Collar of former YNP wolf found in Falls River. Foul Play suspected. Biscuit Basin Pack collar found east of Ashton, Idaho.
7-14-2005.
The Biscuit Basin Pack was the first wolf pack to migrate from Yellowstone to Idaho. Last winter they set up residence in Island Park, Idaho just west of the Park.
Now the collar of one the pack's outliers, 476F, a wolf which may or may not have rejoined the pack has been found in the Falls River, east of Ashton, Idaho. 476F had remained behind, and even at the time was a bit of a pack outlier. However, she finally left the park, and it looks like someone killed her.
Meanwhile I have been getting reports of the main pack in the Island Park area.
Here is the news release from USFWS law enforcement.
NEWS RELEASE
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
OFFICE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
1387 S. VINNELL WAY, BOISE, IDAHO 83709
208-378-5333, FAX 208-378-5339
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2005
Contact: Scott Bragonier, (208) 523-0855
GRAY WOLF COLLAR FOUND IN THE FALLS RIVER
NEAR ASHTON, IDAHO
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) law enforcement agents have confirmed that a gray wolf radio telemetry collar was found submerged in the Falls River beneath a bridge on Highway 294 east of Ashton, Idaho. The radio collar appears to have been cut, and was found by Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologists while surveying wolf activity near the southwest corner of Yellowstone National Park.
The radio collar belonged to a yearling female wolf, F-476, originally collared by Yellowstone National Park personnel in the Little Firehole Meadows, west of Old Faithful on January 21, 2005. The wolf was a member of the newly-formed Biscuit Basin Pack. F-476 dispersed from the Biscuit Basin Pack in March and was last known to be inside Yellowstone National Park on April 6, 2005. Because other members of the Biscuit Basin Pack have been documented east of Ashton, it is believed F-476 may have rejoined the pack.
Investigators believe the wolf was killed in late April or May of this year. It is possible that the radio collar was deliberately thrown from the bridge by persons involved in illegally killing the animal in an attempt to destroy evidence. Scott Bragonier, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent, said, “The condition and location of the radio telemetry collar suggests illegal activity. We strongly urge citizens with knowledge about this activity to come forward with information. Callers may remain anonymous.”
Persons with information may call the Idaho Citizens against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999, or the Service’s Law Enforcement Office at (208) 523-0855.
The killing of an animal protected under the endangered Species Act is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and one year in jail. A reward of up to $2,500.00 may be paid for information leading to a conviction of the person or persons responsible for illegal activity with an endangered or threatened species.