Call: 07733 285719email: natalie@purechaos2calm.com
to get there. What we found was
2 million odd acres of dramatic mountains, valleys & forests
caked in 190 inches of snow! It’s the most they have had in 30 years,
which we were told will assist the land as the last few years there have
been droughts.
Wolf
watching takes dedication, patience and flexibility. Early starts are a must
as the animals are most active at dawn and dusk. As a group we felt blessed
because everyday we were out in the field, we saw wolves.
On our
first journey into the Lamar Valley we had a young lone black female cross
our path on the road and walk right past us, sadly she had mange and it is
though that her parents were killed in a territorial skirmish. Unfortunately
mange is on the increase and there is not a lot The Wolf Project can do
about it. It has come in from outside the park and treatment has to be
issues in two doses, which make it impossible to catch the same wolf again
to administer the medicine.
We went on
to see the saga unfold before our very eyes, with an unknown gray male and 2
black druid females. For the first few days, we would just see them chilling
out on a hillside, the 3rd day
we saw them we had just endured a white out, where the snow fall is so thick
and fast that you cannot see a thing, it cleared as quick as it came. Behind
a herd of bison, we saw the gray male courting the black female, lots of
parallel walking but the female was reluctant and would just lay down. He
would act very cool, walk off for a bit and call her bluff by looking
disinterested, which would have her coming after him, circling him and
flirting outrageously, but there was something holding her back. She would
often look back toward druids peak, which was off to our left in the
distance. She would howl too, we could hear a response but could not see who
it was coming from. After a few hours of watching the love birds, the group
decided to split. On mini bus – Loo Stop (not for the faint hearted) and
Linda’s bus to Druid Peak.
As we came
round a bend we saw Bob Landis filming at the side of the road and then, on
our right up a steep hill (pretty close too) was the other Black female
howling and slightly distressed. We could not stop there, so Linda pulled
into the ranger station we jumped out, I’ve never seen the scopes go up so
quick, Then suddenly we heard howling from behind us and there they were,
The Druid Pack in all their glory on druids peak visible by naked eye. We
were speechless, breathless and excited by the story that was unfolding.
It was
great to see the faces of the rest of the group when we told them and they
saw for themselves the magnificent Druid’s.
We found
out that the 2 black females had become separated when crossing the road to
hook up with the gray. We stayed with the Druids for considerable time, they
were howling and calling the black females, obviously unhappy about the
females off fraternizing with the gray. Bob Landis told us later the gray
male has been trying to join the Druids since last November, but the Druid
alpha male, was not having any of it! Maybe, we were privileged to see the
forming of a new pack.
We also
saw the Leopold pack, chilling and playing in the snow. On our last day in
the Lamar, we saw the Slough Creek Pack, 12 black and one gray taking their
time zigzagging up the hill, walking in each others footsteps to conserve
energy. We saw 2 of this pack tie, under a tree. I’m struggling to find
words to summarize how I felt, there is so much magic that touches you when
watching these beautiful animals, in such a vast and scenic location.
I learned
so much about them from all the wonderful people we met, who were so kind
and generous in their knowledge, I felt like I was a sponge absorbing as
much as I could, I feel now that I have a deeper understanding for all
canines and utmost respect for how adaptable they are at survival in any
given situation, I now know the importance of a complete eco-system and the
impact every species has, on and within their environment.
If you
love animals, history, geology and ecology, you’ll love Yellowstone as
much as I did. There is so much more I could tell you and feel like I have
only scratched the surface and maybe one day I will. I do recommend a trip
in a snow coach, a coach with ski’s and tracks, that took us to see the
Old Faithful Geyser in the interior of the park.
I can not
believe we have been back 4 weeks already, time is flying past and the best
things is, that most holiday memories fade fast, but not Yellowstone, its
embeds something in your heart and mind, something that, when you close your
eyes you can touch and send your spirits soaring with inspiration
again……. Now that IS MAGIC!!!!
Jan Fennell's International Dog Listener's Newsletter
