Status Updates From The Rise of Wolf 8: Witness...

The attack on the Rose Creek yearling meant that the Druids had now killed three adult Rose Creek Wolves. I thought about how Wolf 8 would view the death of his daughter. Since it happened after Wolf 21 joined the Druids, I think 8 would figure out 21 was involved. I thought that when the Rose Creek Wolves returned to the valley, the likelihood of a second fight between the two adjacent packs seemed higher than ever.

I soon saw all six pups mousing in the marsh, concentrating on listening for voles and scanning the grass for them scurrying around. Later, Wolf 21 returned to the marsh and, perhaps inspired by the pups, soon had a vole hanging out of his jaws. After the wolves greeted him, Wolf 21 bedded down farther uphill and watched as they moused. He looked like a human father watching his kids play.

Wolf 21 walked off to the south by himself. He repeatedly stopped and looked back at Wolf 40, seemingly wanting her to follow. He howled and she howled back. Then she got up and moved off, but went east rather than directly to him. The big male looked at her, then ran to her and went her way. If she wanted a different direction, he followed. This indicated that the alpha female was the true leader. She was the boss.

If the Crystal Creek wolves had good pup survival for another year or two, they could come back north and try to reclaim their original territory. That would involve a rematch against the Druid wolves, and meant Wolf 21, now the primary defender of the Druid pack, would have to fight his uncle, Wolf 8's largest brother, who at 141 pounds was the largest wolf in Yellowstone.

Wolf 41 was often the pack's main grizzly deterrent. When spotting a bear, she would charge, run off when chased, then circle back to continue harassing it. She would get behind the grizzly, nip its read end, then come back and do it again. Able to outrun any bear, the long-suffering wolf, who was picked upon by her aggressive older sister, seemed to relish those as though she was showing off.

Those of us on the hill looked at each other with stunned expressions, then talked about the incredible sighting we just witnessed. The victory of the undersized Wolf 8 against his huge opponent was the most amazing thing any of us had ever seen in the wild. A classic underdog, Wolf 8 went from being the smallest of all the male wolves brought down from Canada to being the champion of his region of Yellowstone.