The Redemption of Wolf 302
From Renegade to Yellowstone Alpha Male
Published on 4. July 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-1-77840-075-9 (ISBN)
Description
From the renowned wolf researcher and author of The Rise of Wolf 8 and The Reign of Wolf 21 comes a stunning account of an unconventional alpha male.
A lover, not a fighter. That was wolf 302. A renegade with an eye for the ladies, 302 was anything but Yellowstone's perfect alpha male. For starters, he fled from danger. He begged for food from other wolves, ditched females he'd gotten pregnant, and even napped during a heated battle with a rival pack!
But this is not the story of 302's failures. This is the story of his dramatic transformation. And legendary wolf writer Rick McIntyre witnessed it all from the sidelines.
As McIntyre closely observed with his spotting scope, wolf 302 began to mature, and, much to McIntyre's surprise, became the leader of a new pack in his old age.
But in a year when game was scarce, could the aging wolf provide for his family? Had he changed enough to live up to the legacies of the great alpha males before him?
Recounted in McIntyre's captivating storytelling voice and peppered with fascinating insights into wolf behavior, The Redemption of Wolf 302 is a powerful coming-of-age tale that will strike a chord with anyone who has struggled to make a change, big or small.
"With this third installment of Rick McIntyre's magnum opus, the scope and ambition of the project becomes clear: nothing less than a grand serialization of the first twenty years of wolves in Yellowstone, a kind of lupine Great Expectations."-Nate Blakeslee, New York Times-bestselling author of American Wolf
A lover, not a fighter. That was wolf 302. A renegade with an eye for the ladies, 302 was anything but Yellowstone's perfect alpha male. For starters, he fled from danger. He begged for food from other wolves, ditched females he'd gotten pregnant, and even napped during a heated battle with a rival pack!
But this is not the story of 302's failures. This is the story of his dramatic transformation. And legendary wolf writer Rick McIntyre witnessed it all from the sidelines.
As McIntyre closely observed with his spotting scope, wolf 302 began to mature, and, much to McIntyre's surprise, became the leader of a new pack in his old age.
But in a year when game was scarce, could the aging wolf provide for his family? Had he changed enough to live up to the legacies of the great alpha males before him?
Recounted in McIntyre's captivating storytelling voice and peppered with fascinating insights into wolf behavior, The Redemption of Wolf 302 is a powerful coming-of-age tale that will strike a chord with anyone who has struggled to make a change, big or small.
"With this third installment of Rick McIntyre's magnum opus, the scope and ambition of the project becomes clear: nothing less than a grand serialization of the first twenty years of wolves in Yellowstone, a kind of lupine Great Expectations."-Nate Blakeslee, New York Times-bestselling author of American Wolf
Reviews / Votes
"A great choice for anyone who has a fondness for wolves and an appreciation of good natural history."-Kirkus Reviews
"Closely observed and meticulously described, the author's wolves are presented as flawed but essentially heroic creatures who love their pups, defend their territories and engage in mortal combat.... Engaging and entertaining.... Recommended."
-Vancouver Sun
"With this third installment of Rick McIntyre's magnum opus, a new cast of characters brings fresh delights, while the cumulative impact of Rick's storytelling offers unexpected insights on wolves as social beings and on the culture of wolf packs. Yes, culture-read for yourself and see!"
-Nate Blakeslee, author of American Wolf
"No one else's books have been written with the depth of time, personal insight, and sheer unstoppable devotion that Rick McIntyre brings to the page."
-Carl Safina, author of Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace
"Few people have ever observed wildlife as closely as Rick McIntyre or written the biographies of individual animals with as much clarity and wisdom. The Redemption of Wolf 302 opens yet another intimate window onto the lives of America's most beloved carnivores."
-Ben Goldfarb, author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter
"What thrilling stories about the Yellowstone wolves! The daily observations by Rick McIntyre are unprecedented in their detail, and bring the personalities alive."
-Frans de Waal, author of Mama's Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves
"A beautiful, inspiring story. These remarkable creatures are showing us much about what can be meaningful in our own lives."
-Bruce Babbitt, former United States Secretary of the Interior
"With an unassuming nature that perfectly complements the quiet dignity of his pursuits among Yellowstone's Wolves, Rick McIntyre once again brings us into the circle of their lives with this intimate portrait of wolf302."
-John Potter, Anishinaabe artist and wildlife advocate
"This engrossing tale of an especially intelligent and charismatic wolf reveals a deep and important lesson: for wolves as for humans there is more than one way to lead a good life."
-Barbara Smuts, canine researcher and professor emerita, Psychology, University of Michigan
"No one knows more about Yellowstone wolves than Rick does, and no one tells their wild stories better. His new book combines his knowledge and storytelling skills to give readers an unparalleled look into the lives of Yellowstone's wolves."
-Rick Lamplugh, author of In the Temple of Wolves and Deep into Yellowstone
"A vivid tale of wolf personalities, scientifically compelling and deeply engaging, that will take you right to the core of wolf social life."
-Luigi Boitani, professor emeritus, University of Rome
"A remarkable achievement. It will be a long time, if ever, before someone can match such insightful perspectives on the behavior of wolves in the wild."
-Lu Carbyn, author of The Buffalo Wolf
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Canada
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
2 B&W maps, 1 range map, 8-page insert
Dimensions
Height: 211 mm
Width: 137 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
360 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-77840-075-9 (9781778400759)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
No one has spent more time observing and documenting wild wolves than retired National Park ranger Rick McIntyre, who has watched wolves in America's national parks for more than 40 years, 25 of those years in Yellowstone, where he has accumulated over 100,000 sightings. McIntyre's other books include The Rise of Wolf 8 and The Reign of Wolf 21, and he is at work on a fourth book about Wolf 06 and other Yellowstone alpha females. He lives in Silver Gate, Montana.
Content
Map of Northeast Yellowstone National Park
Select Yellowstone Wolf Pack Territories 2004-2009
Principal Wolves
Prologue
Previously in Lamar Valley
Part 1: 2004
1 To Be the Alpha You Have to Beat the Alpha
2 The New World Order
3 480's Trial by Combat
Part 2: 2005
4 Outnumbered
5 Hard Times in Lamar Valley
6 Four Mothers at Slough Creek
7 The Fate of the Slough Pups
8 The Sloughs Expand Their Territory
Part 3: 2006
9 The Mating Season
10 The Den Siege
11 Resurgence
12 Summer
Part 4: 2007
13 302's Walkabout
14 The Battle of Mount Norris
15 The Druids and the Sloughs
16 The Oxbow, Agate, and Leopold Packs
17 Conflict Among the Packs
Part 5: 2008
18 The Two Interlopers
19 The Tragedy of Light Gray
20 Occupational Injuries
21 A New Pack Forms
Part 6: 2009
22 The 06 Female
23 302 and His Pups
24 No Country for an Old Wolf
Epilogue
Author's Note
Acknowledgments
References and Suggested Reading
Index
Select Yellowstone Wolf Pack Territories 2004-2009
Principal Wolves
Prologue
Previously in Lamar Valley
Part 1: 2004
1 To Be the Alpha You Have to Beat the Alpha
2 The New World Order
3 480's Trial by Combat
Part 2: 2005
4 Outnumbered
5 Hard Times in Lamar Valley
6 Four Mothers at Slough Creek
7 The Fate of the Slough Pups
8 The Sloughs Expand Their Territory
Part 3: 2006
9 The Mating Season
10 The Den Siege
11 Resurgence
12 Summer
Part 4: 2007
13 302's Walkabout
14 The Battle of Mount Norris
15 The Druids and the Sloughs
16 The Oxbow, Agate, and Leopold Packs
17 Conflict Among the Packs
Part 5: 2008
18 The Two Interlopers
19 The Tragedy of Light Gray
20 Occupational Injuries
21 A New Pack Forms
Part 6: 2009
22 The 06 Female
23 302 and His Pups
24 No Country for an Old Wolf
Epilogue
Author's Note
Acknowledgments
References and Suggested Reading
Index