visiting the wolf kennels in Yellowstone NP

Something that I wanted to visit for a long time were the last standing wolf acclimatization kennels from when wolves were re-introduced to the park. I have seen a video from Stan Mills providing a guide, but that was not enough until I used Google Earth and found them. I am not going to show the exact location, you can ask me offline. I will explain the area and general location, though.

These are called the Rose Creek pens.

I parked at the Lamar Ranger Station, walked to a picnic area and crossed the creek (there is a bridge). There more or less a social trail that parallels the creek, but there is also bison trails so that may get confusing.

After a short hike, you will reach the pens:

And I was completely shocked how well they were preserved except for areas where trees fell down.

I think someone explained that these boxes were used for transport and then once the wolves were inside they could be rounded inside the boxes (how?) and tranquilized for medical exams:

You can see tree damage up close:

This is a better 360 degree view of the pen:

I noticed a second small enclosure area attached to the main pen, perfectly preserved (maybe to separate wolves or introduce them?). I later found out that those small posts were electrified to keep away bears, since the wolves were fed meat and that smells (plus people too):

This is a view of Lamar Valley from when I returned:

The pens were a must see area for me; I hope the park service doesn’t remove them (like the other ones), this is to me an historic site. It is legal to disperse ashes in the park and the ashes of two of my pets are there now.