2003. First Wyoming, outside YNP wolf den update

4-25-2003

Here is the first data on the denning of non-Yellowstone Park, Wyoming wolves for 2003.

Mike Jimenez, who manages Wyoming wolves for USFWS, had quite a bit of information.

The Teton Pack, which had grown to largest in the ecosystem by last fall at 23 wolves, has denned in its usual location in the NE corner of Grand Teton National Park. The pack is down to 9-11 members. The rest of the pack dispersed over the winter with 2 killed in a control action in the Pinedale area. Last year the pack grow substantially due to a double litter by 200F and younger 228F. This year it appears only 200F denned. 228F has been seen migrating back and forth between the den site and the Gros Ventre River drainage. The alpha male has never been collared.

The Gros Ventre Pack which has been collarless for quite a while is down to 3 wolves and did not den, but 237F who split from the Gros Ventre Pack several years ago, found a mate who dispersed from the Rose Creek Pack in Yellowstone, 162M (born in 1998). The have denned in the Pinedale area and will be the Green River Pack.

As reported last fall, the Washakie Pack seems to have split. One group may have denned on the Diamond G Ranch in the Dunoir and another group is in the Wiggins Fork area. The pack has denned year after year on or near the Diamond G much to the dismay of the owner who appealed a case all the way to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court (unsuccessfully) about the matter. Info on final decision.

The Greybull Pack may be denned. In addition there have been some problems with livestock in the area (near Meeteetse, WY) on or near the famed Pitchfork Ranch. It is not known if the wolves are part of the pack or another wolf or wolves. Efforts are being made to try and trap and collar a wolf to see which wolves are involved.

Farther to the north in the Absaroka Mountains north of the Park's East Entrance Road, the Sunlight Basin Pack and the Beartooth Pack have denned.

Folks may remember that the alpha male of the Absaroka Pack, 164M had mange and survived one winter with it, but he died this winter. A new wolf has paired with the alpha female 153F was born in the Rose Creek Pack back in 1998. Their denning status is not known yet.

The alpha female of the Sunlight Basin Pack is the original Druid Sister who doesn't get much media attention. Everyone knows of the aggressive Druid alpha female, the late 40F, who was killed in Druid Pack fratricide; and her sister 42F, the current alpha. 41F was driven from the Druid Pack by 40F in 1998. She traveled east over the crest of the Absaroka and paired with 52M, a bold dispersing wolf from the rival Rose Creek Pack. They have been producing a litter each year since 1999. The two were captured and recollared last fall. Jimenez says 41F is now a beautiful bluish-gray. Both she and 52M were in fine shape when recollared.

In other Wyoming wolf news, back on March 4 a lone wolf killed 9 goats near Farson, Wyoming. These are the first goats to be killed by a wolf in the Northern Rockies area. Farson is well south -- halfway between Pinedale and Rock Springs, Wyoming. Early reports were that 13 wolves! killed the sheep. Tracks showed there was just one wolf, but the area is being observed to see if there is additional wolf activity.