December 09, 2008.

Informative video on wolves and their reintroduction to Yellowstone.

Rating: 4
A century ago, wolves were still common in the American West. By 1930, they had been wiped out in the lower 48 states. This video chronicles the reintroduction of three wolf packs, transported from Canada, to Yellowstone National Park.

The video primarily follows one pack of wolves - the "Druid's Peak" pack, named for the territory they claimed after release - for about two years after they were transported to Yellowstone. You'll see some of the wolves' first hunts, and how they pick out one target animal from the herd and coordinate to run it down - and you'll also see other hunts under different conditions, on powder and crusted snow and at night. You'll see how the pack defends its territory from other wolves, and how it reacts to scavengers trying to steal bits of its kills.

The video also shows how the pack's internal hierarchy works, with an alpha male and alpha female at the top, and new puppies being integrated at the bottom. Individuals that threaten the positions of the alphas are thrown out of the pack to become lone wolves - but the alphas themselves can also be replaced. One of the most interesting sequences covers how the pack tests a new male after their own alpha male is lost.

There is some footage of the people doing the filming and the research - but not too much. As in all the best wildlife videos, the focus is not on the humans, but on the wildlife. If you want to learn about wolves, you won't go wrong with this video.

December 24, 2007.

Wolves: A Legend Returns To Yellowstone.

Rating: 5
It's a must for anyone who loves wolves. It makes me want to go to Yellowstone and do some watching for myself. Being someone who loves to photograph wildlife.