54 68 pups identified in Idaho so far. 

 

July 10, 2001, Updates July 15 and July 23

The Nez Perce Tribal wolf team has had daunting job of  identifying Idaho wolf packs and male/female pair for pups. 23-24 are set to be examined this year. So far 17 20 have been checked. The findings are 54 68 pups in 12 14packs and 6 packs (these are mostly pairs) that seem not to have pups. 

Curt Mark, head of the wolf team told me today that the following packs had pups (the list goes generally from the most southerly to the most northerly).

Wildhorse (near Copper Basin in the Pioneer Mountains). Unfortunately cattle have just been moved in to public land near the wolves' rendezvous site. Biologists are trying to haze the wolves into the high country where the pack, new last year, summered out of harm. This pack is led by venerable B3M "Chaat Chat," one of the first wolves reintroduced to Idaho.

Whitehawk. Nine pups led by B47M and a white female that local activists are calling "Alabaster." With so many stories on this wolf pack, there is little need to say more except that Mack expressed optimism about the volunteers from the Defenders and coordinated with the Tribal team were working to keep the wolves and sheep apart.

Moyer Basin. This long standing pack that lives near the headwaters of Panther Creek has a litter again this year. 

Landmark. This pack, dating back to 1996 and inhabiting much of the southern quarter of the Frank Church Wilderness, has another litter.

B78F's Pack (a new Pack).  B78, nicknamed "ESA," was a disperser from the north Idaho, Kelly Creek Pack. She and an unidentified mate have formed the most westerly pack in Idaho near the Middle Fork of the Payette River. I have seen her photo. She is a beautiful gray female and has 4 gray pups. Her radio collar is a donation from Paul and Linda Schutt, long-time wildlife activists and supporters from Chicago, IL.

Orphan Pack. This is another westerly pack, and it had its first pup last year.  The pup is no longer with the adults. It's fate is not known,  but they have another lone pup this year.

Thunder Mountain. This pack, which has produced a number of litters in the past, has one more.

Wolf Fang. This was a new pack with its first litter last year. It has another.

Chamberlain Basin. This deep wilderness pack (Frank Church Wilderness) had its first litter in 1996. Now it has its sixth. Last year it had a double litter. I don't know if this formed into a new pack.

Jureano Mountain. This pack on Salmon River Mountain was rejuvenated last year after its extinction when an adult female from day's past returned to the pack's old den site. She has a second litter this year.

Selway. This is the third pack in Idaho that began in 1996. They inhabit the country near the Gospel Hump Wilderness and Meadow Creek in northwest central Idaho. Their litter production has been spotty over the years, but have another one this year.

Marble Creek.  This is Idaho's most northerly known pack, near St. Maries. It was discovered in 2000. They have their second known litter this year.

Long time Kelly Creek and Big Hole packs have not been surveyed yet this year. It is likely they have pups, however. Folks may recall the Kelly Creek pack has the oldest wolf in Idaho and probably in the Northern Rockies, wolf 90-13. He is at least 13 years old. I think, however, he is no longer the alpha male of this pack.

Note: 7-15-2001. Number 90-13 has died. The latest report from USFWS states: "The old naturally dispersing male that formed the Kelly Creek pack died this past winter at the age of 13, one of the oldest wild wolves yet documented. He is suspected to have died of natural causes. He had a very successful life as alpha and successfully raised litters every year from 1997 to 2000."

Other-

The relocated White Cloud female B36F was last located in SW Montana's Big Hole Valley during the winter, is either dead or wandered out of range. The relocated Twin Peaks alpha pair were last located near Anaconda last fall, but also wandered out of range or are dead. Folks may recall the brilliant article by Sara Corbett in the New York Times, On the Run with Wolf B36.

Wolf shooters and poisoners seem to have gotten their way with the new (last year) Big Smoky Pack. Numerous surveys in the area have failed to find any fresh wolf sign, nor have the been wolf reports from local residents. The remaining wolves probably dispersed to join established packs, wander, and perhaps set up new packs of their own.

There is a pair in the Squaw Creek area north of Clayton, Idaho.  B93, a disperser from Moyer Basin and B95 a disperser from the old Stanley Pack apparently met too late to mate, but will probably provide another pack for the Custer County country in 2002.

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