This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as of 01 Sep 98. As of this date, 120 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 Pack is inhabiting the northwest corner of Yellowstone.
The alpha male of this pack, number 06M, recently died on natural causes this past week. The exact type of death has not been determined until a necropsy has been completed.
Wolf number 67F of the Nez Perce Pack had been involved in two depredations in the past and was recently located very near cattle again in the Centennial Valley west of Yellowstone, she was killed by Wildlife Services on Saturday, 22 Aug 98.
Yellowstone Wolf Pups
Wolf project field crews have observed eight females in seven packs 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.
The Crystal Creek Pack has been observed by air crews in the Pelican Valley region of Yellowstone (just north of Yellowstone Lake), with nine pups.
The Druid Peak Pack has been observed with two pups (one black and one gray).
Biologists have observed the Leopold Pack with five pups.
In addition number 16F, a lone female, has also been observed with six pups. Biologists have not determined which wolf has bred her.
The Nez Perce Pack is caring for at least four pups which belonged to female wolf number 67F. The alpha female wolf, number 048F, has likely produced pups as well, although no pups have been observed by wolf project field crews.
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.
In all 43 pups in seven packs have been observed by field and air crews.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on 13 Jan 99. As of this date, 115 to 120 wolves, comprised of about 11 packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area. This estimate is down from the mid-summer count of 160 individual wolves due to natural mortality and control measures. About 8 packs have established territory within Yellowstone National Park as well as Grand Teton National Park. Three packs currently inhabit wilderness areas in the Yellowstone ecosystem. There are currently eight breeding pairs in the Yellowstone ecosystem.
The Chief Joseph Pack is inhabiting the northwest area of Yellowstone.
The Crystal Creek Pack has been located in the Pelican Valley area just north of Yellowstone Lake.
The Druid Peak Pack is located in the Lamar Valley area in the northeast section of Yellowstone.
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 Rose Creek Pack has been located west of Lamar Valley in the northern range 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 in the Thorofare wilderness area.
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 named the Teton Pack.
The Sunlight Pack, number 41F and number 52M, were last located just east of Yellowstone in the Sunlight Basin.
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 Wilderness area near Grand Teton National Park.
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. It is estimated that 38 of these pups are still alive as of this date.
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.
Because of two confirmed livestock depredations just north of Yellowstone, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and Wildlife Services 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.
Two wolves of the Chief Joseph pack were removed due to depredation of six sheep.
A collaring operation is scheduled for January 2000. The goal is to collar approximately 20 wolves in the ecosystem. Currently 46 wolves or 32% of the total wolf population, are collared in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.
This information is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
GRAY WOLF RECOVERY STATUS REPORTS
From: Gray Wolf Recovery Coordinator, Helena, MT - 02 Nov 2001
Subject: Status of Gray Wolf Recovery
Monitoring
Famous Yellowstone female wolf #9 (whose radio-collar is dead) was seen this week with 2 other adults and 3 pups in the Beartooth pack. The pups are assumed to be from her daughter, who is the pack’s alpha female. Wolf #9 is nearly white and lags behind the pack but still hanging in there. No attempts will be made to re-collar her.
Please report wolf sightings!! If hunters report evidence of wolves to you please pass that information along to the Service.
Control
A small dog (registered Pomeranian) was killed by a wolf near Kemmerer, WY. Apparently the dog ran out toward another animal in the front yard around noon and was grabbed. The owners scared the wolf off and it dropped the dog, but it was dead. Near the same area 2 border collie type dogs were also injured, probably by the same wolf(s). Both survived but one is in very serious condition. Attempts are being made to capture and collar the wolf to determine if any other wolves may have been involved. Unconfirmed reports suggest more than one wolf may be in the area. Sheep were killed by a lone wolf in this area during the summer and lethal control may be re-authorized.
In the Dunior Valley (near Dubios, WY) a McNab-type collie was killed at a house a few miles from the 2001 Washakie pack den. Lethal control was reinitiated since this pack also killed livestock this summer. Earlier attempts to remove 2-3 uncollared pack members were postponed because of the big game hunting season which has now ended. WS began trapping this week, if unsuccessful aerial gunning will be considered.
Research
Nothing new to report.
Information and Education and Law Enforcement
A hunter reported finding a dead wolf in the Gravelly Range. Its carcass was recovered and its death is under investigation by law enforcement.
A gray female pup was accidentally killed in a snare set for coyotes in Idaho. The wolf was found on private land near Driggs, just west of Grand Teton National Park. The incident was immediately reported and law enforcement is investigating. The experimental population rules allow for the accidental taking of wolves during otherwise legal activities. This incident is of particular interest because no known wolf packs/dens are documented near that area.
On the 30th, the Service’s Portland and Denver Regional Offices, Snake River Basin Field Office in Boise, and the Recovery Coordinator participated in a conference call to discuss coordination of wolf recovery issues in the northwestern US and on the national wolf reclassification proposal.
The Defenders of Wildlife is sponsoring "CARNIVORES 2002" in Monterey, CA November 17-20, 2002. The Conference will address issues and research on all carnivores, including cats, dogs, bears, mesocarnivores, marine, and avian. For more information see www.defenders.org/carnivores2002. The deadline for abstracts and session suggestions is February 2002. The Carnivores 2000 Conference was very successful and selected proceedings were published in a special edition of the Endangered Species Update, July/August 2001, Vol 18(4):93-192.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on 08 Sep 99. As of this date, 167 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.
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 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 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.
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.
A third wolf has also been sighted with these two wolves.
The Soda Butte Pack, has been located along the southern border of Yellowstone.
The Gros Ventre Pack (formerly the Jackson Trio), has been located in the Teton Wilderness area.
Fifty-eight (58) pups in ten packs have been observed by wildlife biologists.
Pack Information
In the Yellowstone Experimental Area (estimated 140 wolves) in 16 packs - 11 probable breeding pairs, 1 maybe/likely, and 4 that did not breed.
Packs that breed are:
#152 Group (2 adults + 5 pups)Absorka (#153) (2 adults + 3 - 5 pups)Chief Joseph (6 adults + 6 pups)Druid Peak (7 adults + 20 pups)Gros Ventre (3 - 4 adults + 3 - 4pups)Leopold (3 - 5 adults + 8 - 10 pups)Nez Perce (14 adults + 8 pups)Rose Creek (16 adults + 11 pups)Soda Butte (6 adults + 7 pups)Sunlight Basin (6 adults + 4 pups)Taylor Peaks (#115 Group) (est. of 3 adults + 4 pups).
Maybe/likely is the Wall Creek/Gravelly pack (uncollared).
Packs that didn't breed are:
Beartooth (#9)Crystal CreekSheep Mtn (3 males)Teton
Recent observations by local ranchers suggest there may be a pack of up to 7 wolves north of the Sheep Mountain territory in the Paradise Valley. Telemetry monitoring of the released Sheep Mtn. Trio should sort that out quickly. Initial snow tracking by volunteers in Wyoming indicates that the Beartooth pack (famous old #9 and her mate) did not successfully raise young this year and only 2 sets of tracks have been seen.
This winter National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Nez Perce Tribal biologists will cooperatively helicopter dart wolves in packs throughout the 3 states in an effort to increase radio-collaring and monitoring of wolves. Capture efforts will start in December, depending on weather and intensify starting in January. In addition, use of a draw bait and neck snares with safety locks will be used opportunistically to place radios in several uncollared new packs.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on 14 Jan 99. As of this date, 112 wolves, comprised of eleven packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area. All eleven 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 two 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 Hayden Valley in the east central portion 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.
These wolves have been temporarily been named the Jackson Trio.
The Rose Creek Pack has been located west of Lamar Valley.
The Soda Butte Pack, has also been located north of Jackson, Wyoming on the elk refuge.
They have been temporarily name the Teton Pair.
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, 43 wolves are currently radio collared in the Yellowstone area. Collaring efforts are currently in progress. It is possible that 10 yearlings 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 US Fish and Wildlife Service as of 27 May 98. As of this date, 82 wolves comprised of ten packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area. Eight of the ten packs have established territory in Yellowstone or just bordering the park. Although one of these groups, the Soda Butte Pack, has just been located near Moran Junction in Grand Teton National Park. This pack has traveled to this area in the past, although they have always returned to the Heart Lake area in Yellowstone. The ninth pack, the Washakie Pack, continues to inhabit national forest land in and around the Dunoir Valley south of Yellowstone. The tenth pair, number 41 a female and number 52 a male, have been located just east of Yellowstone in the Sunlight Basin. The Nez Perce Pack is currently in an acclimation pen awaiting release in June of this year.
Wolf number 029M, having escaped the Nez Perce enclosure, has been seen with wolf number 48F a lone female wolf. It has been confirmed that 48F has denned in the Nez Perce pen and has produced pups.
Five pups from the Thorofare Pack were orphaned this past February. The Alpha male from this pack has apparently been killed in an inter-pack struggle with the neighboring Soda Butte Pack. The Alpha female has also apparently died, her radio collar is emitting a mortality signal from under an avalanche. Biologists do not know if the two deaths are connected until they are able to retrieve the carcass of the female. The yearlings have been located on the south fork of the Shoshone River southeast of Yellowstone.
It has been confirmed the alpha female of the Chief Joseph pack has at least seven pups. Female wolf number 67F has four pups in the Nez Perce pen. 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 new pups. They were probably both bred by the alpha male, wolf number 8M. These two wolves are sharing the same den, which is very uncommon in the wild. 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. It is expected that as many as 50 pups will be born in the Yellowstone ecosystem this year.
On Sunday, 16 Nov 97, federal officials killed a male wolf that had been preying on cattle in the local area. This happened outside the park in the DuNoir Valley area south of Yellowstone. The rest of the pack are still on the loose and officials are trying to catch the other six wolves. This pack consisted of the alpha male and female and fives pups that were born this spring. The specific pack was not named in the press release, but it looks like it is the Washakie pack. I will post more info as it becomes available.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. As of this report, there are approximately 97 wolves consisting of nine packs inhabiting the great Yellowstone area. Seven packs have established territories within Yellowstone. The eighth pack, the Washakie Pack, is inhabiting national forest land in the DuNoir Valley south of Yellowstone. The last pack, the Nez Perce Pack, is currently in an acclimation pen awaiting release some time in January 1998. This pack is being re-acclimated because they traveled west of the park twice, the first time apparently depredating on livestock. The hope is that this acclimation period will keep the pack closer to the Yellowstone ecosystem after release. A lone wolf, number 63, a female yearling, was recently shot after it was determined that she depredated on livestock for the second time. This happened north of Yellowstone on the Beartooth front.
Pack Information and Monitoring
Thirty breeding pair recovery goal was met in 2000. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has now confirmed that in 2000 there were 30 breeding pairs of wolves in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, making last year the first year of the 3 year count down toward achieving the 30 breeding pair recovery. This year 2001, will be the second year of the 3 year count down to meeting the delisting criteria of 30 breeding pairs distributed throughout Montana. Idaho and Wyoming for 3 successive years. If the wolf population remains at or above 30 breeding pair this year and in 2002 (which is highly likely) - the wolf recovery goal will be met December 31, 2002. The delisting process, including extensive public involvement, could be proposed in early 2003, assuming all 3 state wolf conservation plans are in place. Thanks to WS (Mike Svedin, Justin Mann, and Rick Williamson) and the Nez Perce Tribal biologists for continuing great work and follow-up.
All wolf packs appear to be in their normal home ranges. Very little movement and activity this time of year with the packs localized around the rendezvous sites.
Nothing to report on Yellowstone wolf packs.
On the 14th, Bangs met with Turner Endangered Species Fund biologists in Bozeman to discuss the USDA Wildlife Services - led aversive conditioning research as well as the future potential use of the TESF facility and personnel. So far the TESF has been a tremendous asset to managing wolves and potential conflicts with private lands in SW Montana.
The Fall 2001 issue of "International Wolf - The Global Challenge of Living with Wolves" contained short articles by Meier (Wolves of the World [US]) and Bangs (Wolf Management Zoning) as well as several other subjects (control, non-lethal methods, wolves and public land grazing, benefits of livestock ranching in the west, value of wild lands, etc.). Copies of the Meier or Bangs articles can be faxed to agency cooperators that are interested. Please leave your FAX number at [email protected].
Meier attended a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 1 biologist meeting at Logan State Park near Kalispell, MT on the 12th. Tom gave a presentation about the wolf recovery program to about 70 people.
Niemeyer and Boise office field supervisor Bob Ruesink spoke to approximately 80 people at a meeting about living with large carnivores. The meeting was held on the 14th in Boise, Idaho and was hosted by the Idaho Environmental Forum. Information about brown bears, black bears, and mountain lions was presented by state and federal biologists.
I am encouraged by the decision of the Supreme Court Monday, January 11, not to review the federal court of appeals's decision in the McKittrick case, involving the illegal killing of a gray wolf near Yellowstone National Park.
The lower courts in this litigation made clear that the Fish & Wildlife Service's reintroduction of the gray wolf in the Yellowstone region was lawful, and that the killing of one of these wolves was illegal and warranted punishment of the perpetrator. The Supreme Court's denial of a writ of certiorari in this case leaves that judgment intact.
The outcome of this litigation sends a clear signal that our legal system will protect reintroduced wild wolves, that those who violate these laws will be punished, and that, at long last, the howl of healthy populations of wild wolves will once again be heard in their historic natural habitat in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico.
Click Here to view Press Release
Click Here to view Wolf Decision Press Release.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as of 11 Sep 98. As of this date, 120 wolves (this includes wolves and this years pups) comprised of ten packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area.
The Chief Joseph I Pack is inhabiting the northwest corner of Yellowstone.
The Chief Joseph II Pack has moved into the northern range of Yellowstone.
The alpha male of this pack, number 06M, recently died on natural causes. The exact cause of death has not been determined until a necropsy has been completed.
Wolf number 67F of the Nez Perce Pack had been involved in two depredations in the past and was located very near cattle again in the Centennial Valley west of Yellowstone, she was killed by Wildlife Services on Saturday, 22 Aug 98.
One collared wolf is still located in the Thorofare Region.
Another collared wolf has been located west of Yellowstone Lake.
Yellowstone National Park biologists report that they have successfully captured and radio collared 12 wolves from 5 packs in and near the park during the first phase of this year's project. The goal this year is to capture and radio collar approximately 25 to 30 free ranging wolves from 11 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.
As we all know, some risk is involved in handling wildlife. During the operation on Sunday afternoon (17 Jan) in the Slough Creek area, a female pup (one of a litter of 10) from the Rose Creek pack was injured and had to later be euthanized. In a fluke accident, the dart hit the animal in the hind leg directly on the leg bone, causing a compound fracture to the tibia. Before the decision was made to euthanize the animal, it was examined by two veterinarians who felt the injury was very severe. There was low likelihood the animal would avoid infection, be successfully treated and be able to be returned to the wild after treatment, especially during the winter months when wolf packs tend to move long distances through heavy snowpack. Since wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone in 1995, 57 animals have been captured and radio-collared without any injuries.
The capture and radio collaring project will continue in another week. 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, is the helicopter operator for the wolf collaring project. Experienced staff from the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, and USDA Wildlife Services will continue to do the darting. All capture operations are being 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.
The alpha female of the Druid pack reportedly denned April 4 and most other females have since gone into dens. The Taylor Peak female was laying by what look to be a freshly excavated den on the 7th. The Washakie wolf was located by the old den on the 9th. Packs in the Sunlight Basin are also near last year's dens. Flights are being conducted to monitor and locate other packs that have apparently denned. This year seems a little earlier than past years but maybe the wolves are just adjusting to being farther south. The average den date for NW MT was around April 21 but it appears that most will have denned prior to that date this year. A flight in the Ninemile Valley indicated the alpha female was near a historic den site and separated from other pack members. The Boulder alpha male and a yearling were not located and the other radioed yearling was in its normal home range but alone.
Five members of the Gros Ventre pack including the old light-colored male killed an elk near the road in the Gros Ventre drainage. The alpha female was absent and is presumed to be denning. They were observed for much of the day on the 17th. Attempts will be made this summer to trap near the den and reestablish radio contact with this pack. A group of 3 unradioed wolves continue to be reported near Togowtee Pass.
On the morning of the 14th, members of the Gravely pack attacked sheep on private land next to the Blacktail Game range northeast of Dillon, MT. Wildlife Services confirmed 8 ewes were killed and another 7 may have been wounded. Lambing will start in the next week. A herder reported that 5 wolves came near the sheep again over the weekend but were driven off. On the 18th, WS caught, radioed and released an unmarked gray adult male, assumed to be the alpha. We are tracking the radioed wolf and figure out how many wolves there are and what to do to prevent further problems.
Right now we are monitoring the Chief Joseph pack after harassing them and scent marking their 2000 den site in the Paradise Valley area. Chief Joseph moved back into the Park on the 10th and all the radioed pack members were still by their old den site. On the 15th fresh dirt was seen near their old den in the Park and the female has localized in that area. More recent information indicates she has denned in the Park near the pack's historic den. So maybe it (harassment) worked! A special thanks to the Turner Endangered Species Fund biologists for keeping on top of this one- looks like their diligent efforts paid off.
On the 17th of April, Wildlife Service trapped and euthanized the lone wolf that had been killing sheep and cattle along the East Front west of Augusta, MT since last year. The unmarked black adult male had an old injury to his mouth and had lost a canine and other teeth. The pelt was rubbed but the skull will be saved for educational purposes.
A lone depredating wolf near Pinedale, WY killed a calf in the same general vicinity as previous depredations. Wildlife Services is flying the area and shoot that wolf as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on 16 Feb 99. As of this date, 111 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.
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. Because of the uncertainty of his age, it had not clear if he was breeding male last February. In addition, a despersing male from the Crystal Creek Pack has recently been located with this pack. Which is or will become the breeding male has yet to be seen.
The Soda Butte Pack, has moved north into the central area of Yellowstone.
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 recent collaring effort brings the total collared wolves in Yellowstone to 55. In 1999 - 12 pups, 9 yearlings, 3 adults in 7 packs in Yellowstone's northern range have been collared.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service as of 15 May 98. Wolf number 029M, having escaped the Nez Perce enclosure, has been seen with wolf number 48F a lone female wolf. It has been confirmed that 48F has denned and therefore has likely produced pups.
With the 1998 denning season in full swing, wolf project field crews have observed six of the ten packs showing signs of producing pups. It is expected that as many as 40 to 50 pups will be born into the Yellowstone ecosystem this year. 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 eleven new pups. They were probably both bred by the alpha male, wolf number 8M. These two wolves are sharing the same den, which is very uncommon in the wild. 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.
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