The Druid Peak wolf pack (formed 1996) were the first group of relocated wolves that were released into Yellowstone National Park. This pack grew fast from five members to 37 members at its peak in 2001. It is believed to be the biggest wolf pack in history. The first alpha pair were #38 and #39. #40 assumed dominance after her mother #38 left. A roving male #31 joined the group from Chief Joseph Pack. #40 was killed by three of her subordinate sisters and a female wolf dubbed the Cinderella wolf assumed the position of Alpha female. It was at this point that the pack grew rapidly with three litters of pups being raised that year for a total of 21 pups, 20 of which survived. The dominant male been shot previously when the pack had wandered out of the park. #21 took dominance after joining the group. #42 and #21 led the pack as the alpha pair for many years until in 2004, #42 was killed by a neighboring wolf pack and #21 died soon after at the age of 9 after curling up under a tree and passing away. #302 "Casanova" then became the alpha male for a period of time. He was given the name Casanova because of his promiscuous lifestyle as a wolf, living on the outskirts of Druid territory often trying to lure the females druid wolves over. #480 soon after joined the pack as alpha male, Casanova being a beta male and not a fighter. #569 became the alpha female. In the winter of 2009-2010, the pack contracted mange causing many of the wolves to die from border skirmishes or starvation. The males who took over the pack after #480 was chased off did not stick around as the remaining females were too weak to bear pups. The alpha female #569 had died the previous fall, and #480's body was later found near the Hellroaring drainage. The Druids were down to one wolf in 2010, a female, 690F, who was believed to be unable to last the winter. She was later shot in Butte, Montana sometime in May that year by a rancher after she attacked his cattle out of desperation. Many wolves in Yellowstone have Druid bloodline so they still live on as many wolves were chased out or left the pack including 4 female wolves and a male wolf who left to form a pack with a different alpha male.
All Known Members
38(Male)
39(Female)
#39 Alpha Female
40(Female)
41(Female)
42 (Cinderella-Female)
21(Male)
302 (Casanova)
Casanova (302M)
480(Female)
690F
569F (alpha female, the last one)
691F
480M (alpha male, last one)
690 (shot in Butte, Montana and the last collared yearling from the druid pack)
571F
761F (White line - fought with Lamar Canyon alpha female and later found dead in same area)
691F (died from a fight with the Silver pack)
History
April 1996: Five wolves #38 and #39, the alpha male and female, and female pups #40, #41, and #42 formed the Druids.
In 1996: During that first year in Yellowstone, a yearling male, #31, dispersed from the nearby Chief Joseph Pack and joined the group. Then alpha female #39 left the pack. Her daughter #40 became alpha female.
In 1997: #41 and #42 gave birth to two litters. the subordinate females, but none to the aggressive alpha female, #40. Lone wolf #39 reunited with the pack briefly.
November 1997: #39 left the pack for good with her daughter, #41 who have been driven off by #40.
December 1997: The pack’s two males, #31 and #38 were shot and killed. Roving male #21 joined Rose Creek Packfrom and became the alpha male.
1998: #42 (nickname Cinderella) gave birth to a litter. #40 attacked Cinderella in her den. None of her pups survived.
2000: Cinderella attacked and killed #40.Cinderella became the Alpha female. The females now started to have litters. Three were born this year, 21 pups in total. However oen died. Druids had 27 members at the end of the year.
2001: 10 pups were born to the adult females, Druids up to 37 members. They became the largest wolf back ever recorded.
2002: The Druids splinter in to small group. Three new pack were from; Agate Creek, Geode Creek, and Slough Creek packs, were created, each anchored by a former Druid female born at the same den in Lamar Valley in 1997. The Druids were left with 11 members by 2002’s end, including the matriarch, Cinderella, and the long-time alpha male, #21.
2003: #302 joined the Druids from Leopold Pack. He fathered all of the pups but Cunderella's. 17 members in 2003. #302 was nicked Casanova.
2004: Cinderella sadly died in a group encouter with a rival pack. #21 was found dead in the summer.
2005: Neighboring Slough Creek began to spend more time on the northwestern boundary of Druid territory. Slough Creek Pack and Druid Pack had many encounters, two females died. Druids left the Lamar Valley. No pups survived this year. 4 members at the end of the year.
2006: #480 and Casanova are the alpha pair. the two remain female gave birth to eight pups together. Druids reclaimed their former territory from the Slough Creek Pack. Druids moved into the Sada Butte and Lamar Valley.
2007: 6 pups were born that year.
2008 more people started to film a large documentary of the druids that will come out soon
