JACKSON, Wyo. — With an abundance of wildlife in Jackson Hole and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), it’s not uncommon to see groups of certain species on the landscape together. While some group names, like a “pack” of wolves, seem self-explanatory, there are a few surprising ways to describe certain species.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), there’s no single individual or group who decides these names.
“Who decides on the right collective noun for something?” OED says. “The short answer is no one.”
The Old Farmer’s Almanac suggests the tradition of naming a group of animals comes from ancient hunting practices. Juliana Berners’ The Book of Saint Albans, published in the 14th century, is one of the first records of animal group names, including what she coined as a “crash” of rhinos.
Let Buckrail walk you through some of the most unique terminology for different local wildlife!
A murder of crows
Perhaps one of the more well-known monikers, a group of crows is called a “murder.” According to BBC Wildlife, this comes from crows’ historical presence around gallows and battlefields, where they would scavenge after killings had been committed.
Learn about how to tell the difference between crows and ravens in the GYE here.
An unkindness of ravens
Chloe Rhodes, author of “An Unkindness of Ravens: A Book of Collective Nouns,” explains that this name likely comes from a 19th-century belief that ravens were negligent or uncaring parents due to the fact that they seemed to push their young from nests before they appeared ready.
To read about the unique relationship between ravens and wolves, click here.
A gang of elk
Although a group of elk is commonly referred to as a herd, Grand Teton National Park confirms on their Facebook page that the correct term is also “gang.” The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation suggests this could have something to do with the way groups of elk can rampage fences or crops on private ranches or property.
A prickle of porcupines
National Geographic attributes the group moniker of porcupines to them being “the prickliest of rodents.” The Latin name for porcupine translates to “quill pig” due to their coat of needle-like quills mixed in with their soft hair.
Learn more about their courtship and controversial predator status here.
A skulk of foxes
According to the BBC, the word skulk comes from a Scandinavian word that means “to wait, lurk or move stealthily,” a description of typical fox behavior while hunting.
The impending winter is an ideal time to watch for hunting foxes; last year, Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer photographed a mama fox successfully hunting food for her kits.
A bevy of swans
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a bevy as “a group of birds…particularly when closely gathered on the ground.”
While swans do get a lot of air time during their migrations, a bevy is the perfect moniker for some of the Trumpeter Swans in Jackson Hole that are helping to restore swan populations throughout the GYE, many of which are flightless and rehabilitated after injuries.
