Note the size of the beaver taken from the pond Lamar. A big beaver can and does hold it's own against a wolf, even on ice or dry ground. The pups/yearlings not so much. This area has no deer sign at all, so the beaver are the other option. The tracks around indicate a pair, probably paired last spring, meaning no full pack yet, but should be pups coming along soon. This is not a packed area, poor wolf country especially in the summer months. Small jutting islands of Ash, and Poplar, bog all around them, and the beaver had it flooded. This pair, more than likely, were pushed here by larger packs around it. As the pack produces, it will enter into territorial disputes to expand or be killed/ limited to this small area and the physical condition of the female and food supply will dictate pack size. Poor conditions, poor production, long winters, all make for short life. Mn wolf population is at peak land holding capacity now for wolves. I have several friends in Cn. having a ball snaring wolves that disperse from here, meanwhile in Mn. we are going on 40 years "Studying" their habits. That should read big money in wolf studies.