Wolves in Denali

She was a beautiful wolf. Nearly 6 feet from tip of tail to velveteen nose. Alpha as men would describe her, she was mistress of her domain leading her pack over lands her forbears had trod for millennium too many to count. Boundless was her domain though on man's maps she was approaching a line beyond which she was no longer safe.

It had been a good summer thus far and the pack was healthy and we'll fed. Rib cages were only still slightly protruding as reminders of the lean times of spring and winter just past. At the pack's slow lope they still covered an enormous amount of territory floating on paws almost the size of a man's hand that seemed to barely touch the earth as the pack glided by.

The shot rang out starkly in the quiet stillness. She sensed the impact but felt no pain. Entering behind her left shoulder the bullet was in her just for a moment before exploding from her side.  The hunter would later speak of having made a clean shot but from her perspective there was nothing clean about it as her life blood pooled on the mossy ground. She knew none of this as she was dead before her stumbling fall drew her to earth.

Unbeknownst to her she had crossed the Park Boundary beyond which she was deemed fair game. Park publications make clear that there are no fences and animals remain free to roam as they have through the ages. Protected within the Park she was as safe as man could keep her; outside the park boundary she was legal quarry.

Her pelt was destined to grace the hunter's wall or perhaps adorn a hood or jacket keeping hands and faces warm, but never again would she trod this great land. She and her kin were marked for the kill if they left the Park.

When last in Denali we had seen a large wolf pack eyeing us from a distance. They faced no threat from us that day but so many have been legally taken through the years that the chances of seeing a wolf are less than that of seeing the Park's namesake mountain.

Her remains will provide for other scavengers. Nature generally wastes very little though to what purposes man may not comprehend. A new Alpha female will  take her place though the pack continues to dwindle. The new Alpha's future too is uncertain by man's intent. I for one will feel lessened if someday wolves no longer wander this great land.