Monitoring

Core packs in the Yellowstone, central Idaho, and NW Montana recovery areas that have bred are at denning sites. See the 1999 annual report at http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/wolf/annualrpt99/ for a map of pack locations and home ranges.

In Yellowstone, Leopold, Rose, Druid (at least 2 litters maybe 4), Nez Perce, Chief Joe, Gros Ventre, #9, probably #153 have likely denned. Contact with the Sunlight Basin female was lost this winter but the alpha male was just located near the old den site, suggesting that they may have denned, further flights will be required to confirm denning. Crystal, Soda Butte, Teton, and Sheep Mountain likely have not denned. Searches for other potential breeding pairs (one was west of Gardiner and another in the Madison Valley) will continue. Potential breeding pair counts are very tentative because some wolf pairs (or especially lone females) may temporarily localize and still not produce pups, either because of a false pregnancy or loss of pups to disease or other natural factors.

Please report wolf sightings but especially reports in localized areas or reports of wolves "barking" when people are near to help us locate any new wolf dens.

Livestock Depredations & Management (control)

The "judas" wolf from the defunct Twin Peaks pack continues to be monitored and it remains alone.

The lone radio-collared member of the White Cloud pack (which seemed to always be near wolf-killed livestock) was lethally controlled (after being located among cows on private property) on 4/21. One uncollared wolf (likely born in 1999) remains in the area. The control action has been terminated unless further losses are documented.

Research

Nothing new to report.

Information, Education & Law Enforcement

Bangs, Boyd, and Fontaine had CPR and First Aid training in Helena on the 18th.

On the 27th, Bangs traveled to Mammoth, WY to participate in a meeting with 20 representatives of various native American tribes interested in natural resource issues in and around Yellowstone National Park.

Jimenez met with livestock permittees and state and federal agency representatives in Jackson, WY on the 25th to discuss public allotment grazing. On the 28th, Jimenez gave a talk at the annual meeting of the Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative.

This week, Dr. Doug Smith gave a talk at the University of Vermont and participated on a graduate student committee for the research on wolf and raven interactions in Yellowstone National Park.

Bangs (in Washington), Fontaine (on leave) and Meier and Boyd (trapping in Glacier National Park) will not be in Helena the week of May 1-5. During the field season from May through October, Meier and Boyd may be contacted by leaving a message at (406) 449-5225 x219 (Meier) or x207 (Boyd).

The weekly wolf report can now be viewed at the Service's Region 6 web site at http://www.r6.fws.gov/wolf

Contact: Ed Bangs (406)449-5225 or Internet - ED_BANGS@FWS.GOV

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