A well-known female wolf from Yellowstone National Park’s Junction Butte pack, believed to be 1478F, was illegally shot outside park boundaries on Christmas Day, according to Baltimore Chronicle, with reference to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). Authorities began investigating after receiving a mortality signal from the wolf’s GPS collar near the Jardine area. The collar was found cut and suspended in a tree, but the wolf’s body was never recovered, officials said.
Montana FWP reported that the poaching occurred in wolf management Unit 313, which had closed to hunting on November 16, and that the wolf-hunting quota for the area had already been met, Marc Cooke, president of Wolves of the Rockies, confirmed. The National Park Service deferred comment to FWP since the incident happened outside Yellowstone’s official boundaries.
1478F, born in April 2022, was recognized by wildlife trackers and visitors for her calm demeanor and exceptional hunting skills, wolf historian Leo Leckie said. She had become a familiar and popular presence in the park, frequently documented by photographers and scientists tracking the Yellowstone wolf population. GPS collars issued to wolves provide mortality signals when movement ceases for extended periods, alerting officials to possible deaths.
Russ Kehler, a wildlife photographer who has followed Yellowstone wolves for over 30 years, said researchers from the Yellowstone Wolf Project first reported suspicions regarding 1478F’s death. The wolf was considered a potential future alpha of the Junction Butte pack, noted for her ability to support pups and interact with other pack members, even when challenged by the current alpha female.
The Junction Butte pack, known for being highly visible to park visitors, has experienced multiple losses in the past year, including 1478F’s younger sister, 1479F, during a legal hunt in September. The mother of the sisters, wolf 907, previously led the pack until killed by a rival pack before reaching 12 years of age.
Experts described the killing of 1478F as especially egregious and outside ethical hunting practices. The late-night timing suggests the use of night vision equipment, and the removal and concealment of the collar indicate deliberate knowledge of the act’s illegality, Leckie said. “Poaching is alive and well in Montana,” Cooke added.
Montana officials initially offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible. This was subsequently increased by $30,000 from the Large Carnivore Fund and Wolves of the Rockies. Yellowstone wolves contribute significantly to the local economy by attracting wildlife tourism, which brings in millions annually to nearby communities, Cooke said.
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