Lamar Valley - Yellowstone Park

Lamar Valley – Yellowstone Park

Lamar Valley – Yellowstone Park

The Druid pack of wolves begin the dawn with the sound of howling, echoing the ancient calling of time breaking the crisp winter morning. Another day begins in Yellowstone Park in Northwest corner of Wyoming. The wolves weren’t born here.  The alpha male, known as #21, and his mate, Cinderella, were brought here. For seventy years prior to Cinderella and #21, no wolves roamed the Lamar Valley nor were there any wolves residing in the majestic Yellowstone Park.  The story really begins in the 1920’s. 

    The Lamar Valley is a wide expansive valley; with the Lamar River winding like a ribbon through the valley.  One of the best areas for viewing wildlife in the Yellowstone Park. The Lamar River which was named after Lucius Lamar, the Secretary of the Interior (March 1885- January 1888). 

     The Lamar Valley provides life to the grasslands and marshes and in return gives home to bison, elk, pronghorn, mountain sheep and other wildlife, but most of all the wolves.  This is the prize of Yellowstone, the Lamar Valley. Many visitors of the park have come to see the natural geysers, hot springs, waterfalls and beautiful scenery, but for many it is also the chance to watch nature up close and the wolves are the star of the show.       

     The most controversial feat of conservation in United States' history took place in this valley.   In the 1920’s, a concentrated effort was made to rid Yellowstone Park of the wolves and by 1926, they were successful.  Little did we know then that one of the biggest effects of eliminating ‘the pesky and dangerous wolf’ would have caused something as simple as killing off the growth of the cottonwood trees.

     "I considered a variety of potential reasons that might explain the historical decline of cottonwoods that began in the 1920s and have continued up to the last couple of years," said Beschta, a professor from Oregon University.  "I looked at climate change, lack of floods, fire suppression, natural stand dynamics, and numbers of elk. But none of those factors really explained the problem. "Ultimately, it became clear that wolves were the answer."

     The elk population fluctuated over the decades. Their browsing behavior represented an important part of the natural balance of the ecosystem to help keep other populations in check.  For example, a favorite snack of the elk was the young cottonwoods and stream-lined foliage.  The lack of cottonwoods and stream foliage in turn had a negative impact on other park populations like the beavers, birds and insects.  The loss of the wolf population caused a great natural imbalance. 

     "Wolves change things. That's true. Whether the change is good or bad is based on your view," said Ed Bangs, wolf recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "More willows as a result of fewer elk. Is that a good thing? If you're an outfitter on the edge of Yellowstone National Park, you're like,’ Hell no!' If you're a yellow warbler, willows are a good thing.”

     One reason people argue against the wolves is due to economic pressures, but according to Ralph Maugh, ranchers are compensated for their losses.  His reasoning behind the need for the removal of the wolves and the continued resistance against the wolves in Yellowstone is based off of a ‘values’ reason.            

      “Values and cultural issues are what they are arguing about.  The wolf issue is really not about wolves at all.  It’s part of a larger issue regarding other issues such as, timber cutting, grazing, and use of ATV’s and uses of National Parks  which is primarily a value issue.  The wolves being restored are really a complaint about their values, it is not an economic issue at all” he explains.

     Even the ranchers are compensated by the government for their losses and since 1987, only a small amount of sheep and cattle have been lost to the wolf.  In one day three-hundred sheep were poisoned by selenium; and it was a one-day story.  Three sheep killed by wolves is a three-day story.  It is a media thing, based on values.

    “Another argument he adds is people give for the removal of the wolves is that that the elk population has decreased.  However, in reality they really haven’t.  Data shows that they are just not in the meadows anymore and have moved to higher ground.  The arguments from both sides continue.  And so do the wolves.” 

     "I don't think people realize the vastness of the area,” Mr. Helle, a local sheep rancher, said “or the predator's ability to stay away from us."

     To solve a growing problem in the park’s ecosystem, on March 21, 1995 marked the beginning as three acclimation pens opened, releasing fifteen wolves into Yellowstone Park, each wolf caring the possibility of hope and a new future to the natural balance of Yellowstone Park.

     A quiet profound rebirth has taken place, like a gentle breeze blowing across ones check.  The wolves have taken on the task of resolving the rebalance of nature, bringing back a harmonizing throughout the park.  The aspens, cottonwoods, willows, birds, insects, as well as other wildlife are all slowly coming back to where it all began some seventy years before. Now begins the second half of this story and like all good stories, there are villains, heroes, conflict, battles and triumphs.

      The Druid Wolf pack which ruled the Lamar Valley territory was one of the largest recorded packs, up to thirty-seven at its prime is the center of this story. Like a fairytale, one emerges oneself with its pages, caught up in the truth and life of the story, we follow their legacy.

     The Druid pack was first introduced in 1995; five wolves from Canada were brought in two acclimation pens in the Lamar Valley, two adults and three pups.  Since wolves are fiercely territorial, the release had to be gentle and gradual allowing the wolves to gain confidence with the area of their new home.  Wolves naturally howl, and it is just as natural to answer that call.  They laid claim to their territory, their new home with the call of nature, the soulful call of the wolf.

     The wolves were named or numbered and this pack carried all the storyline of a soap opera. The three female pups were #40, #41 and #42. The adult alpha male was #38 and the adult alpha female was #39.  The first year alone proved to be full of drama.  A nearby wolf, #31 from another pack quickly joined the group.  Then #39 (alpha female) left the pack completely, more likely driven off by her own ruthless daughter #40, who had the desire to be in command. 

     The following year, pups were born to the two sisters of #40, but none to the aggressive #40 herself.   Her mother, #39 came back briefly and left again but this time taking her daughter, #41 with her.  It is assumed that #40 drove them both off.

     The remaining males, #38 and #31 were sadly shot and killed.  That left an opening for a new alpha male.  A male, known as #21 from a nearby pack joined the Druid female wolf pack.  His reign would last for over a decade.

     They built a reputation for stirring up conflict and the pack quickly grew to seven in two short years.  This pack was destined for dominance and infancy.  #42 became known as Cinderella and as in all fairy tales; she was the princess in waiting.  Her own evil sister, #40 continually kept Cinderella harassed and suppressed under her reign.  But I promised a fairy tale and Cinderella got hers in the end.  The females of the pack, growing weary of the wicked sister, #40, turned on her and killed her.  This opened Cinderella to be the alpha female of the pack and she ruled with #21 for the remainder of their years.  Their reign lasted for a decade, and the pack growing to thirty-seven strong during their legacy. 

      A couple of times, a lone male wolf named Casanova, tried to join the Druid pack, but #21 would have nothing of the sort.  This was much to the dismay of his daughters who thought the idea was quite grand.  Casanova eventually ran off, he was a lover not a fighter. 

     This pack lived for conflict and all dynasties must fall.  The Slough Creek pack coveted the Lamar Valley, for the vast prime hunting grounds were the best in protected Yellowstone Park, the meadow with its abundance of wildlife for the taking was perfect for any wolf pack.  The Slough Pack often tried to intimidate the Druid Pack, planning different strategies and battles.  The Druids weren’t backing down, fighting for what was rightfully theirs with skill and cunning, and always keeping the Slough Pack at a distance.

     One winter, Cinderella was killed by an outside wolf pack.  Shortly afterwards, #21 was found dead on a nearby cliff.  He had outlived any normal age expectancy, nearly double of wolves in the wild. He was a true king of his domain.

     Thus the pack began their decline.  By the end of 2004, the pack began to suffer greatly without the previous alpha male and female rulers.  The Slough pack saw an opportunity and as they have been growing in numbers, quickly took control and ran the Druids off and out of the Lamar Valley, scattering the Druid’s Dynasty throughout the park. 

     The Slough pack would not have the Lamar Valley long.  The first year, the Slough pack suffered greatly, only three of the fifteen pups born survived.  It is believed it was an either case of the parvo virus or distemper that killed the remaining pups.  The pack did not do well the following year either.  A mysterious pack of twelve wolves slipped in one quiet spring day, they ran the Slough pack up the mountain, keeping the group from reuniting with the pups in the den.  Three days later, just as strange as they arrived, they left, leaving behind starved dead pups.  The group declined greatly in number after these tragedies.  With no pups to anchor the pack, they began to scatter.  The Slough reign of the Lamar Valley ended as quickly as it had begun.

     The Slough Pack returned to their own territory running between this one and the Lamar Valley, but with their numbers declining, the overload of the areas was too much for one small group. 

     Far across the Lamar Valley, four wolves slipped along the eastern slope through the trees.  This quiet group of two females, from the Druid Pack, along with Casanova and his brother arrive back to the valley.  The Sloughs gave no fight, leaving the valley with their tails between their legs, the Druid family had once again returned to the home of their birth, the home of their decedents.  Back home to the original release of their forefathers in 1995. That spring the females gave birth to eleven pups, starting once again the rebuilding of the mighty Druid Pack in the Lamar Valley.