#715 Exploring Yellowstone - A Wolf!

We spy a wolf!

The park ranger tells us that wolves have been spotted in Lamar Valley, so we grab our binoculars and off we go! The Rocky Mountain wolf (canis lupus) was listed as an endangered species in 1973 but according to Wolves in Yellowstone, there are now at least 98 wolves living in Yellowstone and 528 wolves living in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

From Mammoth Hot Springs, we travel east through the park on US Route 212, the only park road that remains open during the winter. 

It's a gorgeous drive, but let's get back to that wolf.  After 20 miles, we turn northeast at Tower Junction toward Cooke City.

The park is nearly deserted at this time of year so except for the bison and a handful of wolf enthusiasts, we have the road to ourselves.  Soon after crossing the Yellowstone River,

 we drive into the Lamar River Valley.  Wait!  What's that to the right?

It's a wolf!  The northern range of Yellowstone is one of the best places in the world to watch wolves. 

How do we know that's not a coyote?   You'll just have to trust us.

Yours in wolf spotting,
Mary Jo