I recently reported on the Idaho legislature's apparent refusal again to deal with Idaho helping manage the wolves.  Idaho Legislators Again Refuse Wolf Management Responsibility. One person in attendance at the hearing sent me Curt Mack's figures on the Idaho wolf population. Mack heads the Nez Perce Tribual Wolf Recovery team which cooperates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlfie Service to manage the wolves in lieu of Idaho Fish and Game.

Mack told the legislators that at the end of 1998 there were:

10 existing wolf packs in Idaho
2 additional wolf pairs likely to produce pups in 1999
25 adults
45 sub-adults biologically capable of reproduction this spring.
56 pups
6 mortalites for 1998

At the end of 1997 there were 6 packs.

He predicted that by the end of 1999 there would 15 packs.

He reported that three packs depredated on livestock in 1998. They were (my records) these packs: Moyer Basin, Jureano Mountain, and White Clouds. He also reported a depredation by a lone wolf near Leadore,  Idaho.  I was not aware of this one.

In 1998 there were
16 total reports of depredation
8 confirmed
3 possible
7 ruled out

In sum, Idaho probably has a few more wolves than the Yellowstone recovery area, and it clearly has more wolf packs. It is the first recovery area to hit the minimum goal of 10 packs.  It has to maintain that for 3 years, however, and then the Montana (natural) recovery area and the Yellowstone area also have to meet the goal for three years. Yellowstone should have year "number 1" in 1999, but the Montana population has dwindled down to a mere five breeding pairs with packs.

Regarding the the latter, expect someone in authority to say "well two out of three ain't bad," and try and change the rules.

---

Email addresses for members of Congress, other officials, and the media
Note: I often get email asking "who can I write to?" The answer is "the addresses above."

---

Return To Maughan Wolf Report Page

  Copyright © 1999 Ralph Maughan

Not to be reprinted, archived, redistributed, etc., without permission.
Ralph Maughan PO Box 8264, Pocatello, ID 83209