Yellowstone Wolf Pup Captured On Video Voicing Her "Adult-Like" Howl
Andrea Powell
Yellowstone National Park is home to roughly 108 gray wolves divided into ten packs. The vital predators were almost hunted into extinction before being reintroduced to the park over 25 years ago.
The packs continue to fluctuate in size and the arrival of new pups is something that both biologists and visitors look forward to.
Taylor Rabe, scientists and Yellowstone wolf technician, spends her days observing and monitoring wolves, educating people about the fascinating species, and sharing the best spots to view wolves in the park.
She keeps a close eye on the wolf packs and shares some updates and photos on her Instagram. She recently shared a video of the Junction Butte pack's sole surviving wolf pup of the year, a 7-month-old female pup, showing off her big girl voice.
The pup is seen howling in the freshly fallen snow and Rabe wrote, "Extra sassy + extra cute — featuring the Junction Butte pack’s one and only surviving puppy this year. This female pup is about 7 months old, and not too small anymore (listen to her new adult-like howl)".
Wolves howl for many reasons, but not at the moon. They howl to communicate with other members of the pack, claim territory, to hunt, or a social rally call. It can be heard from up to 9.6 miles away in an open area.
Rabe went on to share, "We know Junction Butte produced 2 litters this year, and had visuals on multiple puppies born, but we will never know why she was the only one that survived."
Life is hard in the wild where the typical life expectancy of wolves in the park is 4-5 years. Wolf pups are more at risk due to their small size and inability to defend themselves from larger predators.
This beauty survived and is thriving as she roams free in her territory and "continues to grow like a weed".
Be sure to follow Rabe for more updates on the female pup as well as the other wolf packs in Yellowstone.
Wolves can be found all throughout the park but National Park Services shares that the "northern range of Yellowstone is one of the best places in the world to watch wolves." Learn more about the wolves that call the park home here.
