The Minnesota Zoo and developer Eduweb have put out WolfQuest: Survival of the Pack, a free bundle for the educational wolf simulation game featuring two episodes: Amethyst Mountain and the newly released Slough Creek.

While Amethyst Mountain introduced players to the life of a grey wolf in Yellowstone National Park as he/she hunts for food, avoid grizzly bears and other dangers, and find a mate, Slough Creek focuses on raising and protecting your family.

The second episode has players selecting a safe den side, establishing/maintaining their territory with "raised-leg urination and howling", training their pups, feeding their pups, and defending them from predators. Slough Creek also adds four more square kilometers of river, mead, and mountains based on Yellowstone National Park.

For those that prefer to play with others, you can form a pack online with up to four more players and hunt together. There's even a healthy online community where you can "discuss the game with other players, chat with wolf biologists, and share artwork and stories about wolves."

Thankfully, this won't be the last update for the WolfQuest project. Eduweb and the Minnesota Zoo have received additional funding from the National Science Foundation that will allow them to begin work on an expanded version of Survival of the Pack with new game elements designed by WolfQuest players. Neat!

You can show your support and love of WolfQuest by buying new WolfQuest embroidererd logo patches and logo magnets (get a free magnet by ordering 2+ items!) from the Minnesota Zoo's online shop. The store sells branded plushes and a different kind of "three wolf" shirt, too. You can also send donations to the project to fund development/maintenance for the game and forums.

[Via GamePolitics]