Dec. 27, 2004

Population figures for wolves in the Northern Rockies for 2004 are now coming in.

While not final, it looks like Idaho is the only one of the three Northern Rockies states where the wolf population continues to grow.

The as yet unofficial estimate for Idaho wolves at the end of 2004 is 420, up from 379 at the end of 2003. At the end of 2003 there were 38 wolf packs known. At the end of 2004, 44 packs were known.

Compared to past years, the Idaho growth rate in 2004 was clearly down, and I predict it will level out in 2005 just as I predicted in 2003 it would level out in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem in 2004.

Recent news stories have indicated the wolf population inside Yellowstone Park declined for the first time this year, with the decline centered on the northern range of the Park. The Greater Yellowstone wolf population, Wyoming wolf population and Montana wolf populations are now about stable, contradicting the many statements over the years by politicians and bar room biologists that the wolf population would keep growing rapidly until there were thousands and thousands of wolves that would kill all "the game." In its most extreme form the prediction was after all the elk, deer, moose, etc. were gone, the wolves would turn massively on livestock, eat people, and eat each other.

The biggest increase in wolves in Idaho has been on the Western side of the state, raising hopes that some of these wolves will soon disperse to Oregon, which has a more progressive view of wolves and is preparing a relatively friendly state wolf plan.