Wolf 1478F, a young female regarded as a likely future alpha of the high‑profile Junction Butte pack, was shot and killed around 10 p.m. on Christmas Day, officials say. Investigators found the wolf's tracking collar cut off and discarded in a tree near the last ping location. The shooting occurred just outside Yellowstone’s northern boundary, and would be illegal if confirmed because Montana's wolf hunting quota had already been met. No suspect has been identified; the reward for information was raised from $1,000 to $30,000.
Poacher Kills Promising Female Wolf From Yellowstone’s Famous Junction Butte Pack
Stock image of a wolfGetty
A young female wolf long viewed as a rising star in Yellowstone National Park's most observed pack was shot and killed just outside the park, officials say. The animal, identified by researchers as Wolf 1478F, had been considered a likely successor to the Junction Butte pack's alpha female.
The Junction Butte pack, formed in 2012, is widely observed because its den sites sit within view of the Northeast Entrance Road and the road to Slough Creek Campground, drawing thousands of visitors and wildlife photographers each year.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says the wolf's death is believed to have occurred at about 10 p.m. on Christmas Day. Agency staff became alarmed when Wolf 1478F's tracking collar stopped moving and emitted a distress signal. When investigators visited the site where the collar last pinged, they found the collar had been cut from the animal's neck and discarded in a tree.
Local reporting indicates the shooting took place just outside Yellowstone's northern boundary, in an area where hunting is generally permitted. However, Montana enforces a seasonal quota on wolf hunting; that quota of three wolves had already been met on Nov. 16, which would make this killing illegal if it was committed as described.
As of Jan. 29, no suspect had been publicly identified. Park and state officials continue to investigate the incident and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks initially offered a $1,000 reward for information. Donations from the Large Carnivore Fund and the advocacy group Wolves of the Rockies increased the reward to $30,000.
Marc Cooke, president of Wolves of the Rockies, called the killing "heartbreaking" and urged broader reflection on protections for predators: “The death of Wolf 1478F should force us to ask: if we can’t safeguard a monitored, world‑famous Yellowstone wolf, what chance do the rest of America’s predators have?”
Investigators from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and National Park Service rangers are pursuing leads. Wildlife advocates stress the cruelty of cutting a monitored animal's collar and encourage the public to report any relevant information to authorities.
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