The Queen of Lamar Valley

Like her mother before her, 926F braved every challenge nature threw at her, but she was powerless against a bullet. A trophy hunter robbed millions of Yellowstone visitors of the chance to see her in the wild, leaving us with only memories.

The high cost of trophy hunting

926F was born in April 2011 to the legendary alpha pair 06 and 755M of the Lamar Canyon pack. Tragedy struck when she was just a yearling, as her mother and uncle were killed by trophy hunters, leading to the fragmentation of their close-knit family. With all the females in the pack being his daughters, 755M had to leave in search of a new mate. Her older sister 776F led most of the siblings eastward to form a new pack outside of Yellowstone, while 926F and another older sister, Middle Gray, stayed behind in Lamar Valley.

Pete Bengeyfield

Big Gray

A lone male wolf known as Big Gray (925M) dispersed from his Wyoming-based pack, ventured into Lamar Valley, and found 926F and Middle Gray. The big wolf with a drooping left ear initially paired with Middle Gray, but 926F was smitten with the hunky male and did her best to woo him. Middle Gray produced a litter of at least two pups that spring; however, none survived the year. That fall, Middle Gray left Lamar Valley behind, possibly to join her siblings outside the park. She would never return.

After Middle Gray left, 926F stepped up as the alpha female of the Lamar Canyon pack. She and Big Gray shared a deep bond, and that spring, they welcomed a litter of seven pups. Life was challenging for the young pair as they struggled to feed and protect their offspring. Their relentless efforts, even at the risk of their own lives, paid off when six out of the seven pups survived through the end of the year.

The ambush

In March 2015, the eleven-month-old pups were healthy and strong, and 926F was pregnant again. Seeking better hunting opportunities, the family left the safety of their Lamar Canyon territory and traveled west. Their journey proved successful when they brought down an elk to feed their hungry pups. However, on the way back, disaster struck as they were ambushed by up to 12 members of the Prospect Peak pack.

Big Gray, sensing the danger, fearlessly charged at the rivals, giving his mate and pups the chance to escape unharmed. Despite their young age, Little Gray and 967M showed incredible bravery, turning back to defend their father. Their actions diverted the attackers, who pursued them instead. Although Big Gray was badly injured, he managed to scare off the remaining wolves before finding refuge in some sagebrush.

A final farewell

As the sun set, 926F and her pups bravely entered enemy territory to pay their final respects. Undeterred by the danger, their love for Big Gray led them to risk their lives to say goodbye. With heavy hearts, they returned home without him—the love of 926F's life was gone forever.

926F and Husky Black by Panzer Gnauck

Facing the Prospect males

Soon after, four males from the Prospect Peak pack entered Lamar Valley and approached 926F. Facing a desperate situation—with six young pups to protect and heavily pregnant—926F knew she couldn't outrun the males, who likely had been involved in the attack on Big Gray. Acting swiftly, 926F sent her pups into the forest for safety before standing her ground. In a remarkable display of poise, she strategically wagged her tail, using her charm to win over the males and defuse the threat.

The struggle with disease

Twin became the alpha male of the Lamar Canyon pack, while Mottled, Dark Black (995M), and 965M took on subordinate roles. In April 2015, 926F gave birth to five pups, sired by Big Gray. Despite this, the Prospect males willingly adopted and helped raise them. Sadly, by the end of the year, many members of the Lamar Canyon pack were suffering from mange.

Mange, a highly contagious skin disease, was introduced into the northern Rocky Mountains in the early 1900s to help eradicate wolves and coyotes. Caused by scabies mites that burrow beneath the skin, the disease leads to severe irritation, infection, and fur loss. For an infected wolf, this painful condition makes them vulnerable to sunburns in summer and dangerously cold temperatures in winter. Tragically, mange infiltrated the Lamar Canyon pack, and 926F's five pups, her lasting legacy, were never seen again.

Little-T

Little-T, 926F's daughter, was born in her first litter with Big Gray. With a black coat like her mother and a distinctive T-shaped white patch on her chest, Little-T formed a deep bond with 926F that lasted throughout their lives. In 2016, after three of the Prospect males died, 926F and Little-T were joined by 949M and Small Dot from the Beartooth pack, who had wandered into Lamar Valley from Wyoming. Heartbreak followed as 949M contracted canine distemper. As he lay dying under a tree, 926F once again stood by her mate's side to say goodbye.

Hope for the future

After years without any surviving pups, hope finally returned to the Lamar Canyon pack. 926F, Little-T, and Small Dot were spotted with five healthy pups. But just as their future seemed secure, tragedy struck again—926F was shot and killed on November 24, 2018, less than a mile outside Yellowstone National Park’s boundary. Her death was a heartbreaking reminder of her mother and uncle’s fate, also victims of hunters' bullets. In her absence, sadness echoed through Yellowstone, as her family's mournful howls filled the air for days while they desperately searched the area where she was killed.

776F; Keith Crowley/Alamy Stock

The end of the Lamar Canyon pack

After 926F was killed for a trophy in 2018, only two adults—Little-T and Small Dot—remained, struggling to provide for their young. The small pack was no match when a larger neighboring pack encroached on their territory, forcing them out of the park. By 2020, the once mighty Lamar Canyon pack was no longer recognized as a Yellowstone pack. How many more generations of wolves must suffer the tragic consequences of trophy hunting and trapping?