Here is the latest Idaho wolf update from Timm Kaminski, Idaho Gray Wolf Project Leader, Nez Perce Tribal Wolf Recovery Team. I have distilled his report so that it fits into my earlier Idaho updates web pages. Please compare this to the updates of September 4, September 17, September 30, October 10. . .  Ralph Maughan.

Wolves B7M and B11F (a.k.a. the "Running Creek pair"), released north of US Highway 12, August 2, on the North Fork of the Clearwater River, seem to have settled down in the the Big Sand Creek-Hidden Lake area of the northeastern part of the Selway/Bitterroot Wilderness. It finally appears that all the pen raising and moving about of these two wolves may have been successful.

The Selway pack wolves, including adults B-5-M and B-10-F, and their two, 2 year- old offspring were located at the head of Jack-the-Ripper Creek.

The Kelly Creek Pack has now moved back into Montana, and was located in Granite Creek on the Lolo National Forest. They have been joined by a radio-collared sub-adult. Because the report didn't give its number, I conclude it is a NW Montana wolf.

The Chamberlain Basin pack including adult Wolf B-16-F and Wolf B-9-M, 4 yearling wolves, and 4-6 1997 pups were located in Lower Trout Creek Meadows. The pack was, as always in the Frank Church Wilderness.

The wolf team has still not determined if wolf B20F has a previously-overlooked litter of pups. This time she was located east of Chamberlain Creek in the middle of the Frank Church Wilderness.

No name pack (a.k.a. the Bear Valley Pack), composed of wolves B-28-M, B-30-F and Wolf B-19-M was located near the head of Mormon Creek. They were last located among a small group of elk along the ridge top west of the Deadwood River. This is a little bit west of their usual range.

The Landmark Pack, was once again located at bit north of their usual range. Landmark pack female wolf B-06-F, wolf B-08-M, 4 subadults and 4 pups were located at the head of Elkhorn Creek in the southern portion of the Frank Church Wilderness.

The Stanley Pack , B23F and B27M and their six pups, was located in the head of Elk Creek 1.5 miles northwest of Elizabeth Lake. This is in the northern end of the Sawtooth Mountains.

The Jureano Mountain Pack, wolves B-25-F and B-32-M and their 6 pups was located in their usual range near Pony Lake in the Salmon River Mountains about seven miles NW of Salmon, Idaho.

The Moyer Creek Pack, wolves B-29-M and B-37-F and their five pups were not located in early October, but this time the alpha pair, was located along the ridgeline between South Fork Moyer Creek and Iron Creek. Their pups were a mile north.

Pairs and single wolves-

Long time pair B-35-F and Wolf B-18-M were located in the south fork of Lodgepole Creek not far from Challis Creek.

Wolf B-36-F was not located in early October but this time she was located with at least one other wolf at the head of Big Boulder Creek near Sheep Lake south of the Chinese Wall in the White Cloud Peaks of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

Wolf B31-M has moved a long way from the Payette National Forest where he spend the summer and probably did the only 1997 Idaho wolf livestock depredation. He was located north of the confluence of Spruce and Paradise Creek on Elk Ridge on the Bitterroot National Forest.

Wolf B-22-F and her associate were located in the headwaters of Snowslide Creek.

Wolf B-12-M was located just west of Anderson Butte Lookout at the head of the American River Drainage. This is on the Nez Perce National Forest, north of the main Salmon River in NW central Idaho.

A wolf believed to be B2M, wearing a red and black collar, has consistently been seen near Elk River in northwest central Idaho. Reports during early August suggest wolves remain in the area. It is believed these additional wolves may be native dispersers from the Ninemile pack in NW Montana. A trapping effort is in progress.

Wolf B24M who was near the hamlet of Carmen, Idaho just north of Salmon was located east of Sawpit Creek and Oregon Gulch on the Salmon National Forest.

Poisoning attempt?
Poison may have been put out in the Slate Creek drainage on the north end of the White Cloud Mountains. Whether this was an attempt to poison a wolf is unknown. At any rate, the poison killed six sled dogs.

It appears that the poisoning was accidental and not intended for wolves. 11-3-97

There have been no additional livestock depredations this year. The only incident was the killing of some 28 sheep by no. 31M last summer. Essentially all of the livestock is off the national forests now. Number 31M has now moved miles away from the site of the depredation. There was an Associated Press story today about what a great success the Idaho wolf restoration has proven. The mortality of the wolves has been very low, and they have killed few livestock.