Yellowstone wolves react to first big snow; park issues advisory

Yellowstone National Park on Wednesday cautioned tourists to postpone travel to and inside the park because of a “significant winter storm” that created hazardous driving conditions.

At the same time, researcher Taylor Rabe was afield in the park studying the Lupine Creek wolf pack.

“Yellowstone’s Northern range had its first very big snow today, and it was not kind to us,” Rabe, who conducts research for the Yellowstone Wolf Project, stated via Instagram. “Shutting down most of the park roads at one point or another this morning, the snow continues to fall. Winter is here.”

Rabe’s post shows wolves standing in the snow as if struck by the realization that a major seasonal change had just occurred.

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However, viewers who click to her fourth slide will see wolf pups playing with one another as driving snow obscured the scene.

Rabe continued: “The Lupine Creek pack gave me a brief sighting in the snow flurries, providing me with the first opportunity since denning season to see some of this year’s new pups from the ground. It’s always exciting watching these little satellite packs grow each year. I’m very fond of these guys!”

The park announced temporary road closures as a winter storm warning was in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday night. It was not clear when the roads would reopen.

Prospective visitors were also reminded that most roads will close to automobile traffic Nov. 1, as usual, as the park prepares for the snowmobile and snow-coach season beginning Dec. 15.

The only roads open to automobile traffic year-round in Yellowstone, weather permitting, are between the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, and the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana.

That stretch includes Lamar Valley, one of the premier locations from which to observe wolves in the winter.