force trauma such as broken jaws or damaged skulls, most likely inflicted by kicks from moose. An earlier study of 2,134 Alaskan wolf skulls by H. Haugen found that 36 percent had injuries caused by prey animals.
> The Blacktail wolves had figured out something about crossing the road that the Leopold pack never did. When wolves in that territory wanted to cross the road, they had to go through open country where they would be easily seen by people driving through the area. Many drivers would speed to the likely spot where the wolves would cross and stop in the middle of the road. That often caused the wolves to back off and try to cross elsewhere. I got a report that the Blacktails had found a place where the road crossed a small bridge over a creek. The pack took to traveling under that bridge to the other side of the road, completely avoiding any traffic.
> That was the first time I had seen 302 refuse to give up while fighting another male, even when his opponent had given him what must have been a very painful bite to the face. The wolf continued to surprise us with how he was changing. 302 had known three greatly accomplished alpha males in his long life: his father, wolf 2; his uncle, 21; and now his nephew, 480. They were all aspirational role models on how proper alphas should behave and it looked like 302 was finally beginning to emulate them. Can a tiger change his stripes? Can a person or a wolf change his basic character in his later years? Against all my expectations, it looked like 302 was starting to do just that.
> 302’s reactions to all this attempted mating activity impressed me. He acted like a chaperone, guarding 06 from the unwanted advances of the young males, and did not pester her like the others. I saw 302 gently lick 06’s back and lightly rest his head on her when they bedded down next to each other. She accepted his attentions and did not snap at him or bite him. Based on his many years of romancing females, 302 seemed to know how to treat them. In human terms, he was suave
> March 21 was the thirteenth anniversary of the release of the original reintroduced wolves. I had been out in the field for 81 percent of the days the wolves had been roaming free in Yellowstone. We were in the middle of a Golden Age for wolf research. During those years we had so many wolf sightings and were seeing so much intense behavior, some of which had never before been observed, that I often had no time to eat my lunch, even though it was within easy reach.
> the biologist overseeing a long-term study of wolves at Isle Royale National Park, was in Yellowstone at that time. Because that island is heavily forested, wolves are hard to see. Rolf told me that a researcher hiking around the park can go years without spotting a wolf. The park gets about eighteen thousand visitors annually and Rolf said that collectively they have about fifteen to twenty wolf sightings a year. In contrast, the open country in much of Yellowstone meant we could see wolves almost every day. At that time, I was in a stretch where I had seen wolves for nearly six hundred days in a row.
> wolves with black coats have an increased immune response that enabled them to recover from distemper, a naturally occurring virus, at a higher rate than gray wolves. All three surviving Slough pups were black. The research at UCLA also traced black coats in wolves back to a genetic mutation in an early version of the dog, likely after the last Ice Age about ten thousand years ago. Back then all dogs would have looked just like wild wolves since they were only a few generations away from their wild relatives and often interbred with them. The black mutation quickly spread through both wild wolves and dogs. Gray coats come with genetic advantages, as well. For reasons not fully understood, gray mothers have better overall pup survival than black females, even with the periodic outbreaks of distemper. The Yellowstone wolf population tends to be half black and half gray, and we found that our wolves tend to pair off with a mate of the opposite color.
> Mange is caused by infestations of parasitic mites just below the skin. Rebecca Raymond, a biologist who worked for the Wolf Project, had previously been a veterinary technician. She told me the mites live at the base of hair follicles. When a dog or wolf scratches at the spot, it pulls out fur along with the mites. The loose mites can then easily get on another wolf in the group and the infestation spreads much like lice in children. … Mange was a significant threat to Yellowstone’s wolf packs because wolves need thick fur to insulate them from extreme cold weather. Thermal images of wolves with mange indicate that the animals need to double their energy expenditure to keep themselves warm in winter
> In 1905 the Montana legislature passed a bill instructing the state veterinarian to oversee a program to capture wild wolves, infect them with mites, then release them “in hopes that they would return home and infect their fellow pack members.” The bill was entitled “An Act to provide for the extermination of wolves and coyotes by inoculating the same with mange.”
> I was struck by the number of cases where Yellowstone wolves were injured or killed while hunting elk and bison. Those incidents made clear how dangerous it is for wolves, who average about 100 pounds as adults, to fight with adult elk that can weigh from 300 pounds to 700 hundred pounds and bison that can get up to 2,000 pounds.
> Mike Phillips, the original lead biologist of the Yellowstone Wolf Project, worked in Alaska early in his career and did a study where he examined 225 wolf skulls. Twenty-five percent of them showed evidence of blunt force trauma such as broken jaws or damaged skulls, most likely inflicted by kicks from moose. An earlier study of 2,134 Alaskan wolf skulls by H. Haugen found that 36 percent had injuries caused by prey animals.
> The Blacktail wolves had figured out something about crossing the road that the Leopold pack never did. When wolves in that territory wanted to cross the road, they had to go through open country where they would be easily seen by people driving through the area. Many drivers would speed to the likely spot where the wolves would cross and stop in the middle of the road. That often caused the wolves to back off and try to cross elsewhere. I got a report that the Blacktails had found a place where the road crossed a small bridge over a creek. The pack took to traveling under that bridge to the other side of the road, completely avoiding any traffic.
October 30, 2022
The Redemption of Wolf 302: From Renegade to Yellowstone Alpha Male, Rick McIntyre, 2021, 266 pages, Dewey 599.7730978752, ISBN 9781771645270 (Rick McIntyre's books https://www.goodreads.com/author/list... )
Follows wolves for six years, 2004 through 2009.
Black wolf 302 avoided helping his packmates in fights or hunts for most of his life. He would get females pregnant and abandon them. They were attracted to him. At age 7.5, he began to take responsibility. pp. 6-7, 112-114, 118, 141-142, 147, 153-154.
Wolf 302 is the star of the Bob Landis documentary /Nature/ videos, /In the Valley of the Wolves/, 2007, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1228890/ and /The Rise of Black Wolf/, 2010, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1734352/ pp. 151-152.
Wolf packs can hear each other howling eight miles apart. p. 59.
Lamar Valley climate:
Average yearly snowfall is 169.5 inches, just over 14 feet. p. 60.
-25 to -30 F (-32 to -34 C) was the average annual extreme minimum temperature in the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park, 1976 to 2005: https://pdi.scinet.usda.gov/phzm/md/A...
Daily temperatures: extreme high & low for the day, 1948-2005; average high and low for the day, 1948-2005: https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliFTrec...
Late January through much of February: wolf mating season. A litter may have more than one father. Wolves howl most during the February mating season. pp. 27, 31, 65, 67, 98-111, 153.
Wolf gestation is about 63 days, "same as dogs." p. 39.
April: pups born. Wolves howl least during the spring denning season. pp. 39, 65, 72, 105. Grizzly bears are out of their winter dens. p. 121. April 11 (2009): first bison calf of the year. p. 218.
Late April: pups walking around outside the den, age about 2.5 weeks. Mothers resume hunting. pp. 40-41.
A wolf pair can dig a den in less than an hour. They sometimes move the pups to a new den. Dens can become flea-infested. pp. 43, 53.
May: pups are weaned, at 5-6 weeks old. Elk are calving. pp. 47, 65, 87, 222.
In "normal" years, an average of 77% of pups survive. In 2005, only 23% did. Many died of distemper virus. Black wolves survive distemper better; overall, gray wolves survive better. About half of Yellowstone wolves are black, and about half are gray, and tend to mate with a partner of the other color. pp. 51-53.
Mid-July: Elk calves are strong enough to outrun wolves. Elk are dispersed in high meadows. p. 53.
July and August are normally the only snow-free months. p. 60.
Late July-August: Uinta ground squirrels are fat, preparing for hibernation. Good snacks. pp. 190-191, 226.
Mid-August: bison rut. Some are killed; wolves scavenge them. pp. 191-192.
August 21 (2008) we stopped seeing ground squirrels: they had gone underground for the winter. p. 194.
August 25 aspen leaves start turning yellow. p. 195.
By late August, pups are feeding on carcasses directly. p. 57, 124.
The average Yellowstone wolf lives less than 5 years. pp. 64, 142. The oldest known wolf in Yellowstone lived to be 12.5 years old, a female who had pups at age 11. p. 54. About 50% of wolves are killed by other wolves; about 13% are killed by prey animals. p. 184. By contrast, a raven lived in captivity to age 69. pp. 141-142.
1905: Montana wildlife officials capture wild wolves and coyotes, infect them with mange mites, and release them, hoping they'll infect their packs and die of hypothermia. Mange still kills many wolves and coyotes. p. 107.
1926: Park rangers killed the last of the indigenous wolves in Yellowstone. Mange lived on among the coyotes. p. xx, 108.
1970: Rick McIntyre was a student at the University of Massachusetts. Violent demonstrators against the Vietnam War planned to bomb a campus building. No one could talk them out of it. One young man stood up and said if they were going ahead with their plan, he would camp out in the building. Students, including McIntyre, took turns camping out in Memorial Hall, saving the building. McIntyre likens that instance of leadership by his fellow student to behavior he sees in wolves: seeing what needs to be done to protect the pack, and doing it, despite the risk. pp. 89-92.
1994: Rick McIntyre started working in Yellowstone as Wolf Interpreter. p. xx, 89.
1995 and 1996: 31 Canadian wolves from seven packs were released in Yellowstone. pp. xx, 15, 36, 50, 60.
After a few years, Yellowstone averaged about 100 wolves in 10 packs, distributed over 2.2 million acres (3500 square miles). pp. xx, 12.
2000: Wolf 302 was born into the Leopold pack. p. 3.
2001: The Druid Peak pack reached a peak of 38 wolves. p. xxi.
2004: chapters 1-3, pp. 3-24.
2005: chapters 4-8, pp. 26-61.
2006: chapters 9-12, pp. 64-100.
2007: chapters 13-17, pp. 102-154. Mange reentered the Yellowstone wolf population in fights with coyotes. pp. 107-108, 115.
<8 pages of photos>
2008: chapters 18-21, pp. 156-203.
2009: chapters 22-24, pp. 206-244.
By 2009, Yellowstone was getting 4 million visitors per year. p. 221.
Follows wolves for six years, 2004 through 2009.
Black wolf 302 avoided helping his packmates in fights or hunts for most of his life. He would get females pregnant and abandon them. They were attracted to him. At age 7.5, he began to take responsibility. pp. 6-7, 112-114, 118, 141-142, 147, 153-154.
Wolf 302 is the star of the Bob Landis documentary /Nature/ videos, /In the Valley of the Wolves/, 2007, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1228890/ and /The Rise of Black Wolf/, 2010, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1734352/ pp. 151-152.
Wolf packs can hear each other howling eight miles apart. p. 59.
Lamar Valley climate:
Average yearly snowfall is 169.5 inches, just over 14 feet. p. 60.
-25 to -30 F (-32 to -34 C) was the average annual extreme minimum temperature in the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park, 1976 to 2005: https://pdi.scinet.usda.gov/phzm/md/A...
Daily temperatures: extreme high & low for the day, 1948-2005; average high and low for the day, 1948-2005: https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliFTrec...
Late January through much of February: wolf mating season. A litter may have more than one father. Wolves howl most during the February mating season. pp. 27, 31, 65, 67, 98-111, 153.
Wolf gestation is about 63 days, "same as dogs." p. 39.
April: pups born. Wolves howl least during the spring denning season. pp. 39, 65, 72, 105. Grizzly bears are out of their winter dens. p. 121. April 11 (2009): first bison calf of the year. p. 218.
Late April: pups walking around outside the den, age about 2.5 weeks. Mothers resume hunting. pp. 40-41.
A wolf pair can dig a den in less than an hour. They sometimes move the pups to a new den. Dens can become flea-infested. pp. 43, 53.
May: pups are weaned, at 5-6 weeks old. Elk are calving. pp. 47, 65, 87, 222.
In "normal" years, an average of 77% of pups survive. In 2005, only 23% did. Many died of distemper virus. Black wolves survive distemper better; overall, gray wolves survive better. About half of Yellowstone wolves are black, and about half are gray, and tend to mate with a partner of the other color. pp. 51-53.
Mid-July: Elk calves are strong enough to outrun wolves. Elk are dispersed in high meadows. p. 53.
July and August are normally the only snow-free months. p. 60.
Late July-August: Uinta ground squirrels are fat, preparing for hibernation. Good snacks. pp. 190-191, 226.
Mid-August: bison rut. Some are killed; wolves scavenge them. pp. 191-192.
August 21 (2008) we stopped seeing ground squirrels: they had gone underground for the winter. p. 194.
August 25 aspen leaves start turning yellow. p. 195.
By late August, pups are feeding on carcasses directly. p. 57, 124.
The average Yellowstone wolf lives less than 5 years. pp. 64, 142. The oldest known wolf in Yellowstone lived to be 12.5 years old, a female who had pups at age 11. p. 54. About 50% of wolves are killed by other wolves; about 13% are killed by prey animals. p. 184. By contrast, a raven lived in captivity to age 69. pp. 141-142.
1905: Montana wildlife officials capture wild wolves and coyotes, infect them with mange mites, and release them, hoping they'll infect their packs and die of hypothermia. Mange still kills many wolves and coyotes. p. 107.
1926: Park rangers killed the last of the indigenous wolves in Yellowstone. Mange lived on among the coyotes. p. xx, 108.
1970: Rick McIntyre was a student at the University of Massachusetts. Violent demonstrators against the Vietnam War planned to bomb a campus building. No one could talk them out of it. One young man stood up and said if they were going ahead with their plan, he would camp out in the building. Students, including McIntyre, took turns camping out in Memorial Hall, saving the building. McIntyre likens that instance of leadership by his fellow student to behavior he sees in wolves: seeing what needs to be done to protect the pack, and doing it, despite the risk. pp. 89-92.
1994: Rick McIntyre started working in Yellowstone as Wolf Interpreter. p. xx, 89.
1995 and 1996: 31 Canadian wolves from seven packs were released in Yellowstone. pp. xx, 15, 36, 50, 60.
After a few years, Yellowstone averaged about 100 wolves in 10 packs, distributed over 2.2 million acres (3500 square miles). pp. xx, 12.
2000: Wolf 302 was born into the Leopold pack. p. 3.
2001: The Druid Peak pack reached a peak of 38 wolves. p. xxi.
2004: chapters 1-3, pp. 3-24.
2005: chapters 4-8, pp. 26-61.
2006: chapters 9-12, pp. 64-100.
2007: chapters 13-17, pp. 102-154. Mange reentered the Yellowstone wolf population in fights with coyotes. pp. 107-108, 115.
<8 pages of photos>
2008: chapters 18-21, pp. 156-203.
2009: chapters 22-24, pp. 206-244.
By 2009, Yellowstone was getting 4 million visitors per year. p. 221.
April 16, 2023
Another fascinating wolf tale. I want Rick McIntyre to keep writing books forever.
January 13, 2022
Another wonderful book about the wolves of Yellowstone National Park, this time focusing on male wolf 302, who started out pretty much a slacker, and ended up being the founding alpha male of a new pack of Yellowstone wolves. Rick McIntyre takes you inside the daily life of the wolves he documents, and makes you care about what happens to them. Such an intriguing book!
I was happy to learn that McIntyre has a new book coming out this fall, focusing on female wolf 06, who was just a bit player in this book.
I was happy to learn that McIntyre has a new book coming out this fall, focusing on female wolf 06, who was just a bit player in this book.
March 31, 2022
I knew going into this that there would be tragedy along with the triumph. Wolves, even the luckiest of them, lead such short lives. It’s what they do, how they show the majesty of the species, that can set them apart. Such is the case with Wolf 302.
Having read the previous books, I knew that Wolf 302 was coming from behind, so reading his journey to redemption was sometimes surprising, but always awesome. McIntyre brings him to life, no matter that you only know him as a number.
So, having read the two previous books, I started the last chapter with trepidation. This would be the end of Wolf 302’s story. The end of his life. But though his light would be snuffed out, his family would survive. His story would live on.
Having read the previous books, I knew that Wolf 302 was coming from behind, so reading his journey to redemption was sometimes surprising, but always awesome. McIntyre brings him to life, no matter that you only know him as a number.
So, having read the two previous books, I started the last chapter with trepidation. This would be the end of Wolf 302’s story. The end of his life. But though his light would be snuffed out, his family would survive. His story would live on.
December 25, 2022
Engrossing look at Yellowstone wolves from 2004-2008ish, with focus on the Druid pack and wolf 302.
It's sometimes a little hard to keep track of the numbered wolves, but the author does a pretty good of noting the pack, sex, and rank of the numbered wolves to make it easier to keep track of them.
The lives of wild wolves are brutal and often short, but the author brings a lot of emotion to their stories. You can tell that he is passionate about both general wolf behavior and the individuals that he studies.
It's sometimes a little hard to keep track of the numbered wolves, but the author does a pretty good of noting the pack, sex, and rank of the numbered wolves to make it easier to keep track of them.
The lives of wild wolves are brutal and often short, but the author brings a lot of emotion to their stories. You can tell that he is passionate about both general wolf behavior and the individuals that he studies.
December 12, 2021
I love this series and am excited the next book will be about the alpha female, 06. I love how McIntyre creates stories to tell about the lives of the wolf packs from his field notes. 302 was the Lothario of Lamar Valley. I love the pictures that are included. Anyone who reads this series can appreciate the beauty of the wolves.
February 26, 2025
Oh Wolf 302! There is hope that eventually they grow up :) Enjoyable but all the numbers as I listen start to get a little confusing. I know they do numbers for tracking but it felt easier with 9, 13, 21 etc instead of 526! Glad I picked up this series and will continue on to book 4.
July 17, 2024
I finally finished this beautiful book. What an incredible story about a true hero of the Yellowstone wolves.
March 12, 2022
This is my second book read from Rick McIntyre. In Reign of Wolf 21, I fell in love with alpha male 21 and his love story with alpha female 42. McIntyre’s books read like a field notebook with detailed observations of wolf pack behavior. Even though the behavior is documented scientifically, somehow you will get drawn into the lives of the wolves and realize that they all have their own personalities and survival story to tell. In The Redemption of Wolf 302, 21’s wayward nephew, slowly transforms from a lazy irresponsible “ladies’ man into a loving father, protector, and contributing member of the pack, who late in life earns the title of alpha male. I’m looking forward to reading about 21’s badass granddaughter 06 in the next book.
March 31, 2022
Ahh these books always get to me :( I can’t wait to read 06’s story again 🤍
June 17, 2025
This book is a little bit like listening to your Great Uncle Rick tell about his adventures with the wolves in Yellowstone. Occasionally, he will side track to a different (but related) story, then return to the main story.
This is an interesting story about the wolves of Yellowstone, and more particularly about Wolf 302. Despite visiting Yellowstone many times and knowing quite a bit about the park, I had never heard of Wolf 302. Apparently, however, many people had heard of him, and he was a fairly famous film star. As the author points out, the reason that people tended to love this renegade wolf is because we can identify with him so much. Many of us at times fall below our own or others’ expectations, but, just as Wolf 302 did, we can find our way back and still do great things.
If you want a lovely Disney story about cute wolf cubs and wolves frolicking in the forest, don’t read this book. If you love Yellowstone and want to know more about life and death among the wolf packs, you need to read this book. I enjoyed this book very much, and learned many things I didn’t know before, like how dangerous it is to be a wolf. I look forward to reading the other books Rick McIntyre has written about the Yellowstone wolves.
This is an interesting story about the wolves of Yellowstone, and more particularly about Wolf 302. Despite visiting Yellowstone many times and knowing quite a bit about the park, I had never heard of Wolf 302. Apparently, however, many people had heard of him, and he was a fairly famous film star. As the author points out, the reason that people tended to love this renegade wolf is because we can identify with him so much. Many of us at times fall below our own or others’ expectations, but, just as Wolf 302 did, we can find our way back and still do great things.
If you want a lovely Disney story about cute wolf cubs and wolves frolicking in the forest, don’t read this book. If you love Yellowstone and want to know more about life and death among the wolf packs, you need to read this book. I enjoyed this book very much, and learned many things I didn’t know before, like how dangerous it is to be a wolf. I look forward to reading the other books Rick McIntyre has written about the Yellowstone wolves.
May 12, 2022
I always feel a little foolish when someone asks what I'm reading and the answer is "A wolf researcher compiled his field notes into the life story of some wolves. This book is about wolf #___" and even more foolish when the same answer is true when asked why I'm misty eyed and sniffling towards the end.
McIntyre does a fantastic job of bringing these stories to life, and making you fall in love with characters who are known simply as numbers or physical descriptions. Coming across a documentary on the Yellowstone wolves felt like unexpectedly running into old friends. I will always reccomend these books.
McIntyre does a fantastic job of bringing these stories to life, and making you fall in love with characters who are known simply as numbers or physical descriptions. Coming across a documentary on the Yellowstone wolves felt like unexpectedly running into old friends. I will always reccomend these books.
December 18, 2021
I love this series. I may be biased but Wolf 302 was my absolute favorite. He wasn’t a brave wolf in the beginning but he redeemed himself. We are all flawed but Wolf 302 shows us we can change. He was a quiet force to be reckoned with and he died defending his pack. I feel like I have lost a member of my family! But his legacy lives on so I am thankful for that. I cannot wait for the next book about Wolf 06 and the rest of the heroic female wolves. Wolves are beautiful beings and can teach humans how to show compassion and take care of their own.
June 23, 2023
Another excellent installment in the Yellowstone wolves series. I really didn't think 302 could come back from being a less than wolf for so long. I would definitely recommend this entire series of books to any nature lover! Thank you to the publisher for providing me with this drc available through edelweiss.
January 6, 2022
I own a hardcopy, and have read the first two as I follow the Yellowstone wolves. This is the third book by McIntyre, writing in his usual forthcoming, frank, fascinating style. You will learn more than expected, wrestle with emotions from both wolves and men, and be challenged in good ways. This is well researched by a passionate man.
April 29, 2022
No, it’s cool, I’m just sobbing over a nonfiction book. Move along (but go read this series).
February 26, 2025
This is the 3rd book in Rick McIntyre's wolf series. Rick does a great job of referencing back the other stories, but for a much broader and more engaging understanding I strongly recommend starting with book 1 & 2. The story of 8, 21 &42 greatly affects this book and 302's story starts at the end of the second book.
This book is yet another shining example of Rick's tireless dedication to the wolves of Yellowstone & with thousands of hours of observing wolf behavior his stories and observations are endlessly thrilling and
engaging.
302: a wolf you'll come to love and appreciate and grow along with through the years. The renegade Casanova that all the females flock too and adore.
But just like humans, wolves aren't perfect either and this book shows how their experiences, personalities and family shape who they are and who they'll become.
302's story shows that it's never to late to become the best you can be and that it's ok to learn and grow from your mistakes and that no one is perfect wolf or man.
Rick's books never disappoint and they will leave you feeling like a better and richer person for reading them. I thank him for sharing these amazingly detailed books and his countless hours of observations. The books make you feel like you're living among the wolves.
This book is yet another shining example of Rick's tireless dedication to the wolves of Yellowstone & with thousands of hours of observing wolf behavior his stories and observations are endlessly thrilling and
engaging.
302: a wolf you'll come to love and appreciate and grow along with through the years. The renegade Casanova that all the females flock too and adore.
But just like humans, wolves aren't perfect either and this book shows how their experiences, personalities and family shape who they are and who they'll become.
302's story shows that it's never to late to become the best you can be and that it's ok to learn and grow from your mistakes and that no one is perfect wolf or man.
Rick's books never disappoint and they will leave you feeling like a better and richer person for reading them. I thank him for sharing these amazingly detailed books and his countless hours of observations. The books make you feel like you're living among the wolves.
January 9, 2022
This third book in Rick McIntyre's series, The Alpha Wolves of Yellowstone, tells the dramatic story of Wolf 302, a lovable heart-throb like George Clooney or the Dude in The Big Lebowski, whose also a cheat, a thief, a deadbeat, and a coward. Read it and find out how this good-looking loner and goofball finally hits bottom and then finds a way to redeem himself, not just in our eyes, but in the eyes of his pack to become one of the most noble alpha wolves in the Yellowstone pantheon.
I got to talk with McIntyre in the final episode of the This Animal Life podcast. We asked, Do wolves really have a moral code? Are some wolves more ethical than others, or are we humans just projecting?
Through Rick’s compelling stories, you’ll find out why he believes humans are more similar to wolves than to any other creature. You’ll also learn why anthropomorphism can be accurate and necessary, what our astonishing similarities to wolves teach us about our better nature, and why we’re wise to show mercy in all our interactions.
Twist, turns, epic battles, love, loyalty, and a heart-wrenching finale make this an inspiring must-read for all animal lovers.
I got to talk with McIntyre in the final episode of the This Animal Life podcast. We asked, Do wolves really have a moral code? Are some wolves more ethical than others, or are we humans just projecting?
Through Rick’s compelling stories, you’ll find out why he believes humans are more similar to wolves than to any other creature. You’ll also learn why anthropomorphism can be accurate and necessary, what our astonishing similarities to wolves teach us about our better nature, and why we’re wise to show mercy in all our interactions.
Twist, turns, epic battles, love, loyalty, and a heart-wrenching finale make this an inspiring must-read for all animal lovers.
July 18, 2023
Did this one audio style. The reader was good. The sound quality at times was not.
So this is definitely not the style of book I read, ever. I have a couple of friends who love to go interior camping and visit Provincial and State Parks on a semi regular basis and one of them suggested I would enjoy this. Well she was correct. I did in fact enjoy this book.
It is the story of the Wolves of Yellowstone Park. It covers all the packs that roam there and it pays particular attention to Wolf 302. That is his name. It is because he was the 302nd wolf tagged after the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone.
The book covers several years of watching this male wolf and how he grows up and becomes a legendary alpha.
This book has a bit of everything, action and romance. LOL.
If you are a nature buff or a wolf lover you will probably enjoy this. If you want a closer look at the men and women that dedicate themselves to studying these animals or if you just are curious about the day to day function of a wolf pack give it a read. I didnt think I would get through it all but it indeed did surprise me. I dare you to take the chance.
So this is definitely not the style of book I read, ever. I have a couple of friends who love to go interior camping and visit Provincial and State Parks on a semi regular basis and one of them suggested I would enjoy this. Well she was correct. I did in fact enjoy this book.
It is the story of the Wolves of Yellowstone Park. It covers all the packs that roam there and it pays particular attention to Wolf 302. That is his name. It is because he was the 302nd wolf tagged after the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone.
The book covers several years of watching this male wolf and how he grows up and becomes a legendary alpha.
This book has a bit of everything, action and romance. LOL.
If you are a nature buff or a wolf lover you will probably enjoy this. If you want a closer look at the men and women that dedicate themselves to studying these animals or if you just are curious about the day to day function of a wolf pack give it a read. I didnt think I would get through it all but it indeed did surprise me. I dare you to take the chance.
July 10, 2023
This review will serve for all three of the books I have read by Rick McIntyre: The Rise of Wolf 8, The Reign of Wolf 21, and The Redemption of Wolf 302. I thoroughly enjoyed them. I am a wildlife biologist by distant education, an incurable animal lover, and a fan of predator/prey relationships. Wolves are fascinating to me. Mr. McIntyre's books are put together from his field notes of the wolves reintroduced in Yellowstone. He has spent enough time with them that he knows them well, like friends. Their interactions, the rules by which they live, and the incredible hardships they survive and thrive through are so interesting. You will feel like you have met these wolves in person once you read Rick McIntyre's stories about them.
I have to admit that it was sometimes hard for me to keep the different wolves straight, since most of their names are numbers, but the main subjects of his narrative eventually stick in your memory as you read.
I have to admit that it was sometimes hard for me to keep the different wolves straight, since most of their names are numbers, but the main subjects of his narrative eventually stick in your memory as you read.
October 27, 2025
Rick McIntyre does an excellent job of describing his observations of Yellowstone's wild wolf packs in a way that's rooted in science but still paints wolves as fully realized individuals. Through the lens of Wolf 302's daily struggles against other packs' wolves, large dangerous prey, disease, road collisions, and taking care of mates and pups, we are fully immersed in this world.
I got this from the International Wolf Center's gift shop in Ely, MN, and once I cracked it open I couldn't put it down. A great premise devotedly executed. This is 3rd in McIntyre's series on Yellowstone wolves, and I'll be reading the rest, both the 2 prior that I missed and the one that came out after this.
There are many wolf books out there, and this is definitely up there with the best. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in American wolves or the long term study of wild social groups in general.
I got this from the International Wolf Center's gift shop in Ely, MN, and once I cracked it open I couldn't put it down. A great premise devotedly executed. This is 3rd in McIntyre's series on Yellowstone wolves, and I'll be reading the rest, both the 2 prior that I missed and the one that came out after this.
There are many wolf books out there, and this is definitely up there with the best. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in American wolves or the long term study of wild social groups in general.
September 6, 2022
Not as good as the first two in this series, but still a great nonfiction dedicated to the beauty of the land and the creatures who occupy it. For most of the story it felt like 302 really wasn’t that interesting or lovable as an observed wolf, all the redemption being packed into the final few chapters.
The most endearing part of 302 is his shift from Casanova, aloof, uninvolved, and responsibility shirking to being a kind and strategic leader. The fact that he died in protection of his pack brought me to tears. It is possibly the inconsistency of 302’s younger years and the expectation that he would let others down which made his reliability in the end that much more meaningful.
I cannot wait to hear the stories of 06. She sounds amazing and I already love her independence and the way she protects herself from unwanted advances.
The most endearing part of 302 is his shift from Casanova, aloof, uninvolved, and responsibility shirking to being a kind and strategic leader. The fact that he died in protection of his pack brought me to tears. It is possibly the inconsistency of 302’s younger years and the expectation that he would let others down which made his reliability in the end that much more meaningful.
I cannot wait to hear the stories of 06. She sounds amazing and I already love her independence and the way she protects herself from unwanted advances.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2023
5 stars as always! Rick McIntyre is my favourite wolf expert and, next to R.D Lawrence! The writing is easy to follow, many references to wolf 302M from other characters (ex. Marvel.)
302M is an interesting wolf with lots of character and boldness towards rival packs. He's a trickster, eye for ladies and intelligent in his own way.
I would recommend reading the first and second books to get a better picture of the family tree and history of packs. Anyone who is a long time fan of Rick McIntyre or know someone with passion with wolves. Get them the whole series, please. It'll give new perspective on wolves.
302M is an interesting wolf with lots of character and boldness towards rival packs. He's a trickster, eye for ladies and intelligent in his own way.
I would recommend reading the first and second books to get a better picture of the family tree and history of packs. Anyone who is a long time fan of Rick McIntyre or know someone with passion with wolves. Get them the whole series, please. It'll give new perspective on wolves.
December 29, 2021
Thank you sir, for the continuing saga of the Yellowstone wolves. I knew the ‘story’ of 302 from his interaction with 21 but really didn’t pay attention to his later life till now. The best thing about these books is you give us an understanding of the life of a wolf…that the number 1 killer of wolves is wolves, that alpha males and females come and go, that they look after each other, that packs rise in power and then just as quickly, lose that power. I’m so looking forward to your next book, though I know this one will be most heartbreaking.
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