EVANSTON — Wyoming wildlife officials announced Monday that Mollie’s Pack, the last original wolf pack reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park three decades ago, survived the state’s recent wolf‑hunt season. The pack, named for the late U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director Mollie Beattie, was not taken despite intense public concern.
State officials clarify hunt results
Interim deputy director Dan Smith of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department told the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission that hunt areas one and two were closed on Saturday after reaching the mortality limit of four wolves each. “None of the wolves taken were from wolf packs previously assigned to Yellowstone National Park,” Smith said.
The mortality limit was met quickly, with hunters reaching the four‑wolf quota over the weekend. Statewide, ten of the 22 wolves authorized for removal in the trophy‑game area have been taken during the first week of the season, according to the department’s mortality database. No other hunt areas have yet reached their limits.
Mollie’s Pack’s movements kept it safe
Prior to the hunt, the National Park Service reported that Mollie’s Pack – five adults and five pups in July – had largely returned to Yellowstone, where hunting is prohibited. The pack’s recent excursions into Wyoming’s hunt area one, located northwest of Cody, placed it in the path of the season, but the quick closure of the hunt prevented any loss.
“Mollie’s Pack survived the hunt,” said Lisa Robertson, founder of Wyoming Untrapped, who traveled to Evanston for the commission meeting. “For more than three decades, they have taught us about resilience, family, adaptation, and the enduring nature of the wild.”
Wyoming’s trophy‑game regulations
Wyoming manages wolves as trophy game in designated areas, a system that is more restrictive than the policies in neighboring Idaho and Montana. This year, the state reduced hunting opportunities after a distemper outbreak lowered the wolf population to its lowest level in twenty years. The overall quota for the season allows the killing of up to 22 wolves – half of the 2025 limit – with a specific quota of four animals for hunt areas one and two.
Hunters in the trophy‑game area devote roughly 500 days of effort to each animal they harvest, reflecting the difficulty of the pursuit. Early in the fall, the year‑old pups are especially vulnerable.
Broader wolf management in Wyoming
Wyoming’s trophy‑game area covers only about 15% of the state. In the remaining 85%, wolves are managed as predators, with no licensing requirements and few restrictions on hunting methods year‑round. This dual‑track approach aims to balance wildlife conservation with the interests of hunters and ranchers.
Yellowstone officials declined to comment, noting that wolf hunting is a state matter. Packs that cross park boundaries, often into Montana, can affect park populations, but wolves that spend most of their time inside Yellowstone typically lack fear of humans and may be more vulnerable if they venture into state‑managed hunt zones.
Community response
The news was welcomed by wildlife advocates who had urged state officials to close the hunt area while the pack was present. The rapid closure of the hunt areas after reaching the mortality limit provided reassurance to those concerned about the fate of the iconic pack.
Wyoming’s wildlife managers continue to monitor the pack’s movements and overall wolf population, emphasizing adaptive management that protects both the species and the interests of local communities.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
