Wild Memories Photography Tours

The howling seemed to come from everywhere, the north, the south and even the east.  I began to look east, thinking maybe one of the guys had gotten stuck on the other side of the road.  But, then, an eruption of adults and pups, most obvious from the southwest, meaning that they were on the other side of the road.

I had just made coffee and was beginning to enjoy some hot morning brew, while doing some writing, when the eruptions began.  Everything flew into the car, chair, iPad, glasses, scope – and off I went, not knowing what to expect.

A group of people were on the rolling hills, looking to the southwest and I quickly followed their gaze.  An explosion of running wolves stretched out across what we call the Middle Flats, one step up from the creek and river beds.  The wolves appeared to be heading southeast but quickly turned in my direction, heading to the north and the edge of Soda Butte Creek.  There was 926, Twin, a yearling, 965 and Dark Black gathered above the creek, looking back to the southwest.

My first impression was that perhaps the pups had followed the adults once again and that they were trying to round them up and return the youngsters to the rendezvous area.  Five jubilant wolves when a grey pup joined them and they seemed to be greeting and loving on one another.  It was kind of like they were pretending it was playtime so the pup would come quicker.  All disappeared down the creek bank and I figured that the show was over.  Still, I got the camera out to see what might happen.

It turned out that five Junction Buttes were on the trail of the Lamars.  911, 890, 869, 907 and the grey yearling, all looking big and healthy.  The Junctions were after the pups, of that there is no doubt.  If they could find one lagging behind the kill would be fast and easy, eliminating one more member from the Lamar pack.  They followed but the Lamars seemed to have a plan that had to do with one or two leading pups to safety while the others fanned out and maybe were trying to make themselves look more than what they were.

926 and Little T were running about in the rolling hills, just to the south of me.  Somehow, 965 had gotten across the road to the north and stood there howling.  I have an idea that pups might have followed 965 but have no way of knowing for sure.  Meanwhile, mom and daughter were keeping a very good eye on the Junctions, making sure they did not find what they were looking for.  It was pure mayhem.  My own adrenaline was working hard enough that I did not even feel the bite of cold in the morning air.  It was all confusing.  Why weren’t the 7 Lamars chasing off the 5 Junctions?  I have an idea that it might have been different if the safety of the pups were not involved.  And, what good was 965, and Mottled for that matter, standing on the safe side, barking and howling?

We had 926 running straight towards us, going down the middle of the parking lot, and Little T running past.  For awhile us humans were not the enemy, we were the protective wall between the Junctions and the precious Lamar pups.  Though, I must say, this group of Junctions do not seem all that aggressive.  Last winter I witnessed a Mollie pup running up to them, looking confused, running a short distance, going back to the strangers and then taking off – this happened while the Mollies were chasing the Junctions.  Though, the Mollies ran right by also, so maybe no one was out for blood.  But, the pups could have added another element to the whole thing because they would be easier to kill and would eliminate pack members.  They did definitely cross the line and follow the Lamars for some reason.  We did feel as though the group of people on the rolling hills could have saved the day and prevented a more aggressive chase by the Junctions.  The Lamars have had a few lucky breaks so far this year.  Let’s hope it keeps up.

965, 926 and Little T stood on the hills of the den forest, near the road, and barked howled for quite some time.  In the early minutes there were few people at Hitching Post but it did not take long for it to become filled with people.

Eventually, the three wolves retreated to the east, quickly.  I learned later that another wolf had run down the road a ways before entering the den.  No one saw the 5 pups cross the road to safety.

The show went east where 965, 926 and Little T crossed the road and went to a high hill to howl back the other way.  Mottled stood on the opposite ridge and howled for quite some time before retreating to the den forest.  Eventually Twin, and then Dark Black, made their way to the main group.

Later, there were no signals on the adults and it was believed that they had gone out hunting.  But, what about the pups?  Did 926 know that her youngsters were okay?  Rick said that it was possible that she heard their voices when they howled and so knew all was well – and because they were already across the road, it was time for some hunting.  I did manage to find Mottled, two pups and a yearling, that evening and so we knew that two were okay.

The next morning, nothing.  No wolves!  We so desperately wanted to see the pups but it was not meant to be.

Later, I was coming back through Soda Butte Valley, heading home with my car full of camping gear, but stopped because Twin, 965, Little T and Dark Black were on the other side of the road.  Lots of howling!  I kept thinking that 926 would try and move the pups, after the Junction invasion, but it seemed as though she had no plans for such a thing.  I did see all 7 adults and while out on the trail the first time, clearly saw one black pup.  I was getting anxious!  It did look as though some pups were greeting 926 but I just saw movement and a little grey.

Finally, Twin and Little T made it across the road and I raced back out the trail, knowing the pups would run to greet them.  And, they did and all five were there!  Success.  Lucky timing on my part because it wasn’t long before the pups disappeared into the sage and the adults went down lower and out of sight.

This morning we had all 12 Lamars in their new rendezvous area, mostly sacked out – fat and happy.  That was enough for me.  926 still did not have plans for moving, but who knows what the rest of the day brought.  I went home to do some work, clean house and just chill out.  Some much needed time off is not time off but work of another kind.

We shall see what tomorrow brings.

Here are numerous images taken from this drama.  Some images are duplicates but have been cropped or put into vertical format.  If you see one version you like better than the other, let me know.