The last Idaho wolf update I posted was on April 22. Readers may want to consult that report plus those dated 8-19-96, 12-6-96 , and 2-24-97 for background. Most of this information is from the Idaho Gray Wolf Project of the Nez Perce Tribe. Some is direct quotation.

The "Nez Perce Tribe and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists continue to monitor the movements of 27 gray wolves distributed across Idaho and Montana." [Since the reintroduction began in 1995] "four wolves are dead and two others have been missing for approximately 10 months. Two wolves are currently being held [nos. B7M and B11F] until their release in June.

Twenty-four of the wolves being monitored are paired, although not all of these are mating pairs. There are apparently four identified packs, three of which include yearlings (pups from 1996). A fourth pack formed spontaneously.

A number of wolves have radio transmitters that have failed and three wolf pairs include wolves that were not part of the reintroduction project, or are reintroduced wolves whose radio transmitters have failed. In addition, none of the pups from 1996 wear radio transmitters. This will explain to readers why numbers do not add up to 24 -- numbers are greater than 24.

Nez Perce National Forest (in northwest central Idaho)
The Selway Pack, apparently four wolves, was most recently located west of Meadow Creek and south of Red River Hot Springs. Earlier they were located SE of Trilby Lakes in Sabe Creek (Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness). This pack consists of wolves B5M, B10F, and two pups. Both adults were captured in Alberta in 1995. There is no indication that B10 has denned this year.

Clearwater National Forest (north central Idaho)
Wolf B15F and her long time associate range back and forth over the Bitterroot Divide (the Idaho/Montana) border. The Montana side is on the Lolo National Forest. In early May she was located in Fish Creek (Idaho).

Wolf B31M and his associate was located near Elk Summit on May 2 and in the Lochsa River drainage on May. 3. Wolves B15, B31, and their companions are the northernmost reintroduced wolves in Idaho.

Bitterroot National Forest (northeast central Idaho and part of Montana)
Wolves B7M and B11F remain inside their pen at Running Creek on the Selway River at the Hornocker Wildlife Institute, deep inside the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. They are scheduled for released in June. The reader will find many previous articles by myself and others about this pair.

Payette National Forest (west central Idaho)
The Chamberlain Basin Pack is the largest pack in Idaho (6 or 7 animals, including 4 or 5 yearlings which were born in 1996). In May they were located deep in the Frank Church Wilderness at Whimstick Creek and Starvation Creek drainages. The adult female, no. B16F, has denned. This pack is always located in this general very remote wilderness location.

Wolf B22F and her associate (a large black wolf) were observed in the South Fork the Salmon River drainage by a Forest Service employee. They were more recently located in Little Loon Creek.

Wolf 33M was located in the Gold Fork drainage to the east of Arling Hot Springs on April 26. He could not be located in early May.

Boise National Forest (western Idaho).
Wolves B28M, B19M, and B30F, an unnamed pack, were located May 3 south of Stolle Meadows.

The Landmark Pack's alpha female (B6F) has denned. This pack is B6F, B8M, and three or four yearlings born in 1996. They are near the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in the Frank Church Wilderness.

Salmon-Challis National Forest (east central and south central Idaho)
Nos. B23F and B27M were located in Upper Loon Creek in rugged country. In the April report they were to the west in Fir Creek near Bruce Meadows on the Boise National Forest.

Nos. B25F and B32M were located in the Napias Creek drainage near Deep Creek. This is not far from their April locations.

Nos. B29M and B37F were located north of Prairie Basin.

Nos. B18M and B35F were located in the Cottonwood drainage.

No. B36F and her associate, an unknown male wolf, were found in Furnace Creek near 30 head of elk. I hiked into Furnace Creek once. It was very difficult country to get into. I saw a lot of elk. B36 has travelled a lot in SE central Idaho in recent months. She is now about 45 miles north of her April location on the western edge of the White Cloud Mountains.

Sawtooth National Forest (south central Idaho)
Wolf B12M was located travelling alone in Casino Creek on the south side of Salmon River on the northern end of the White Cloud Mountains.

Reproduction
The Idaho Wolf Report indicates that six female wolves from pairs have localized and two have definitely denned.