Learn about Yellowstone’s marquee predator and prey species during the elk’s mating season. Programs include classroom sessions, wildlife watching tours and short hikes,” read the Yellowstone Association Institute’s Fall Wolf and Elk Discovery program description.
     Learn we did. We watch two bull elk lock antlers in a pushing match tear up sagebrush not 100 yards from the Mammoth Hotel. Two small elk herds mingled  in front of us causing traffic jams and some dangerously close wildlife encounters.
     Four mature bulls bulged and challenged each other as they courted the herd‘s females. The annual genetic drive to breed and reproduce was in full bloom and in plain view of  park visitors.
      The day before bull Number 6, named after his ear tag, moved in to take over as reigning herd bull. 
     Hormones and tempers spilled over into the road with several cars being charged and visitors chased. The scene changed quickly from a photo opt to fear and people scrambled for cover.
      Number 6, weighing in at over 750 pounds brandishing massive six point antlers charged a vehicle and used his antlers like a can opener ripping the hood.
      Enough, rangers tranquilized Number 6 and sawed off his antlers. This was the second year in a row Number 6 faced the consequences of his aggression. Minus his massive antlers he was chased away by other bulls and will face wolf attacks without his weapons.
       Yellowstone Association Institute naturalist Brad Bulin summarized the events.
      “The elk on the lawn and around the buildings at Mammoth are not in a natural setting. Once the breeding season starts mature bulls move in to establish dominance. People and vehicles end up in the middle of it.”
     What a way to start learning about elk and wolves!  The next three days twelve of us students met at 6 a.m. and piled into the Institute’s mini bus and drove to Lamar Valley looking for wolves.
     Bulin guided us, he knew where the various wolves packs hunted and how to check with dedicated “Wolf Watchers,” to get wolf sighting locations. This was the first trip to the park for several in the group and most were novice wildlife watcher.
     We didn’t have a clue on how to find different wolf packs. Wolf watching takes place through 40 to 60 power spotting scopes. Most of our sighting were over a mile away.  We spent early morning hours glued to the institute’s scopes watching intriguing wolf specs exchanging greetings and tail wagging and imaged a faintly howl or two.
      Then we found a fresh killed six point bull elk less than a quarter of a mile off the road. We watched a coyote jerk chunk of meat off the carcass when a jet black wolf appeared.
     Something was wrong with the big wolf. There was a pronounced limp in her right front leg, she seemed to drag her back opposite leg and her tail hung low. As she approached the carcass the coyote didn’t flee. 
      “My heart went out to the wolf,” said Shirley Boone of North Carolina. “You always see them as such magnificent and powerful animals on television. Watching this poor animal try to feed and then limp off to try and find its pack brought tears to my eyes.”
     Inspire, educate and preserve is the Yellowstone Association Institute slogan. It described our feelings perfectly. The Lodging and Learning Programs provided us with exceptional sightings and insights into Yellowstone. Together the Yellowstone Institute naturalists and Xanterra Inc., do a great job as Yellowstone National Park’s official program sponsors. 
  

If you go:
The Yellowstone Institute is the park’s official educational partner. It is a non profit field school operating a variety of in-depth field seminars year-around. This winter it has six different types of field tours. The Winter Wolf Discovery offers wolf watching and snowshoeing in the Lamar Valley plus programs on the ecology and management of wolves. Costs range from $299 to $530 for the two and three day programs with lodging, transportation  and some meals. Contact www.YellowstoneAssociation.org or call 307-344-5566.