Natural History Wanderings

SF Gate reported

Yellowstone National Park’s famous wolf packs are facing an invisible threat that’s bringing the number of surviving pups to historic lows: a contagious viral disease called canine distemper. 

At the end of 2025, Yellowstone National Park had 84 wolves dispersed among seven packs, according to spokesperson Linda Veress. This amounts to an approximately 16% decrease from the average end-of-year population over the past 15 years. Veress told SFGATE that the number of Yellowstone wolves fluctuates and that the park still supports a “healthy population,” but also acknowledged that the virus is likely taking a toll. 

Read more https://www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/virus-yellowstone-wolves-22277543.php