Some very sad news today, U.S. District Judge William Downes ruled that the wolves in Yellowstone and central Idaho have been illegally introduced and have to be removed. See CNN coverage on the ruling. The judge stated that the wolves that were brought in, are causing a problem with the wolves in Montana that were naturally migrating south and protected under the endangered species act. And that if these were wolves that had naturally migrated to these areas, no one could kill them no matter what they did. He ruled that the reintroduced wolves have to be removed from both Yellowstone and central Idaho. He then stayed his order pending an appeal that would naturally follow. We need any and all help we can possibly generate to see that judge Downes ruling is overturned. Thank you!
The following organizations sued for removal the wolves from Yellowstone and Idaho: the Farm Bureau of America and James and Cat Urbigkit of Pinedale, Wyoming. Please let these organizations know what you think of their suit and what they are having done to these wolves.
Please contact the President, Vice President, the First Lady, the Justice Department, the Governor of Wyoming, your senators and congressmen, anyone and everyone that you can think of that will listen and help to see this wrong changed. We let the government go in and exterminate the wolves in Yellowstone once before, let's not let it happen again! Your help is needed, and then get your family and neighbors and friends to help!
Please read the Wolf News Page and find out how you can help with this campaign.
Updated: 29 October 2002
This information is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
General Wolf Information
Snow tracking in Wyoming indicates that the Absaroka pack has 8-10 members and 4 pups. The Beartooth Pack has 5-7 members including pups, and they appear mange-free. However, the former alpha male #164, still apparently has bad case of mange.
Fontaine recovered the carcass of a gray female pup from the highway right-of-way about 4 miles north of Avon on the 21st. The carcass was found by some local ranchers who were moving livestock on the 18th. She was probably from the Halfway pack. We thank the ranchers and local Forest Service biologist for reporting the road-kill. Another wolf was reportedly killed on Highway 200 near Bonner on the 23rd and the next day a live wolf was reportedly seen in the same area.
On a flight on the 21st, Fontaine located a missing former Wildhorse wolf [SE of Stanley in central ID] near Drummond, MT. Local ranchers said they’ve seen wolf sign in the area for at least the past year but haven’t had any problems. It could be part of a pack since we have had reports of multiple wolves near here this summer.
Control
A ewe was killed by a wolf in the Ninemile Valley at the same place that has had several previous sheep losses. No control is planned at this time. The elk/deer rifle hunting season in MT starts 27 Oct and this area has been opened for either-sex white-tailed deer. The abundant supply of deer remains usually provides enough of a supplemental food source to reduce depredations.
Three ewes were killed on private land near Dillon, MT on the 22nd. The only radioed-collared wolf in the area was located nearby, but at least 2 other wolves, including a gray one, have been reported. Lethal control and a shoot-on-site permit were re-authorized. On the 24th, the radioed female and her pup (both black) were shot by WS. Agency control is completed unless further depredations are reported but the landowner still has a shoot-on-site permit that will remain active until 06 December.
Research
Nothing new to report.
Education, Information and Law Enforcement
Doug Smith is in Germany and gave a wolf presentation at the invitation of a German Wolf Conservation Group.
On the 23rd, Niemeyer and Mack met with a rancher in the Gold Fork pack territory to discuss his concerns. He has had several suspected but unconfirmed depredations and fears he will be many calves short when his round-up is completed.
The WY Fish & Game Commission meets in Jackson, WY on 28 Oct. The WY state wolf plan will be one of the topics that is presented and discussed.
On the 24th, Jimenez met with feeders from WY state elk winter feed-grounds from around WY. He discussed the 3 year study of elk and wolf relationships on the Gros Ventre feed-grounds. That basic data collection is being expanded to all WY elk feed-grounds. That effort is a cooperative project between the WY Game and Fish, Service and USDA Forest Service.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as of 23 Jun 98. As of this date, 112 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 of the Washakie Pack was killed on 21 Jun in a management action by wildlife management (she 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.
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.
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. 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 likely 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 were not located during a flight this past weekend. They were previously located in the Heart Lake Region of Yellowstone.
The Soda Butte Pack, has moved back into Yellowstone just south of Yellowstone Lake. This pack has not produced pups this year.
Yellowstone Wolf Pups
With the 1998 denning season in full swing, wolf project field crews have observed five packs or females with pups of the year.
It has been confirmed the alpha female of the Chief Joseph Pack has at least seven pups.
Female wolf number 67F of the Nez Perce Pack has whelped and is caring for four pups.
In addition number 16F, a lone female, has also been observed with six pups. Biologists have not determined which wolf has bred her.
During a recent flight over the weekend, biologists have observed the Leopold Pack with four pups.
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 31 pups in five packs have been observed by field crews. It is expected that as many as 50 pups will be born in the Yellowstone ecosystem this year.
According to rangers I talked with today, they are still unclear on the possible deaths of wolves in the Thorofare Pack. They had heard a report that a radio collar had been chewed off and thus they were picking up a mortality signal. The collars are built so that if an animal stops moving for a certain period of time, the signal changes and gives off what is called a mortality signal. If a collar was chewed off, after it remained motionless for a certain period of time, you would get the signal. This may mean two things, these wolves are very smart and don't like the collars and have figured a way to free themselves (well at least two have), and that possibly the alpha female is still alive. Hopefully the park service will find out what has happened and let us know. Again, the Thorofare Pack is in a very isolated area of Yellowstone and it may take a while to determine what exactly is going on with the pack. If the alpha female is alive, that would make it a good possibility that the pups will survive. Hope and pray for good news on this one.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service as of 18 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. Although one of these packs, the Soda Butte Pack has recently moved south of the park in the area of Grand Teton National Park. The eighth pack, the Washakie pack is inhabiting national forest land in the Du Noir Valley south of Yellowstone. The ninth pack, the Nez Perce Pack, is currently in an acclimation pen awaiting release some time in January 1998. Wolf #029 a male, has escaped the Nez Perce Pen enclosure and has been located in Hayden Valley. ADC officials claim wolf #037, who also escaped the Nez Perce Pen has committed her second offense in killing livestock, therefore she was recently shot when she left Yellowstone. Two member of the Druid Peak Pack has recently been illegally shot east of Yellowstone. This incident is still under investigation.
The recent 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.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service as of 27 Aug 98. As of this date, 119 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.
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 Centennial Valley west of Yellowstone, she was killed by Wildlife Services on Saturday, 22 Aug 98.
Wolf project field crews have observed seven packs or females with pups of the year.
Chief Joseph Pack
The Crystal Creek Pack has been observed by air crews in the Pelican Valley region of Yellowstone (just north of Yellowstone Lake), with eight 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.
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 42 pups in seven packs have been observed by field and air crews.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering up to a $ 1000.00 reward for information about the death of this wolf. This is another sad story of man's inhumanity to man. This wolf was not only taken from his pack, but from us - those who love wildlife and the great outdoors. When will we ever learn? This information was furnished by Yellowstone-Glacier Adventures, Inc.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on 22 Dec 99. As of this date, 116 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 9 packs have established territory within Yellowstone National Park as well as Grand Teton National Park. Two packs currently inhabit wilderness areas in the Yellowstone ecosystem. There are currently eight 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 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 National Park Service and the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service as of 23 Jul 98. As of this date, 118 wolves (this includes wolves and this years pups) comprised of eleven packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area.
Nine of the eleven packs have established territories in Yellowstone or just bordering the park.
The tenth pack, the Washakie Pack, continues to inhabit national forest land in and around the Dunoir Valley southeast 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 located southeast of Dunoir Valley.
The eleventh pair, the Sunlight Pack, 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. They have been able to monitor movements of all member of this pack except two wolves. 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.
Lone female wolf 111F was found dead in the Washburn region in Yellowstone. The cause of death of this yearling had not been determined until a necropsy has been completed.
A total of 27 wolves have been radio collared this year in an effort to better monitor, manage and study the animals. In all 40 wolves are currently collared in the Yellowstone area.
With the 1998 denning season in full swing, wolf project field crews have observed seven packs or females with pups of the year.
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 five pups.
Druid Peak Pack
The Druid Peak Pack has been observed with two pups (one black and one gray) in Lamar Valley.
Leopold Pack
Lone Wolf
Nez Perce Pack
It is very probably the Nez Perce pair have produced pups although wolf project crews have not observed them with offspring. Female wolf number 67F of the Nez Perce Pack has whelped and is caring for four pups.
Rose Creek Pack
In all 39 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 andWildlife Service as of 24 Aug 98. As of this date, 120 wolves (this includes wolves and this years pups) comprised of ten packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area.
The Crystal Creek Pack is inhabiting the Pelican Valley region of Yellowstone (just north of Yellowstone Lake).
The Druid Peak Pack has moved into Lamar Valley.
The Leopold Pack is south of the Blacktail Deer Plateau area in the northern portion of the park.
The Nez Perce Pack has been located south of Hayden Valley in the east central area of Yellowstone.
Wolf number 67F of the Nez Perce Pack had been involved in two depredations in the past and was recently located pursuing cattle again in Centennial Valley west of Yellowstone, she was killed by Wildlife Services on Saturday, 22 Aug 98.
The Rose Creek Pack has been located on the Buffalo Plateau area in northern Yellowstone.
The Sunlight Pack, number 41F and number 52M, have been located just east of Yellowstone in the Sunlight Basin.
The Thorofare Pack is located the Thorofare region of Yellowstone.
The Washakie Pack, has moved into the Thorofare Region.
After completing the necropsy of lone female wolf 111F, the cause of death of this yearling has been determined to be unknown.
A total of 27 wolves have been radio collared this year in an effort to better monitor, manage and study the animals. In all 39 wolves are currently collared in the Yellowstone area.
Female wolf number 019 was found dead in Lamar Valley. She was one of the first wolf pups born in Yellowstone in the spring of 1995. It is believed that her father was number 10, he was shot the spring of 1995 near Red Lodge, Montana. The alpha female and pups (#19 was one of the pups) were moved back into a pen and released in Oct of 95.
Wolf program personnel believe that she was killed by other wolves. She was a member of the Rose Creek Pack which we watched on Saturday evening in Lamar Valley (19 Apr 97).
Researchers picked up a mortality signal on Saturday but had some problems with the signal. Searchers found her on Tuesday in the Slough Creek area. This is just east of where we watched the pack this past weekend. To make this incident even sadder, she had just given birth to four pups. Biologists found a den with the dead pups. They had died from exposure and starvation without their mother.
Forty-four wolves are free ranging in and around Yellowstone. Five wolves are still in a holding pen to be released sometime this year. It is believed that anywhere from four to six packs may have pups this spring. The packs have started to display denning habits, so we should hopefully have some good news soon.
This information was provided by the National Park Service and Steve Braun.
Another very sad report today, I just received an email from Ralph Maughan about the shooting of our white wolf number 39. She was killed in Sunlight Basin, east of the park by some guy who thought, or claims to have thought she was a coyote. He turned himself in and the US Fish and Wildlife folks are figuring out what to do legally.
Number 39 was a great wolf and had been seen by many many wolf or wildlife watchers in Lamar Valley. She was thrilling to watch and easy to spot because of her light, almost white color. She has been very visible for the past two years or so in Lamar Valley. She seemed to be the glue that helped hold the Druid Peak Pack together. She did the majority of the babysitting of the new pups last year (97). When the alpha male and another male were shot east of the park, she brought a male from the Rose Creek Pack home to keep her pack alive and going. She would spend some time with the pack and then she would wonder off as if she had left the pack and had become a lone wolf. But a short time later, she would be spotted back with the pack. She has an interesting story and history, which is why it makes this so sad and close to home, as we have been following her every move with wonder.
Our family watched her and the Druid Peak Pack last October as they stayed out in the valley all day. We arrived early in the morning and stopped just east of the Lamar Ranger Station and joined other wildlife watchers. The whole pack was out and just lounging around. Number 39 was up above the pack lying alone on the hillside. She seemed to always stay aloof from the rest of the pack for some reason. She would be near the pack but not always down right in the middle of it. On that day in October, we watched her stand up, stretch and then howl. The rest of the pack below her stood and excitedly gathered together and howled back to her. She howled again and the pack responded again. It was a thrill as we stood in hushed silence and recorded the event in our memories forever... simply beautiful.
She will be missed. This is a real tragedy, but the pack will survive and go on. We only wonder how things might have been if she and others that have been killed were left to their own fates....
Please see Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report for more details.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the US Fish andWildlife Service as of 14 Jan 97. As of this date, about 80 wolves grouped in 9 packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area. Seven packs have established territory within Yellowstone National Park. The Soda Butte Pack which was exploring national forest land east of Grand Teton National Park, has moved back into Yellowstone to its former territory around Heart Lake. The eighth pack, the Washakie pack continues to inhabiting national forest land in and around the Du Noir Valley south of Yellowstone. The ninth pack, the Nez Perce Pack, is currently in an acclimation pen awaiting release some time before this summer. Wolf number 029, having escaped the Nez Perce enclosure, has been traveling between the Nez Perce Pen area and the Hayden Valley area. Two member of the Druid Peak Pack were illegally shot east of Yellowstone. This incident is still under investigation.
Thirteen (13) wolves in Yellowstone were recently radio collared in an effort to better study the animals, and monitor and manage the wolves. In addition, four (4) wolves that were previously fitted with collars were re-fitted with new collars. Capturing was accomplished with nets from a helicopter. No wolves or staff were injured during capture operations.
Pack Information and Monitoring
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.
A grizzly cub was found dead in the Druid Peak pack territory and is believed to have been killed by the pack but couldn’t be confirmed.
A cooperative effort was made by agency personnel and a livestock producer to locate and radio collar a member of the Gros Ventre pack. A livestock producer in the Gros Ventre area in Wyoming informed Jimenez of possible wolves in the area. A search was conducted on the 12th with the help of Forest Service personnel from the Black Rock Ranger Station. Wolf tracks were found and Nelson from WS initiated a trapping effort. On the 13th, a black yearling female from the Gros Ventre pack was radio collared and released on site. The wolf would not have been captured without everyone’s help. Great Job!!!!!
On the 15th, Temple and Bradly with TESF captured an 89-pound 2-3 year-old male in the Taylor Peak pack. The male was radio collared and released on site. Trapping was conducted in an effort to keep the pack from going near ranch buildings and a small band (20 head) of sheep. On the 2nd, members of the Taylor Peak pack killed 2 sheep. A predator proof fence has now been completed and should keep the wolves away from the sheep.
Two radioed wolves from Idaho (neither have been involved in previous depredations) have been located for the past couple of months in the Big Hole Valley of SW Montana. Recently another pair of wolves was also located on the north end of the Big Hole valley. In an attempt to prevent possible livestock depredations when the prey base migrates from the valley this winter two gray wolf pairs, B80 and an uncollared gray male, B63 and 100, were successfully relocated to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in north central Idaho. The August 18-19 effort was completed by a multi-agency team consisting of Patton, Nez Perce Tribe, Williamson and McDougal, USDA Wildlife Services, Fontaine and Chavez, Service, Stradley, Belgrade Flying Service and Brown, Idaho Helicopters. Thanks for doing a great job everyone!!!
On the 19th, Chavez met with a sheep producer in the Gravelly Range, just west of west Yellowstone, and provided rubber bullet training. The producers were also provided with a receiver to warn them if the Freezeout pack came around the bands of sheep. This was done to try and prevent any depredation by the wolves. The pack has a rendezvous site about 3 miles from the nearest sheep band which is on Forest Service allotments. There have been no problems so far. Each sheep band is protected by guard dogs and watched by a herder.
Two calves were reportedly killed by the Absaroka pack east of Yellowstone. WS investigated and confirmed the losses. It appears from radio collar locations that the alphas may not have been involved in the depredation but could have been done by one or all of the 3 yearling wolves with the pack. Trapping is ongoing to radio collar and release on site any wolves that are captured
Three ewes were recently killed near Pinedale, WY by a radio collared wolf believed to be by itself. This is the third time that this wolf has preyed on sheep. The herder has tried to chase it away by firing shots. The wolf runs just out of range and stays there. It has also been socializing with the guard dogs. It will be lethally removed by WS when possible.
Jennifer Sands, MSU, Bozeman graduate student, defended her masters thesis on the 22nd. Her thesis is on Stress Hormone Levels in Gray Wolf Scat in Yellowstone National Park. Congratulations Jennifer!!!
Information and Education and Law Enforcement
On the 14th, Senator Mike Crapo, Idaho, hosted a meeting in Salmon, Idaho to take public testimony about the future of a nearly recovered wolf population in the northern Rockies, which may eventually be managed by the states. Approximately 100 people attended the meeting. Giving short statements about the de-listing process, and later listening to the testimony, were Ed Bangs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dr. Jim Tate, science advisor to Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, and Greg Schildwachter, advisor to the governor's Office of Species Conservation. About 20 agency people met with the Senator prior to the public meeting.
Niemeyer and Smith gave a presentation to about 20 people at the Defenders of Wildlife class in the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone, on the 18th and 21st.
On August 21, Meier gave a talk to about 12 students from the Montana Academy, at Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge.
This information is provided by the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service as of 19 Mar 97. As of this date, about 80 wolves grouped in 10 packs inhabit the greater Yellowstone area. Eight of the ten packs have established territory within Yellowstone National Park. The ninth pack, the Washakie pack continues to inhabit national forest land in and around the Du Noir Valley south of Yellowstone. The tenth pack, the Nez Perce Pack, is currently in an acclimation pen awaiting release some time before this summer.
Wolf number 029, having escaped the Nez Perce enclosure, has recently been seen with wolf number 48 a lone female wolf. The hope is that these two will produce pups during this years breeding season. These two wolves have been located near the Nez Perce pen area in Yellowstone.
Five pups from the Thorofare Pack have recently been orphaned. The Alpha male from this pack has apparently been killed in an inter-pack struggle with the Soda Butte Pack. The Alpha female has also apparently died, her radio collar is emitting a mortality signal from an avalanche site. However, biologists do not know if the two deaths are connected until they are able to retrieve the carcass.
Two member of the Druid Peak Pack were illegally shot east of Yellowstone. This incident is still under investigation.
A total of 19 wolves in Yellowstone were recently radio collared in an effort to better study the animals, and monitor and manage the wolves. Capturing was accomplished with nets from a helicopter. No wolves or staff were injured during capture operations.
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