I just found out that one of the last white wolves in existence was shot in Yellowstone. She was an alpha female and 12 years old. The park is offering a reward for information on the killer, who will be punished severely for the crime.
Such a waste. The poor innocent wolf. π
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/science/rare-white-wolf-killed-in-yellowstone-park-was-shot-illegally.html
I hope they catch and torture the person
shareI doubt that will happen;his redneck buddies will rally around him unless they shoot him by accident while out "huntin'" again.
shareThat's despicable. :(
shareAlpha female?
O_o
ALL HAIL THE ALPHA FEMALE!!! Please bestow upon me your wolflets....
Actually, I am pretty sure the punishment will be somewhat severe. California also has very strict gun regulation!
ALL HAIL THE ALPHA FEMALE!!!
shareYellowstone is in Wyoming. You may be thinking of Yosemite, which is in California.
shareOMG!!
It sounds so similar, actually not even close. I could have sworn it extended into CA.
I was never really good at geography.
It's a huge park and extends into Montana and Idaho as well. And don't feel bad--everyone confuses these two parks.
shareWait, so what park is old faithful in?
shareYellowstone. That's how I know everyone confuses them, because I've been to Yosemite a few times and people always ask me if I'm going to see Old Faithful.
shareBecause I have seen Old Faithful, yet I do not ever recall being in Wyoming.
And to make it even worse, I thought Old Faithful was in Utah.
OMG!!
It sound familiar to me too, but it was from rise of the tomb raider,sorryπͺ
shareThat's awful but if we're talking about Canis lupus arctos, they are far from rare.
In fact, they aren't even a threatened species.
That's the arctic wolf, Traveler. This is different, and is endangered.
This is sad news. I wonder why whomever shot her did it, and even more, what will happen to the other wolves in her pack.
Thanks for the clarification, Cat.
I don't know all that much about wolves, but don't they usually have some kind of heir / second-in-command in case the alpha dies? Or do they fight for supremacy?
Yes, it usually works like this--
Boss - head of the Family
Underboss - second in command
Consigliere - adviser to the Family
Well I figured it was another species but I just can't find it? Even on wikipedia "White wolf" redirects to the artic wolf.
And the world is full of idiots doing stupid things like this just because they can. Her pack will have to find a new alpha, what can I say...
Yeah, I couldn't find the exact species, either. I think it's a rare genetic trait or something. All the articles talking about the white wolf who got shot said she was rare.
shareThat's what I read in the article you linked too, yep. But since nowadays medias like to write a lot of sensationalist stuff just for the sake of it I often double-check.
Even more when I know there are a bunch of "white wolves" (the French equivalent, mind you) in a few zoos not too far away from me.
But as you said, maybe it was a rare genetic trait!
Maybe they're just albinos? Albinism is a pretty rare mutation, which affects coloration usually by making an animal mostly white with blue or pink eyes.
shareOh I know what it means Leia ^^
And you could be onto something!
"She was one of the most recognizable wolves [...]", I just read. Which would make sense if she was the only white wolf around.
Edit: Also this "The animal was one of three white wolves in the park."
What's more disturbing is there were only 98 wolves, total (!) in Yellowstone, as of last year, and only 10 wolf packs. Less than 100!
In the greater Yellowstone area, there are only 528.
The Yellowstone wolves species is Canis lupus, aka the northern Rocky Mountain wolf.
You're right, Leia, the white wolves' coloration of this species is due to a recessive gene. The black wolves are too, although slightly less rare. The majority are grey or grey and black.
Usually a pack is led by an alpha male and female pair, and wolves are quite loyal to their mates. The alpha male of her pack will have to find another alpha mate, if he can. No matter what, her death would be a great loss to him, and the pack.
Alright. That makes sense.
shareYour post is maki g it worse for me:( please stop. Canines are divine.
shareThat's terrible! Shot for no reason. Some people are just evil.
share