U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, Joe Fontaine, stated that the wolf's radio collar began sending a "mortality signal" indicating no movement by the wolf on 19 March. Biologists spotted his body during a monitoring flight on the same day. Old Blue was found in a rugged area surrounding Heart Lake, this lead biologists to believe he died of natural causes. It is very difficult to accurately estimate the wolf's age, but biologists stated that a normal lifespan for a wolf in the wild is about 10 years.
Old Blue was among the first wolves released in Yellowstone as part of the wolf reintroduction project in winter of 1995. When released, he weighted 113 pounds and was very timid. His timidness led biologists to believe that he would not be the alpha male of the Soda Butte Pack. But shortly after their release, the male wolf that was thought to be the alpha male, left the pack, leading biologist to believe Old Blue was the alpha male.
Old Blue's death leaves the Soda Butte Pack with only four wolves - an adult female, two pups and one other sub-adult.
This information was supplied by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Yellowstone-Glacier Adventures, Inc.
This information is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Pack Information
The annual "official" count of wolf breeding pairs and new pack home ranges will be published in the 2000 annual report which should be out by February 1, 2001.
The former Soda Butte pack has been renamed the Yellowstone Delta pack. The pack was relocated from the Soda Butte area in 1996 and has lived south of Yellowstone Lake since that time. The name change is consistent with most pack names which come from local geologic features in their territory.
Control
A heifer was killed by wolves north of Browning on the 20th and another heifer was killed the following night. A WS investigation confirmed that a pair of wolves were responsible. The pair's tracks were evident. WS and the Service attempted to helicopter dart them the next day but they could not be located. No further problems have been reported. During the weekend of the 24th WS was gunning coyotes in the Deer Lodge area near where several sheep had been killed by wolves earlier this year. Fontaine was on stand-by and WS carried a dart gun with them to capture, radiocollar, and release any wolves found. No wolves were located.
WS investigated a report of a wolf killing sheep near Red Lodge on New Year's weekend. The sheep were killed by a large malamute dog and not wolves.
On the 24th, a less-than-lethal-muntions research permit was issued to a ranch north of Gardiner, MT to harass wolves on their private property near buildings or livestock using cracker shells. Wolves had been walking past the ranch house for a couple of days and appeared to be getting bolder. An offer of training and use of 12 gauge bean bag rounds was also made at that time.
Research
Nothing new to report.
Information, Education and Law Enforcement
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement are hopeful that a reward of $10,000 will encourage the public to provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or person responsible for the killing of two gray wolves in Camas County, Idaho. Two males, including the alpha, from the Smokey Mountain pack were found dead in late November/early December. Service LE agents can be contacted at: 208-378-5333.
The Timber Wolf Alliance put out a call for entries for the 2001 National Wolf Awareness Week Poster Contest. If you know an artist that may be interested have them enclose slides of their original artwork, conceived and created entirely by them to: Timber Wolf Alliance, 2001 National Poster Competition, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, Northland College, Ashland, WI 54806. Call: 715-682-1490 for further information.The deadline is 07 Apr 2001.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service as of 01 Dec 97. As of this date, about 90 wolves grouped in 9 packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area. Seven packs have established territory within Yellowstone National Park. The eighth pack, the Washakie pack is inhabiting national forest land in the DuNoir Valley south of Yellowstone. The ninth pack, the Nez Perce Pack, is currently in an acclimation pen awaiting release some time in January 1998. Unfortunately, wolf #029 a male and wolf #027 a female, have escaped the enclosure area. ADC officials claim wolf #037 has committed her second offense in killing livestock, therefore she was recently shot when she left Yellowstone. Number 029 was located in Hayden Valley as of Sunday, 30 Nov 97.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service as of 02 Dec 98. As of this date, 117 wolves (this includes wolves and this years pups) comprised of ten packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area.
All ten packs have established territories in Yellowstone or close to the park border.
The Chief Joseph I Pack is inhabiting the northwest area of Yellowstone. Two pups from this pack have been hit by vehicles along US Highway 191 in the past two months.
The Chief Joseph II Pack which had been located just north of Yellowstone.
The alpha male of this pack, number 06M, died of natural causes, probably from an injury from a bull elk.
Wolf 104M a dispersing male from the Druid Peak Pack has joined this pack and has become the new Alpha Male.
Wolf 104M a dispersing male from the Druid Peak Pack has been located with the Crystal Creek Pack and is their new Alpha Male.
The alpha male of this pack has dispersed for unknown reasons. Since he has left the pack, he has been located with a female yearling from the Thorofare Pack. They have been located in Grand Teton National Park, south of Yellowstone.
The alpha male's radio collar has been chewed off, but since he has ear tags, biologist were able to identify him with this female wolf.
On 26 Oct 98, a male yearly from this pack was found dead in Lamar Valley. Necropsy results indicate that he probably died from a wound from a large male ungulates antler (elk).
A female from this pack, number 24F has dispersed from the pack. She has been located with a male from the Washakie pack. These two wolves have been located southeast of Yellowstone.
Yellowstone Wolf Winter Research
The wolf project is in the midst of its seventh winter study since the reintroduction program began almost four years ago. Field crews will be observing and collecting data from three wolf packs in Yellowstone's northern range to determine kill rate, prey species health and many other aspects related to wolf biology.
The court ruling by Judge Downes has not altered operations by the wolf project staff. Monitoring, management and study of Yellowstone wolves is proceeding as planned.
As of this time, 35 wolves are currently radio collared in Yellowstone.
Collaring efforts will begin again this January.
Aversive conditioning trials for the 3 Sheep Mountain wolves began again this week. Last week weather conditions prevented the calf from being transported to the pen. The shock collars have been repositioned and the TESF biologist believed the problem during the last test was because the collars were not making proper contact through the wolves' thick winter fur. The procedure will be video taped and shared with other reporters who participated in the media tour/pool last month. Tests went well but the calf appeared to follow/chase the wolves around a little (payback is heck!).
The month-long Yellowstone National Park winter predation study starts November 15th . Volunteer training was conducted this week.
Information and education and law enforcement
During the week of November 13th several of the wolf program's biologists will be giving papers at or attending the Carnivores 2000 Conference in Denver, CO. Fontaine will be acting recovery coordinator and can be reached at (406)449-5225 x206.
NATIONAL WOLF RECLASSIFICATION PROPOSED
The proposal can be accessed at http://midwest.fws.gov/wolf. The 120-day public comment period ends MONDAY- NOVEMBER 13th. Anyone wanting to be placed on the Service's mailing list should write to US Fish and Wildlife Service, Gray Wolf Review, 1 Federal Dr., Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056, use the [email protected] email address, or phone 612-713-7337. A final decision is likely in July 2001. All comments on the proposal should be sent to [email protected] or by mail to: Content Analysis Team, Wolf Comments, 200 East Broadway, P.O. Box 7669, Room 301, Missoula, MT 59807.
National Reclassification Public Hearings
A wolf hearing was held on Oct. 24 in Portland, OR. Ninety-six people attended and 25 people spoke. The Boise, ID meeting on Halloween was attended by about 33 people and 11 testified. The informational/hearing in Orono, Maine was held on Oct 12, 153 people attended and 32 spoke. Generally most liked the NE DPS but wanted full protection under the Act. The last hearing was held in Twin Falls, ID on Nov. 2. A total of about 40 people attended and 15 spoke. Most were pro-wolf who wanted more protection for wolves in more places under the ESA.
Public comments, including all testimony will be analyzed this fall/winter and a final decision should be made and finalized by July 2001.
Fontaine gave 2 presentations to about 25 teenagers and teachers at the Alternative Youth Adventure school in Boulder on Nov. 8th.
I am in Yellowstone now, as of this morning 06 Feb 98, seven wolves of the Druid Peak Pack were visible on Mt. Norris at dawn. Telemetry signals could not be picked up by the Wolf Project staff from the Rose Creek or Leopold Packs. Also, there is a fresh kill 30 yards off the road near the Institute / Ranger Station in Lamar. I could not believe the number of coyotes today - singles and coyote packs in all directions. We also observed great interactions with five coyotes arguing over a front leg from the carcass. The end result was the dominant animal eating the leg 40 yards from our car.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service on 03 Feb 99. As of this date, 110 wolves, comprised of eleven packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area. About 9 packs have established territory within Yellowstone National Park as well as Grant Teton National Park. Two packs currently inhabit areas near the border of Yellowstone.
The Chief Joseph I Pack is inhabiting the northwest area of Yellowstone. Two pups from this pack have been hit by vehicles along US Highway 191 in the past three months.
The Chief Joseph II Pack has been located just north of Yellowstone.
Biologists have been puzzled by who bred the alpha female of this pack in 1998. A large male estimated to be 1.5 to 2.5 years old was captured and collared with this pack during this years collaring efforts. It is almost certain that he is the mate to the alpha female of this pack. Because of the uncertainty of his age, it had not clear if he was breeding male last February.
The Crystal Creek Pack has been located in the Pelican Valley area just north of Yellowstone Lake.
The Druid Peak Pack has recently been located in Lamar Valley in the northeast area of Yellowstone.
Wolf 104M a dispersing male from the Druid Peak Pack has been located with the Crystal Creek Pack and is their new Alpha Male
The Leopold Pack is on the Blacktail Deer Plateau area in the northern portion of the park.
The Nez Perce Pack has been located in the west central area of Yellowstone.
The alpha male of this pack has dispersed for unknown reasons.
Since he has left the pack, he has been located with a female yearling from the Thorofare Pack in Grand Teton National Park, south of Yellowstone.
A third wolf has also been sighted with these two wolves.
These wolves have been temporarily been named the Jackson Trio.
The Rose Creek Pack has been located west of Lamar Valley in the northern range of Yellowstone.
The Soda Butte Pack, has moved north of Grand Teton National Park, near Yellowstone.
A female from this pack, number 24F has dispersed from the pack. She has been located with a male from the Washakie pack. These two wolves are currently inhabiting the Teton Wilderness.
They have been temporarily name the Teton Pair.
The Sunlight Pack, number 41F and number 52M, were last located just east of Yellowstone in the Sunlight Basin.
As of this time, 51 wolves are currently radio collared in the Yellowstone area. Collaring efforts are currently in progress. So far, 11 pups, 5 yearlings and one adult in six packs in Yellowstone's northern range have been collared since operations began on 12 Jan 99. The goal is to collar 25 to 30 wolves in the great Yellowstone area.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on 03 Feb 99. As of this date, 110 wolves, comprised of eleven packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area. About 9 packs have established territory within Yellowstone National Park as well as Grant Teton National Park. Two packs currently inhabit areas near the border of Yellowstone.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service as of 30 Jun 98. As of this date, 113 wolves (this includes wolves and this years pups) comprised of ten packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area.
Eight of the ten packs have established territory in Yellowstone or just bordering the park.
The ninth pack, the Washakie Pack, continues to inhabit national forest land in and around the Dunoir Valley south of Yellowstone. The alpha female 26F and a yearling of the Washakie Pack were killed on 21 Jun 98 in a management action by wildlife services (they was preying on livestock), four yearlings of the pack remain. It is hoped that these wolves will leave Dunoir Valley and find better habitat away from the ranch land. During a recent flight the four yearlings were still located in Dunoir Valley.
The tenth pair, number 41F and number 52M, have been located just east of Yellowstone in the Sunlight Basin.
The Leopold Pack has recently moved south of the Blacktail Plateau to a rendezvous site.
The Nez Perce Pack was released from their acclimation pen on Monday, 22 Jun 98. Wolf projects crews have been monitoring the movements of this pack since their release. The project crew has observed this pack move to the den site of wolf number 29F and number 48M, the Nez Perce pair, which has denned near the Nez Perce Creek area and has probably produced pups. This behavior is a probable indication that this group will form one pack.
The five yearling pups of the Thorofare Pack have recently been located in the Thorofare region of Yellowstone.
The Soda Butte Pack, has also been located in the Thorofare region a few miles away from the Thorofare Pack.This pack has not produced pups this year.
During a recent telemetry flight biologists discovered the radio collar of lone female wolf 111F in mortality mode in the Washburn region in Yellowstone. The cause of death of this yearling had not been determined until a necropsy has been completed.
Yellowstone Wolf Pups
With the 1998 denning season in full swing, wolf project field crews have observed six packs or females with pups of the year.
Chief Joseph Pack
It has been confirmed the alpha female of the Chief Joseph Pack has at least seven pups.
Crystal Creek Pack
The Crystal Creek Pack has been observed by air crews in the Pelican Valley region of Yellowstone (just north of Yellowstone Lake), with one pup.
Leopold Pack
Biologists have observed the Leopold Pack with five pups.
Nez Perce Pack
Female wolf number 67F of the Nez Perce Pack has whelped and is caring for four pups.
Rose Creek Pack
The famous female wolf number 9F (alpha female of the Rose Creek Pack) and her daughter number 18F have been observed by wolf project field crews with ten pups. They were probably both bred by the alpha male, wolf number 8M. These two wolves shared the same den, which is very uncommon in the wild. The Rose Creek Pack has now moved away from their den to a rendezvous site far into the Yellowstone backcountry. This will be number 9's forth litter of pups since first being reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995. Last year both female wolves (number 9F and 18F of the Rose Creek Pack) had pups, but they denned in two different areas.
Lone Wolf
In addition number 16F, a lone female, has also been observed with six pups. Biologists have not determined which wolf has bred her.
In all 32 pups in six packs have been observed by field and air crews. It is expected that as many as 50 pups will be born in the Yellowstone ecosystem this year.
This information is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on 06 Oct 00. As of this date, 165 to 185 wolves, comprised of about 16 packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area.
In the Yellowstone Ecosystem, the estimated maximum wolves are 165-185 wolves. This includes - 11 breeding pairs, 2 maybe or likely, and 3 non breeding pairs.
Breeding pairs or packs are - Druid Peak, Rose Creek, Leopold, Chief Joseph, Nez Perce, Soda Butte, Gros Ventre, Sunlight Basin, Absorka (#153), #152 group, and Taylor Peaks ( #115 Group). Maybe/likely is Beartooth (#9) and Wall Creek (uncollared).
Packs that didn't breed are Crystal Creek, Sheep Mountain (3 males in captivity), and Teton.
A rancher in Wyoming was issued a permit and ammunition to shoot wolves on his property. The less-than-lethal ammunition (a bean bag round) can be fired from a 12 gauge shotgun. It has a range of over 100 yards but is only accurate at less than 50m. The shotgun shells contain a lead filled bean bag that is designed to provide some non-lethal negative reinforcement and condition them to stay away from the ranch house, barn, or calving pasture.
A new take permit was issued to one sheep producer, who had earlier received one of two 45-day permits to shoot a wolf in the act of physically attacking sheep. The old permits expired August 24th and were never used. While there have been no further problems, wolves continue to be reported in the area by hunters and the herders, and the permit allows a problem wolf to be taken on this remote Forest Service allotment in the Yellowstone Experimental Population area. The sheep are moving off the allotment now. The new permit, allows one wolf that is seen attacking sheep to be shot. It expires October 15.
The "training" of wolves to avoid cattle as prey will begin the final round of testing this month. The program is a cooperative one between USDA Wildlife Services (Dr. John Shivik leads the research), the Service (who coordinates overall program), Turner Endangered Species Fund (cares for the wolves, provides logistic support, will assist with post release monitoring), National Park Service (provided the pen and will help with post-release monitoring), Defenders of Wildlife (supports aversive conditioning), and University of Montana (study design and expertise). The 3 wolves from the Sheep Mountain pack will be exposed to cattle (calves) again to see if they continue to avoid them. During twice weekly wolf feedings, members of the press will be allowed to accompany the TESF biologist.
During the first trails none of the wolves were suspected of attacking cattle. A calf was finally left in the pen overnight and was apparently undisturbed by the wolves, even thought they had not been recently fed . During the other trials wolves also did not even approach any of the calves placed in the pen. We are uncertain if this is because these wolves are simply are too shy to attack large prey while in the pen, or because of a single apparent training event by 1 wolf. That wolf had approached a calf hide with triggering transmitter on it, when it jumped back- suggesting its' collar may have been triggered. The other 2 wolves watched it approach the calf hide. None of them approached the hide after that incident. It is possible that this resulted in all 3 wolves avoiding anything smelling like cattle. The standard dog (Pet-Safe brand- no endorsement by the federal Government is to be implied) training collar is suspected of only being triggered on that one instance. Unfortunately the collars did not have a counting device to show how many times they may have been triggered, something that WS is attempting to add to future experiments. The study results so far indicate wolves may be quick social learners and one experience by one wolf may be quickly learned by other wolves who have simply watched. If these early encouraging results continue to indicate these wolves' lack of interest in cattle, the 3 wolves will be radio-collared and released in mid-October back in the original Sheep Mountain pack territory north of Gardiner, MT. If they depredate on livestock again they will be killed.
Information and Education and Law Enforcement
The week of October 15th is National Wolf Awareness Week. We have 100's of the posters (drawing of Mexican wolf on front and national distribution map and information on back) to display if anyone (agency or educators only please) wants them. They are great to hand out to classrooms, etc., if you are doing that type of thing. Call 406-449-5225 x204.
The proposal can be accessed at http://midwest.fws.gov/wolf. The 120-day public comment period ends NOVEMBER 13th.
Anyone wanting to be placed on the Service's mailing list should write to US Fish and Wildlife Service, Gray Wolf Review, 1 Federal Dr., Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056, use the [email protected] email address, or phone 612-713-7337. A final decision is likely in July 2001. All comments on the proposal should be sent to [email protected] or by mail to:
Content Analysis Team, Wolf Comments, 200 East Broadway, P.O. Box 7669, Room 301, Missoula, MT 59807.
Public hearings will be held at the same locations as the informational meetings to hear testimony from the public. A hearing officer will run the meetings and comments will be recorded by a court recorder. People wishing to give testimony can sign up for the random drawing one hour before each session.
Hearings will be held 1:00 - 3:00 PM and 6:00 - 8:00 PM in:
Salt Lake City, UT on Oct. 12th at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center
Helena, MT on Oct. 18th at Cavanaugh's Colonial Inn-Best Western
Denver (Lakewood), CO on Oct. 26th at the Holiday Inn at Hampden
Spokane, WA on Oct. 17th; Everett, WA on Oct. 19th
Portland, OR on Oct. 24th
LaGrande, OR on Oct. 26
Boise, ID on Oct. 31 (Halloween)
Idaho Falls, ID on November 2
Hearings in the Midwest include:
October 10, 2000 - Madison, Wisconsin
October 16, 2000 - East Lansing, Michigan
October 17, 2000 - Marquette, Michigan
October 18, 2000 - Duluth, Minnesota
New England area:
October 12, 2000 - Orono, Maine
Bangs and Smith gave presentations to about 100 people at the Predator Conservation Alliance conference "Predators, People, and Places: Finding a Balance" at the Mammoth Hotel in Yellowstone National Park on the 7th.
Smith gave a talk to about 25 members of a business group "Leadership Bozeman" at Big Sky Resort on the 5th. He met with MSU and TESF representatives in Bozeman to discuss possible research in and around Yellowstone National Park on the 4th.
USFWS employees Fontaine, Meier, office assistance Greg Strandberg, volunteer Daly Sheldon, and Val Asher (TESF), and some volunteers arranged by Defenders helped build a woven wire fence in the Tom Miner Basin. The fencing was purchased by the cooperating landowner and Defenders of Wildlife. MT DFW&P bear depredation specialist Mike Madel visited the ranch last month and helped design the night pasture to protect the ranch's sheep and guard dogs from the Chief Joseph pack. That pack regularly visits that part of their home range and have killed guard dogs and sheep on several occasions. Fencing is hopefully part of a long term solution to what was becoming a chronic problem.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on 05 Nov 99. As of this date, 160 wolves, comprised of about 12 packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area. About 9 packs have established territory within Yellowstone National Park as well as Grant Teton National Park. Three packs currently inhabit wilderness areas in the Yellowstone ecosystem. There are currently nine breeding pairs in the Yellowstone ecosystem.
On 29 Jul 99, the appeal of the ruling by Judge Downes to remove the wolves from Yellowstone and central Idaho was heard. Oral arugments were heard by a three judge panel at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colorado. A decision on the case was not made at that time. A ruling on the appeal is expected within three to nine months.
The 1997 court ruling by Judge Downes has not altered operations by the wolf project staff. Monitoring, management and study of Yellowstone wolves is proceeding as planned.
The Chief Joseph Pack is inhabiting the northwest area of Yellowstone.
The Druid Peak Pack is located in the Lamar Valley area in the northeast section of Yellowstone.
The Sheep Mountain Pack (Formerly the Chief Joseph II Pack), has been located just north of Yellowstone.
The Soda Butte Pack, has been located along the southern border of Yellowstone.
They have been named the Teton Pack.
The Washakie II Pack, (a newly formed and named pack) has been inhabiting the area known as the Washakie Wilderness. It is possible that two to three wolves are members of the old Washakie and/or old Thorofare Packs.
The Gros Ventre Pack (formerly the Jackson Trio), has been located in the Teton Wilderness area.
The Teton Pack, has been located in the Grand Teton National Park area.
Twelve females in ten packs have produced pups in the Yellowstone ecosystem. They are:
Chief Joseph PackCrystal Creek PackDruid Peak PackGros Ventre PackLeopold PackNez Perce PackRose Creek Pack (three dens)Sheep Mountain PackSunlight Basin PackTeton Pack
Sixty-four (64) pups in ten packs have been observed by wildlife biologists.
Visitors are reminded that denning areas are closed to help protect the pups and the packs. Please check at any visitor center in Yellowstone or Grand Teton for closure areas.
There have been two confirmed wildlife depredations on livestock just north of Yellowstone. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and National Park Wildlife Services recently removed 6 wolves from the Sheep Mountain Pack. The alpha male was put down as it is believed that he was the leader of the depredation.
Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Michael Finley announced today that beginning 11 Jan 1999, weather permitting, park biologists plan to capture and radio-collar approximately 25 to 30 free-ranging wolves from 10 different wolf packs in the greater Yellowstone area. The capture and radio-collaring project is a part of the monitoring and recovery plan approved in 1995 and underway since then. During last year's wolf-collaring project, 27 wolves from 7 packs were captured and radio-collared, bringing the total to 35 radio-collared wolves in the greater Yellowstone area.
Wolves were reintroduced to the park in January 1995 (14 wolves) and 1996 (17 wolves) as a non-essential experimental population under the Endangered Species Act. The reintroduction program is doing better than predicted, with approximately 130 pups born over the reintroduction period and currently a total of 120 free-ranging wolves that reside mainly in the park. Federal law requires that a recovered gray wolf population be documented in each of three recovery areas (Yellowstone, central Idaho, and northwestern Montana) before they can be removed from the endangered species list. (A recovered population is defined as a minimum of 10 pairs of wolves breeding for 3 successive years in each of the recovery areas.) The radio-collaring project will enable park biologists to continue to track reintroduced wolves and their offspring and to determine if and when a recovered wolf population has been achieved.
All capture attempts will be accomplished by helicopter dart gunning in a safe and humane manner. Processing will include radio collaring, blood extraction, weighing, sex determination, and condition evaluation. Collared animals will be released at point of capture. The goal is to capture 30 to 50 percent of the pups in each pack and replace or install collars on the two lead adults in each pack.
Hawkins and Powers of Greybull, Wyoming, was the successful competitive helicopter bidder for the wolf collaring project. Staff from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Animal Damage Control, will do the dart gunning. All capture operations will be overseen by and coordinated with the Yellowstone Wolf Project staff and the park's Fire Cache (helicopter operations). This is a National Park Service Press Release.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on 06 May 99. As of this date, 110 wolves, comprised of eleven packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area. About 8 packs have established territory within Yellowstone National Park as well as Grant Teton National Park. Three packs currently inhabit areas near the border of Yellowstone.
The Chief Joseph I Pack is inhabiting the northwest area of Yellowstone.
The Jackson Trio Pack, has been located in the Grand Teton National Park area.
The Teton Duo Pack, has been located in the Teton Wilderness.
Eleven females in ten packs have likely denned and produced pups in the Yellowstone ecosystem. They are:
Chief Joseph PackCrystal Peak PackDruid Peak PackJackson Trio PackLeopold PackNez Perce PackRose Creek Pack (two dens)Sheep Mountain PackSunlight Basin PackTeton Duo Pack
Visitors are reminded that denning areas are closed to help protect the pups and the packs. Please check at any visitor center for closure areas.
May 13th, has been set as the date to hear the appeal of Judge Downes ruling to remove the wolves from Yellowstone and central Idaho. Lawyers from both sides will give oral arguments in the appeal of this ruling.
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colorado will hear the argument. No decision will be made at that time regarding the case.
A total of 24 wolves have recently been radio collared in an effort to better understand population dynamics of wolves in the Yellowstone ecosystem. This valuable data will help wolf biologists in determining the delisting of the wolves in the Rocky Mountain Region. This collaring effort brings the total collared wolves in Yellowstone to 54. In 1999 - 12 pups, 9 yearlings, 3 adults in 7 packs in Yellowstone's ecosystem were collared.
Reported by Bill Hamblin - three wolves (probably the Druid Peak Pack) were seen on Tuesday, 09 Sep 97 from the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek.
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
