Wolves Returns

The grey wolves once native to Yellowstone were systematically hunted and trapped out of existence between the 1870s and the 1920s. Wolves were reintroduced into the park in 1995 and 1996, however, and today there are 14 packs of wolves in Yellowstone and about 100 wolves total. The wolf population has fluctuated from year to year but seems to be well-established. The wolves feed mainly on elk, and they have been credited with effectively controlling the park's elk and coyote population. A good rule of thumb is that if you want to see wolves in Yellowstone, find the elk first. Wolf-viewing is best done at dawn from late fall to early June, in the Lamar Valley between Mammoth and Cooke City.