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Women Who Run With Wolves
Friday, April 24, 2009 at 04:00PM "The gaze of the wolf reaches into our soul." Barry Lopez
To live in Yellowstone is to dwell in constant wonder and delight. I’m still marveling over the bison grazing in my front yard in the morning, or the ghostly steam rising from a hotspring on a pale winter’s day. Yet nothing in the park transports me into such heights of unadulterated joy than the sight of a wolf trotting over the landscape. For me, wolves represent the fearless, bold, and magnificent character of wildness. Aldo Leopold captured it perfectly in describing the wolf as having eyes filled with “fierce green fire” and their howl an “outburst of wild defiant sorrow.”
Wolves in Mammoth, April 24, 2009On our drive to work this morning, my co-worker and I stopped to observe five wolves in Mammoth Hot Springs wandering and resting on a small hillside frosted with last night’s snow. A few other fellow staff members also gazed at the wolves, along with some park visitors. All shared the same look of delight.
I did not have my good camera with me (first rule of thumb--always bring your camera along in Yellowstone) but I was able to make a short video.
This afternoon, another happy wolf surprise arrived in a letter from the Yellowstone Park Foundation. One of my close friends, Susan McCarthy, had made a donation to the non-profit to purchase a radio collar for the Yellowstone Wolf Project. She had requested that they inscribe the collar “For My Friend Beth Pratt.” Susan—you are too wonderful—what a special gift!
Over the winter, Doug Smith, the Wolf Project leader, and his crew collared a number of wolves. My collar was placed on wolf 495M, a six-year old black alpha male of Mollie’s Pack and also at 143 pounds, the largest wolf ever recorded in Yellowstone National Park. We must share a love of good food!
Wolf Project Technician and Wolf 495M during collaring operations, January 2009. Photo courtesy of the Wolf Project, YellowstoneThe letter from the Foundation relates a comment from the park researcher: “As the two sedated wolves came into view…we saw what looked to be a gray wolf next to a good sized black bear. We immediately joked with Wolf Project leader Doug Smith that he had darted the wrong species, but indeed it was a wolf, the 143 pound alpha male 495M.” When I think of this magnificent creature bounding through the park with my name on his collar, I admit I get a bit teary-eyed. Doug Smith and crew—thank you for all the incredible work you do with wolves in the park!
In 2007, I took a great course through the Yellowstone Association about wolves from Doug Smith. Our class was so inspired by his teaching that we pooled our resources to also sponsor a collar (and inscribed it with an Aldo Leopold quote), which was placed on wolf 482M. These collars enable researchers to gather valuable information about the wolves in the park. If you would like to consider funding a radio collar or donating to the Yellowstone Wolf Project, visit the Yellowstone Park Foundation’s website.
You can learn more about 495M and the Yellowstone wolves by visiting the National Park Service’s science pages. Doug Smith has also co-authored an excellent book about Yellowstone's wolf reintroduction called Decade of the Wolf.
I’ll keep you posted on 495M’s adventures!
Reader Comments (13)
Good grief - he's huge!
That's my boy! We both like to eat. Although I doubt he shares my fondness for chocolate.
omg that is the bigest wolf ever i want to keep him can i take him home with me. is he the biggest wolf ever recored or not this is a must no question cuz im looking to get a dig that is part wolf an i want to no how big he cud possibly get send it to my email please!!!!!!
Largest wolf I know of was one in Alaska that weighed 175 pounds. Yellowstone wolves tend to be smaller.
I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but may I ask how tall you are? I'm just curious as to the exact difference between you and the wolf -- because even without knowing your height, he is <I>massive</I>. Such a gorgeous creature.
That isn't me in the photo--that's a park researcher on the wolf project. I am not sure how tall she is. Isn't he an amazing wolf?
this is sad yes but not really the inventors of grimms monster mix shot a 197lb black alpha male wolf in alberta last year which is the world record reports also theres one there well over 220lbs also check it out grimmsmonstmix.com
i think that big wolf just got killed near forth Mcmurray must weight 200 pounds ( i have pictures)it could be 495M hes greyer (older) i can send picture if you like
Please note-this wolf was not killed. This is a photo of NPS staff with a drugged wolf during a research project. This is not a hunting site.
495M is BEAUTIFUL!! What an amazing creature...I would give anything to be in your shoes up close and personal with him like this!! Breathtaking!! I made my first visit to Yellowstone in early October 2010 and fell in love!! We were at the Wolf/Bison standoff...could not believe what I was witnessing...raw nature at it's finest! Thank you and all of the people involved for protecting and caring for these amazing creatures!! Would love an update on 495M.
Becky--495M is alive and thriving! He's an amazing wolf. I am so glad you got to visit the park and see the wolves in action. Please come back!
That would look good on my wall
Its so nice to see some people who actually care about these magnificent creatures, they are so beautiful and majestic, and we must keep them safe, I have always wanted to see one close up, I am only thirteen, but I already have a dream of one day owning a wild life sanctuary for Big cats and wild dogs, but I don't plan on keeping them preserved,I will keep the ones who have been abused or injured, and then soon return them to were they belong, I just want to help there population grow stronger, I am strongly against hunting them down, or any Carnivourus creature therefor I will give it all I got to watch them Prevail !