The cost of the wild

Pat Shipman shares his experience he had had on a National Geographic day at the Yellowstone National Park. He was on a course run jointly by the American Association of State Colleges and the Universities and the Yellowstone Association looking at controversies surrounding the park. Pat and some of his diehard naturalist friends decided to abandon their 'day off' to go back to Lamar Valley in the northeast corner of Yellowstone hoping to see the grizzlies and wolves that had so far been elusive. With only about 100 wolves in the park, seeing one was a matter of good luck and knowledge. When they arrived, the wolf researchers who were already there told them that the Lamar Canyon Pack was on the carcass near dawn. Nine wolves were in sight. As they speculated on what the appearance of another wolf meant, the pack sat up, looked around and sniffed the air.