Yellowstone’s ‘Queen of the Wolves’ dies after fight with rival pack

Every reign, no matter how legendary, must eventually come to an end. Sadly, Yellowstone National Park’s beloved “Queen of the Wolves” has passed away at the age of 11, after succumbing to injuries sustained in a fight.

Known as Wolf 907F, this iconic one-eyed gray wolf was a symbol of conservation efforts in the expansive 22.2-million-acre park. She lived well beyond the average lifespan for her species in the wild, as reported by Smithsonian Magazine. 907F was one of only six gray wolves known to have lived past the age of 11 since their reintroduction into Yellowstone in 1995. As the matriarch of the Junction Butte pack, she gave birth to a total of 10 litters, with the most recent offspring born in May 2024. While the exact number of surviving pups is unclear, she is recognized as the most successful reproducing wolf in Yellowstone’s history.

Despite facing numerous challenges throughout her life in the park, 907F remained resilient. She lost her left eye to an unknown injury at the age of 4, battled mange, and even experienced a limp at one point—yet none of these setbacks diminished her status within her pack. Additionally, 907F had a unique howl that distinguished her from other gray wolves.

“She had a very distinctive low-pitched howl,” shared wildlife enthusiast Jeff Reed, who had followed 907F for a long time. “I always found it amusing because her howl was flat, almost monotone. I often thought she was saying, ‘That’s because I’m so old, I don’t care. I’ll just give this monotone howl.’”

Tragically, on December 22, 907F and some of her pups were attacked by members of the Rescue Creek pack while feasting on a bison carcass near Yellowstone River. The Rescue Creek wolves, a splinter group of the Junction Butte pack, typically stayed on the river’s south side but unexpectedly crossed over that day. Although 907F initially survived the encounter, her radio collar indicated that she eventually succumbed to her injuries on December 25.

“It’s a sad loss. However, for all of us involved in the project, we prefer to see a wolf pass away naturally rather than due to human interference,” explained Taylor Rabe, a biological science technician with the Yellowstone Wolf, Cougar, and Elk Project. “Knowing that she died naturally brings us some peace. She was a remarkable wolf.”