Why Are There So Many Black Wolves In Yellowstone?

Black wolves are either absent or very rare in most parts of their range, but are mysteriously common in some parts of North America

Members of the Druid Peak Pack in Yellowstone National Park engage in a game of chase. The gray colored wolf on the left represents the homozygous gray phenotype, whilst the black colored wolf on the right represents the K-locus black phenotype. (Credit: Daniel Stahler / National Park Service)

Black wolves are among the most iconic animals at Yellowstone National Park. People travel from around the world to Yellowstone to catch a glimpse of its famous black wolves.

Historically, most wolves are grey — or white in the far north — whereas black is not a natural color amongst wolves. But Yellowstone is truly exceptional in this regard: almost half of its wolves are black.