Winter Radio Collaring
for Idaho Wolves
Number of wolves seems down
2-3-2003, news story 2-4-2003
Despite very adverse conditions, 14 central Idaho wolves were darted last week and radio-collared. Carter Niemeyer, Idaho wolf manger for USFWS reported that collars were added to all of the packs that are relatively accessible to people. The actual wolf count (visible wolves) in central Idaho was described as "light" recently in the Gray Wolf Progress Report of the USFWS. This may be indicative of dispersion and or illegal killing.
Packs that were collared or had collars added are Jureano Mountain near Salmon, Idaho (5 out of 6 wolves collared); [new] Moyer Basin Pack, Buffalo Ridge, Thunder Mountain, Orphan, Gold Fork, Scott Mountain. Wolf numbers in these packs are (last year in parentheses) Jureano Mountain 6 (10), New Moyer 6 (13 Old Moyer), Buffalo Ridge 8 (new pack), Scott Mountain 3 (6), Orphan 3 (3-4), Gold Fork 5 (7+). The Wildhorse Pack of 9 last year has dispersed. The Twin Peaks Pack of 8 last year is believed to have dispersed or been killed off.
The Jureano Pack has over the years suffered more than any other Idaho wolf pack (of those not entirely eliminated) from control kills and illegal kills. It was thought to be down to just 2 wolves after control and illegal killing this summer and fall, but new wolves joined, and 6 wolves were found. Five now have radio collars. The "new" Moyer Basin pack had 2 more wolves than expected. The old Moyer Basin Pack dispersed sometime early in 2002. The new Moyer Basin Pack is not the same as the new unnamed pack of 10 wolves on the SE side of Moyer Summit.
Far afield of central Idaho, at least 2 wolves have found their way into SE Idaho east of Soda Springs. There have been numerous reports of several wolves in Oneida County, Idaho (Malad -Holbrook area about 2-40 miles north of the Utah border). Niemeyer recently attended a meeting there to dispel rumors of a government conspiracy to relocate wolves to Oneida County complete with unmarked airplanes, nightime operations, etc. (not a chance of that), but it is possible wolves from the Greater Yellowstone or Central Idaho dispersed into the area of low, juniper covered mountains and valleys (Basin and Range Province country).Note: It turns out the mysterious operations witnessed by some locals was Idaho Fish and Game doing sage grouse research. Some conspiracy!
Update 2-4-03. Wolves in Oneida County, SE Idaho? By Chris Hunt - Assistant Managing Editor. Idaho State Journal.
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