Updated: 16 Apr 2002
This information is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Wolves should be searching out den sites now and will be denning later this month. Monitoring flights will be conducted to determine the number of location of denning wolves.
Please report wolf sightings in MONTANA, IDAHO, OR WYOMING!! If outdoors enthusiasts or AGENCY BIOLOGISTS report evidence of wolves to you please pass that information along to the Service. This appears to be a record year for wolf dispersal and evidence is mounting that there are several packs and pairs that have formed that do not contain radio-collared members. We find them primarily through public and agency reports- so please help!!
Control
This year permits were given to several Montana sheep ranchers after they had confirmed losses. To date no wolves have been taken under these permits.
Despite repeated statements by the Service that it would not be relocating many wolves and that lethal control would go up as wolf populations increase, we have been getting many calls and emails from the public who are very upset that wolves are being killed, especially wolf #224 from the Druid pack in Yellowstone. He was very visible and many people identified with him on an individual basis. This controversy will likely increase as more lethal control is conducted. One of the consequences of having a rapidly expanding wolf population is an increased number of conflicts and increased wolf control. However, given the emotional nature of wolf issues, the controversy is expected as is the potential for litigation.
Research
The Yellowstone National Park winter predation study began on March 01 and ended on March 30. The 30 day study follows wolf packs every day on the ground and by aircraft [weather depending] to measure the predation rate and prey selection of wolves. This work has been conducted Nov.15 - Dec.15 and March 01 - 30 for the past 5 years. This has been the worst winter weather on record for flying but ground crews are doing their best to keep up.
Asher conducted more rubber bullet training in the Paradise Valley on the 1st and put newer batteries in the RAG box in use there. She also hiked into the area where the Sheep Mountain pack had localized searching for a potential den but none was found and the wolves started moving around again. She did the same for the Chief Joseph pack which has been hanging out in Cinibar and Tom Miner Basin. If the packs were cleaning out dens in "bad" locations we would fill the dens with moths balls and disturb the sites to hopefully get the wolves to den in better locations. Last year we successfully caused the Chief Joseph pack to den in Yellowstone National Park rather than Cinnabar Basin again.
Information and Education and Law Enforcement
Bangs attended and gave the evening presentation at the MidWest Wolf Stewards meeting at Two Harbors, MN on the 3rd. About 70 people from the mid-west, representing MN, MI, and WI state agencies, Wildlife Services, National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Universities, Stockgrowers, and wolf conservation groups attended.
The Nez Perce Tribe’s annual and weekly report can be seen at: Wolf Center
On the 16th of January, Montana released its draft state wolf management plan for public review and comment. The draft "Planning Document for Wolf Conservation and Management in Montana" and the Wolf Advisory Council’s "Report to the Governor" are available via MT FW&P’s web site at: www.fwp.state.mt.us. To request copies call: 406-444-2612.
Updated: 29 October 2002
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.
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.
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.
Updated: 17 May 2002
Denning Activities
Wolf packs are denning and monitoring flights are still being conducted to determine the number and location of dens.
In the Greater Yellowstone area - 14 packs have denned, 6 packs might have denned and one group did not den. The Teton Pack (2 females may have bred again this year) at least 4 - 5 pups have ben seen, Washakie, Sunlight, Absaroka (the alpha male that had manage this winter is still going strong), Beartooth, Green River have denned. The Gros Ventre and Greybull River may have denned and we are continuing to investigate. One of the yearlings from the Teton pack and 5 from the Yellowstone Delta pack [2 collars left] have apparently chewed off their radio collars that were put on this winter. Swan Lake, Leopold, Rose, Druid [2 dens], Mollie’s, Nez Perce, Cougar Creek, Taylor Peak, and Freezeout [female seen nursing 3 pups- she was the original alpha female of the Taylor Peak pack but dispersed in 2001] packs have denned. Yellowstone Delta, Chief Joe, Sheep Mountain, and Mill Creek have probably denned but we aren’t sure at this time. The Tower pair has not denned. Observations on the 14th indicated that Leopold, Swan Lake and Druid moved their dens to new locations. The alpha female (#7) of the Leopold pack (who was the daughter of #9 also reintroduced in 1995) died and the initial necropsy indicates she was probably killed by other wolves.
Wildlife Services flew about 2 hours near Red Lodge where a group of 4-5 wolves has been repeatedly observed. WS was hoping to catch them in the open and put a collar in the currently unradioed group. No wolves were seen but wolves are still being reported in that area.
Two of the 5 surviving relocated Gravelly pups are still in the Yaak Valley but 3 are missing. The yearling male returned from spending the winter in Canada and was near Flathead Lake on his last location. The adult female is still presumed to be in Canada.
Please report wolf sightings in MONTANA, IDAHO, OR WYOMING! If outdoors enthusiasts or AGENCY BIOLOGISTS report evidence of wolves to you please pass that information along to the Service.
On the 9th, a young adult male black wolf was shot by a landowner as it fed on a calf it had just killed on private property in the Paradise Valley in the northern portion of the Greater Yellowstone area. Wildlife Services and Service LE investigated and confirmed the calf was killed by the wolf and the wolf was legally taken as allowed by the experimental population rules. In response to the depredation, the landowner and adjacent neighbors were issued shoot on site permits that will allow them to take one (in total) other wolf if they see it on their private property in the next 45 days. Wolves killed a deer in the same pasture near livestock on the 13th.
A cocker spaniel dog was apparently attacked by a lone wolf near Livingston, MT in late April. The dog was rescued by its owner who frightened the wolf away. The dog was severely injured but will likely live. Neither control nor compensation is provided in these types of situations.
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.
Winter predation study ended in Yellowstone National Park on the 15th of December. The volunteers are through for this season - a BIG THANKS to Robert Buchwald, Susan Chin, Rachel Gray, Ky Koitzsch, McNeil Lyons, Julie Nelson, Melissa Peer, and Charles Totten. This winter was much like previous ones. Wolf packs under 20 wolves killed an elk about every 3 days, the 2 packs over 20 had slightly higher kill rates. There was a recent interaction with Druid mixing it up with 3 Rose Creek wolves, no mortalities on either side. Of the 45 adult female elk radio-collared last March one was immediately killed by a lion and its death was considered capture related. The only one that has died was also from lion predation. Radioed elk have moved to winter ranges. More adult female elk will be collared this winter.
The Sheep Mountain trio was released on the 5th. They have stayed together and been located at their old den site, rendezvous site, and west of Highway 89, in the eastern part of their old home range. They will be monitored weekly after this week, although the Turner ESF team may attempt some ground tracking to evaluate its effectiveness. Local ranchers in the Sheep Mnt. Territory will continue to be contacted about the wolves' locations.
Jimenez talked about 70-80 people on the 6th in Jackson, to a meeting of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. He also gave a talk to about 30 biologists at the WY Wildlife Society meeting in Dubois, WY. On the 12th, he talked with 25-30 sled drivers and interpretative specialists at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson, WY.
Smith gave a talk to about 40 of the concessionaire winter sled coach drivers on December 8.
Bangs met with Sierra Club representatives and Attorneys from Earthjustice on the 12th in Bozeman to discuss their concerns related to their 60-day Notice of Intent to sue over wolf control issues in northwestern Montana. They are concerned options other than lethal control are not being evaluated or used. Regional Solicitor Margot Zallen participated by phone.
Because of the administration change and a backlog of personnel actions related to the large number of new fire positions in the western U.S., the two seasonal wolf jobs will not be filled until mid to late May at the earliest. Final applicants will be interviewed and notified ASAP, but with 85 applicants, competition will be intense.
Bangs gave a presentation to about 50 people at the Helena Rotary lunch on the 18th.
Smith and Jimenez participated in a live radio talk show of out Cody, WY on the 19th, mainly discussing wolf and elk relationships.
On April 19th, the Great Falls Tribune ran a front page story about the release of the Interagency Annual Wolf Report and the fact that the wolf population is reaching recovery level (30 breeding pair) and delisting is probably only 3 years away.
On the 20th, Smith traveled to Wolf Park in Indiana to participate in a series of wolf meetings.
The Wolf Park was Smith's first job with wolves (1973) even though they are all captive animals.
CONGRATULATIONS- The Nez Perce Tribe was the recipient of the National Wildlife Federation's 2000 Conservation Achievement Award for their work on wolf and salmon recovery. Nez Perce Tribal representatives traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in the awards ceremony. The Nez Perce said "It is honored to receive such a esteemed award and to be recognized for the Tribe's dedicated efforts to recover culturally significant endangered wildlife."
On the 11th, Niemeyer and Mack attended a meeting of the Idaho Legislative Wolf Oversight Committee as they discussed final edits to the draft Idaho state wolf management plan.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service issued a news release that confirmed illegal poisoning as the cause of death of 2 Idaho gray wolves. Necropsies confirmed that Idaho wolves #37 (found on Salmon-Challis National Forest) and B-96 (found about 20 miles north of Fairfield, ID and had also been shot) were killed by baits poisoned with Compound 1080. Possibly 2 other wolves from the Moyer Basin may have also been poisoned. Compound 1080 is a highly toxic substance that is illegal to possess. Service Special Agent Paul Weyland cautioned anyone in the out of doors "If you see a carcass, pile of meat, or pile dead birds or smaller mammals, please contact a law enforcement office immediately. We are very concerned for the safety of dogs and children, as well as wildlife that may be harmed by this illegal practice." Fish and Wildlife Service agents can be contacted at: 208-378-5333 [Boise, ID], 208-523-0855 [Idaho Falls, ID], 307-261-6365 [Lander, WY], 406-582-0336 [Bozeman, MT] or 406-329-3000 [Missoula, MT].
NATIONAL WOLF RECLASSIFICATION PROPOSED
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.
National Reclassification Public Hearings
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.
Turner Endangered Species Fund biologists Val Asher, Liz Bradley and Larry Temple met with a sheep rancher in Tom Miner Basin to help wrap up this summer's fencing project. They also have been searching from the ground for the Sheep Mtn Trio. and cut tracks by the Yellowstone River on the 13th. They are also making contact with local residents. Temple looked for tracks in the Gravelly Range on the 14th but most access was blocked by snow drifts. He did pick up a signal from #115 on the Sun River Ranch. The Service is using TESF biologists to help monitor wolves and conduct basic field work north and west of Yellowstone National Park. Their help is appreciated.
A similar pro-active relocation project is being planned for 3-4 wolves that have recently been located in the Big Hole Valley of Montana. Previously 2 different sets of wolves in that area began to depredated on livestock in the spring because most elk and deer winter elsewhere. Discussions are ongoing between Wildlife Services, Forest Service, State Wildlife agencies, and Tribal representatives in Idaho and Montana to identify potential hard release sites, most likely in northern Idaho and/or northwestern Montana. The guidelines to date have recommended that the recovery area with the fewest breeding pairs serve as the release site for relocated wolves. Wolves from Northwest Montana were moved to Yellowstone in 1996 and to central Idaho in 1997, and wolves from central Idaho were moved into Northwest Montana in 1999 using that same logic. The criteria for hard release sites are: at least 60 or so miles from areas where the relocated wolves have been before, no resident packs, areas that have been occasionally visited by lone dispersing wolves, few livestock, abundant natural prey-preferably white-tailed deer, and relatively secure from high levels of human activity. Hard released wolves probably will not stay where released and will likely move several miles in the general direction of "home". As soon as a decision can be made local resource agencies and the public will be notified as to the Service's intentions. Bad weather has postponed any capture attempts until at least next week.
On the afternoon of the 27th, Service biologists, Bangs, Fontaine, Meier, and Jimenez and Montana Dept of Fish Wildlife and Parks biologist Sime for a presentation by Carrie Hunt (The Partners in Life Program) on her use of aversive conditioning, including Karelian Bear Dogs. Montana Dept of Fish Wildlife & Parks bear specialist Tim Manley also participated. Carrie's group is contracted with Montana Dept of Wildlife Fish and Parks to "condition" bears to avoid humans and buildings. This program has been successful and has greatly reduced the number of bears that have to be destroyed because of conflicts with people.
This summer/fall sheep producers north of Pinedale, WY that reported several sheep killed by a lone black wolf. The Service asked Wildlife Service to remove the animal if they had the chance at that time. No wolf was removed and the problem seemed to have gone away. A producer occasionally saw a lone black canid late this fall but other than "playing" with his dog it wasn't causing any problems and he didn't really mind it being around. This week he reported finding several sheep that had been attacked with wolf tracks nearby. WS is investigated and confirmed the attacks were caused by a lone wolf-like canid. The Service has asked WS to try kill the animal.
On the 11th, Fontaine saw the Boulder pack in the open and arranged a quick capture operation with help from USDA Wildlife Services. DOL pilot Tim Grafe and WS MT Western District Supervisor Dave Nelson did a great job and they quickly darted a male pup and a female pup. Both wolves were radio-collared and released on site. The pack of 11 was together the next day. A big THANKS!! to WS and DOL for quick action and a helping hand.
On the 16th, Fontaine arranged a cooperative capture effort by the Service, TESF, and MT DFW&P for the Boulder pack. Six wolves were captured. The alpha male was radioed and released on site. Five young wolves (4F and 1 M) were placed in the pen near Bozeman and if weather allows further research with dog training collars will be attempted. They and any other wolves captured from that pack, will be relocated to NW Montana in late February or March. Six wolves (3 radioed) remain in the pack.
Fontaine and TESF biologist Val Asher met with University researchers, local MT FW&P managers Fred King and Kurt Alt, and local residents south of Ennis, MT to discuss study and capture plans for this winter on the Taylor Peak pack. GPS collars will be used in an attempt to measure kill rates by this pack on the hunted Gallatin elk herd.
Bangs, Fontaine, and Asher attended a MT FW&P hunting regulation meeting in Bozeman on the 10th. They attended to meet local MT FW&P biologists and wardens and get a first hand look at how the state process for setting hunting seasons works. Many of the proposals this year included more hunting permits for female white-tailed deer and female elk in recognition of increasing populations and an attempt to limit game damage.
Bangs, Smith, Dominici participated in a 13 Jan 2001 news conference in Yellowstone National Park that was led by Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt. Its focus highlighted the success of the wolf recovery program. The group went wolf watching after the early morning briefing to the Secretary and press.
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.
CALL FOR PAPERS - Annual Northern Rockies Wolf Meeting in Chico Hot Springs, MT - 02-06 Apr 2001.
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