Yellowstone National Park’s iconic Junction Butte wolf pack appears to be regaining its strength after the loss of its legendary leader, Wolf 907F, in late 2024.
A recent failed attempt to bring down a bison calf may not have ended in a meal—but it did offer a rare look into the pack’s resilience, evolving social dynamics, and the high-stakes survival game of wolves in the wild.
A New Chapter After Loss
On Christmas Day 2024, the Junction Butte pack suffered a major loss when its alpha female, 907F—a one-eyed wolf celebrated for her leadership and endurance—was killed in a confrontation with a rival wolf pack. According to Live Science, 907F lived to be 11 years old—twice the typical lifespan of Yellowstone wolves—and produced ten litters of pups during her lifetime.
“In a protected place like Yellowstone, their number-one cause of death is when two packs fight with each other,” said Kira Cassidy, a researcher with the Yellowstone Wolf Project. “That accounts for about half of the mortality.”
Despite her death, recent footage shared by wildlife photographer and conservationist Julie Argyle shows that the pack has not only regrouped—it may even be forming new alliances with former rivals. In a video captured earlier this month, Junction Butte wolves were observed hunting bison alongside members of the rival Rescue Creek pack—the same group believed to have caused 907F’s death.
A Close Call on the Winter Range
The video, reported by Cowboy State Daily, shows the wolves pursuing two bison, focusing their efforts on a yearling calf. In a tense scene, the mother bison skillfully kept herself between her calf and the wolves, refusing to break formation even as the wolves tried to split the pair. Eventually, another adult bison arrived, helping to fend off the attackers and force a retreat.
Though the hunt was unsuccessful, wildlife experts say it’s a clear sign that the pack is adapting and still functioning as a cooperative unit—despite recent losses and the challenges of winter hunting.
Cooperation Amid Complexity
The footage also raises eyebrows for another reason: the wolves involved may include individuals from both Junction Butte and the rival pack, Rescue Creek pack. Wolf alliances and dispersal behavior are well-documented in Yellowstone, but rarely do onlookers get to witness wolves from different packs coordinating—especially so soon after a deadly territorial clash.
According to Live Science, with mating season for wolves approaching it is likely that the wolves will change packs in order to mate.
Life and Death in Yellowstone
The Junction Butte pack, known for its visibility near popular park pullouts and for being one of the most studied wolf packs in Yellowstone, has been central to the park’s wolf-watching community. The pack would create their dens within views of the visitor entrance to Yellowstone’s campground, the Slough Creek Campground, according to the National Park Service.
While their future remains uncertain without 907F at the helm, the recent bison chase illustrates their ongoing role in Yellowstone’s complex predator-prey ecosystem—and their ability to adapt, survive, and continue influencing the landscape.
The Wild Goes On
The scene may not have ended in a successful hunt, but for conservationists and wolf watchers alike, it’s a powerful reminder of the raw, unscripted drama that unfolds daily in Yellowstone. As new leaders rise and alliances shift, the Junction Butte pack’s next chapter is already underway—one bison chase, one howl, one snowy step at a time.
