GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — A male wolf was struck by a vehicle and killed on the Gros Ventre Road near the Gros Ventre Campground in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) the evening of Friday, May 17.
The park’s dispatch received a call about the incident at 9:44 p.m on Friday.
GTNP Chief of Staff Jeremy Barnum told Buckrail that the wolf was wearing a radio collar, which enabled park rangers and biologists to confirm that the animal belonged to the Lower Gros Ventre Pack.
According to the 2023 Game and Fish Gray Wolf Monitoring and Management Report, the Lower Gros Ventre wolf pack has approximately 13 members, and is one of six packs that in live in the Jackson Hole area with home ranges in GTNP.
The pack overlaps territory with the Horsetail Creek and Long Hollow wolf packs.
According to the National Park Service, drivers are the animals’ number one cause of death within park boundaries. GTNP estimates that one wolf is killed by a vehicle each year, according to the GTNP website.
According to GTNP, the number of animals killed on park roads has steadily increased since 2000. The park reports that an approximately 31% rise in wildlife-vehicle collisions occurred between 2008 and 2010, resulting in an average of 104 animals killed annually on park roads. Included in the 2010 data were 48 elk, 41 deer, 17 bison, six pronghorn, five moose, five bears and two wolves. Park biologists believe this tally is likely higher as some collisions are never reported.
Park managers plan to implement new prevention measures in an effort to reverse the recent trend in animal deaths from vehicle collisions. Flashing message boards will be placed at various wildlife crossings and collision hotspots. In addition, the Highway 26/89/191 speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph from the park’s south boundary to Moose Junction while construction of the multi-use pathway is underway.
To protect wildlife, park officials ask visitors and local residents to practice vigilance and slow down while driving in GTNP.
“Seeing wildlife in their natural habitat is one of the many unique opportunities that make the park a special, awe-inspiring place,” Barnum said.
Buckrail will continue to report on this ongoing investigation.
