July 18, 2009

July 18, 2009 - The 2009 Research Expedition Continues!

Editors' Note




  1. So it appears that some light may finally be shed on the mystery of what the wolves do in winter. Very exciting! I remember from the White Wolf video that one of the breeding pair from 1986 was found dead the next summer. Hopefully our "researcher" will make it through the brutal months ahead and continue to provide good data for the life of the radio collar.

    You mentioned the musk ox hunt from the video. That was some of the most intense wildlife video footage I have ever seen. It still gives me chills to watch it and the food begging behavior by some of the pack following the kill of the musk ox calf. I'm amazed that the pack was able to kill adult musk oxen this year. It's hard to believe that the wolves could kill a healthy adult, but nature is full of surprises.

    I'm sending a donation to the IWC and I hope others will join me. I've been a supporter for more than 20 years now. You do great work and we need you to continue.

  2. How wonderful that you are sending a donation to the Wolf Center! Many, many thanks for your interest and support and for your great message. It certainly is amazing to think that wolves can kill an animal as large and formidable as an adult musk ox. Even if the animal were old or injured, it would still have plenty of fight left in it. People who travel in the arctic have noticed that the old bulls often isolate themselves from the main herd - or they are ostracized by the younger bulls. Perhaps this was an old bull that was by himself, but no one knows for sure.