All but a few of the radio-collared wolves in the Yellowstone country are the original 1995 and 1996 transplants from Canada. Since that time many pups have been born, matured, dispersed, and many more are ready to disperse from their packs.
Yellowstone National Park plans to collar an additional 45 or so wolves so that their movements can be monitored and so that the size of the wolf population can be better estimated. Plans are to capture the wolves from helicopters using nets .
The Park is following the established reintroduction plan despite Judge Downes' ruling that the reintroduced wolves and their offspring must be removed. The plan states that the wolf will be removed from the endangered species list in the American Northern Rocky Mountains when there are ten breeding pairs of wolves in each of the three recovery areas for three consecutive years. This is assumed to be about 100 wolves in each of the three areas -- Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.
It is believed that 100 wolves briefly lived in the Yellowstone Country this last spring just after all the pups were whelped. I would estimate the current population at 80 to 85 wolves due to deaths of 5 adults and a number of pups. For example, it appears that of the incredible 18 pups born to the Rose Creek Pack last spring, nine have survived.
Radio-collaring wolves and other animals is sometimes controversial, but it is very useful for research, population estimates, and in the case of species like grizzly bears and wolves, it is helpful in deterring human attacks and in apprehending the culprits. Much of the information for my wolf updates page would have been impossible without radio-collared wolves.
Unfortunately, since Judge Downes' decision, the radio collar can also make it easier for the government to carry out the sad death sentence should the Farm Bureau continue to prevail in the courts.
In addition, many ranchers want the wolves collared so they can be told if wolves are nearby. I suppose this is so they can worry and complain to politicians.
Some folks just don't like collars. They see them as an offensive to the wild nature of animals and the experimental trapping, probing, measuring, and vaccinating of temporarily captured animals as unfeeling. As one person told me, it would be justice to kidnap a grizzly bear researcher, give him a sedative, collar him, pull his tooth, and leave him to wake up somewhere in the backcountry.
I too have mixed feelings.
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copyright © 1997 Ralph Maughan
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Ralph Maughan PO Box 8264, Pocatello, ID 83209; 208-236-2550