Grand Teton National Park’s Newest Wolf Pack
Header image: NPS/Jim Peaco
A new chapter in the ecological narrative of Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) is unfolding with the emergence of the Blacktail Butte wolf pack. We have been lucky to witness the five members of this pack hunt, mate, play, and laze about in and around the National Elk Refuge all winter long, giving our guides and guests quite the treat!
In February, three members of the pack were captured by biologists with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and fitted with GPS tracking collars. Officials dubbed the pack the Blacktail Butte Pack due to the location where the wolves were captured. Blacktail Butte is a prominent land formation within GTNP, and the pack has been frequenting the area all winter long.
This newly confirmed pack adds to the vibrant ecological story of the region, where wolves have played a crucial role in shaping the landscape. To fully appreciate this moment, it’s essential to understand the complex and inspiring history of wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE).
The Extirpation of Wolves
As American settlers moved West along the Oregon Trail in the mid-19th Century and established homesteads, predators like gray wolves were viewed as threats to livestock and game animals. In the early 20th Century, aggressive predator control programs, including poisoning, trapping, and shooting, led to the systematic eradication of wolves from much of the country, including newly-established Yellowstone National Park. Despite the park ensuring the protection of wildlife, predators were exempt. By 1926, the last known wolf pack within the park was eliminated, and the absence of these apex predators had profound ecological consequences.
Without wolves to regulate prey populations, elk numbers surged. Overgrazing became a severe issue, leading to the degradation of vegetation and destabilization of riparian habitats. This domino effect impacted species like beavers and songbirds, whose survival depended on a balanced ecosystem.
The Return of the Wolves
Recognizing the ecological imbalance, biologists and conservationists advocated for the reduction of the GYE’s many elk herds. Unfortunately, all efforts–culling, expanded hunts, translocation of elk–failed to reduce elk population numbers to more sustainable levels. Finally, talks circulated around the reintroduction of wolves. In 1995 and 1996, 31 gray wolves were relocated from Canada to Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding area. This landmark initiative, known as the Yellowstone Wolf Reintroduction Project, marked a turning point for the GYE.
Photo: Doug Smith and Mike Phillips preparing to release wolf #3 into Yellowstone National Park, 1995. Credit: NPS/Jim Peaco
The wolves quickly established packs and began to restore natural predator-prey dynamics. Their presence reduced elk overpopulation, allowing vegetation to regenerate. Willow and aspen trees flourished, supporting the return of beavers, whose dams created vital wetland habitats. This ecological ripple effect, known as a trophic cascade, showcased the crucial role wolves play in maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
A New Generation
Fast forward to today, and the legacy of that successful reintroduction continues. In 1999, through the steady trickling down of wolves from Yellowstone, a pack successfully established in Grand Teton National Park. The Blacktail Butte pack is the latest pack to form, bringing the total number of estimated GTNP packs to seven and estimated individual wolves to 48.
The establishment of this pack is a testament to the resilience of wolves and the success of conservation efforts. Visitors to the park may now have the rare opportunity to witness these iconic predators in their natural environment, contributing to a deeper understanding of the intricate connections within the GYE.
Looking Forward
The future of the Blacktail Butte pack will be closely monitored as researchers track their movements, social structures, and interactions with other species. As stewards of this delicate ecosystem, continued support for science-based management and conservation policies will ensure that wolves remain a vital part of the Yellowstone landscape for generations to come.
Screenshot from a video of the Blacktail Butte Pack hunting a bull elk. Visit our Instagram to watch the full video! Video: ETA Naturalist Roy Cruz
Next time you find yourself in GTNP, keep an eye out for the Blacktail Butte pack—a living symbol of the enduring wildness of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
