Latest Wyoming wolf news.

Wolf trapped near Themopolis

6-12-2003

Here is some news about non-YNP, Wyoming wolves.

All packs have probably denned -- Teton, Washakie, Absaroka, Sunlight Basin, Greybull, Beartooth, Green River.

There is a solid count of 3 pups with the Sunlight Basin Pack and a shaky count of 5 Teton Pack pups. Others have not been seen.

The Washakie Pack did split in two, with one group in its traditional DuNoir Valley area and the other 5-8 miles to east. All the radio-collared pack members left for the east. The USFWS was trying to collar some wolves in the Dunoir, but they are having land access problems.

In the last Grey Wolf Progress Report, Ed Bangs wrote of the Dunoir "Trapping control efforts ended near Dubois, WY. The only road access to the ranch where the depredations occurred is through nother ranch. That landowner requested that Service personal no longer drive across his land. Of course we respected his will and all traps were immediately pulled on the 28. The ranch manager where the depredations occurred still has an active shoot on sight permit for 2 wolves. Trapping was being conducted to radio a member of what is apparently a new pack and then lethally control 2 or more members of the pack that killed a calf. The radioed members of the Washakie pack are at the den many miles to the northeast. No wolves were removed and there has been no further confirmed depredations. The neighbors will have to work this one out themselves." I should add an a big AMEN!

There is very good news for the Teton Pack. The pasture which is about 1 1/2 miles west of their denning area in front of Uhl Hill will not be used this year for livestock grazing. Every year in the past from several hundred to several thousand cows and calves have been put on this fenced pasture. Retirement of this Grand Teton National Park grazing has long been hoped for. This is just a one year rest, not an official retirement of the pasture. Story from Casper Star Tribune, "Family takes grazing time out."

A large male wolf has been trapped and radio collared NW of Thermopolis, WY in the Owl Creek Mountains. He may be with a mate. According to my records, the last wolf shot in Wyoming during the period of extermination was in the Owl Creeks in the 1940s.

---