Idaho Wolf update 3-7-98

Idaho Wolf update

3-7-98

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. Most of these data are from tracking flights Feb. 28 and March 1.

The interpretations and opinions expressed are my own, not those of the wolf team. I have put exact quotations in quotes -- probably the better parts of the report <g>

Exciting things are happening with the Idaho wolves. There have been a number of dispersals, new adult wolves joining established packs, undoubtedly mating, and the a number of long-time wolf pairs have now officially given names.

At the end of 1997, there were eight Idaho wolf packs. Six of these packs produced pups in 1997. One of the two that had no pups in 1997 produced pups in 1996 -- the Selway Pack. In addition to these eight packs, there are five wolf pairs that may have pups in April and May 1998. There are also known to be at least three lone males. Two other previously lone males have recently become associated with a pack.

North of the Salmon River

The Selway pack wolves (B-5-M and B-10-F and two pups from 1996, now almost two years old) were located in mid-February near their 1996 den in Bargamin Creek. Bad weather prevented tracking them on the Feb. 28 flight.

The Kelly Creek Pack was located on March 1 in Oriole Creek in the Fish Creek drainage, Montana. It appears that lone wolf B12M joined the pack for two weeks. However, no. 12 was not located on the March 1 flight.

The Running Creek Pair, wolf B-11-F and wolf B-7-M, has been renamed the Stewart Pair. They have moved onto the face of the Bitterroot Mountains that slopes down into the Bitterroot Valley. They were located on March 1 in the Bitterroot Valley between Mill Creek and Blodgett Creek above Hamilton, Montana. There is a dense concentration of wintering elk and deer in the area. These rather famous wolves remained on the Bitterroot National Forest during both day and night during the monitoring period.

Wolf B20F has paired with wolf B31M. They are in the North Fork of the Clearwater River in an area of wintering moose. At 135 pounds in 1996, no. 31 is the largest wolf introduced to Idaho.

South of the Salmon River

Payette National Forest-

The Chamberlain Basin pack including adults wolf B-16-F, Wolf B-9-M, and several pups were located in Acorn Creek, a tributary of Big Creek, deep in the wilderness. Wolf B-33-M, which was approaching the pack in early February, appeared to be with one or more wolves, thought to be dispersers from the Chamberlain Basin Pack. On March 1, he had left the Chamberlain Basin area, crossed the Salmon River and headed northwest. Whether had dispersers from the Chamberlain Basin Pack with him was not determined.

Wolf B-22-F and her associate, now thought to be B34M, were located in Monumental Creek in the Frank Church Wilderness. This pair has been informally called the Monumental Creek Pair, but have been officially named, it appears, "The Dorris Pair."

Boise National Forest-

Bear Valley Pack.
Bear Valley Pack wolves B-30-F, Wolf B-28-M and Wolf B-19-M were located in Lodgepole Creek. During the flights done 16 February-19 February, the Bear Valley Pack wolves were located and observed sleeping above the confluence of Bear Valley Creek and Marsh Creek. This is where the famed Middle Fork of the Salmon River originates. They were located again on 16 February a mile north of Idaho Highway 21 along Marsh Creek.

Landmark Pack
Wolves B-06-F, Wolf B-08-M, and pups were located near the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in the South Fork of White Creek amidst wintering elk and mule deer. This is the furthermost north this pack has been observed. The pack formed in the general area of Elk and Bear Valley Creek, first as a pair, in 1995. The pack has slowly extended its territory north and northeastward over 1996 and 1997.

Though 1997 the Landmark Pack was consistently observed to number ten wolves; but in 1998 it has been a consistent seven. Three wolves approaching their second year have probably dispersed.

Salmon-Challis National Forest

The Jureano Mountain pack (called the "Town Pack" in Salmon), wolves B-25-F and B-32-M and pups were located in Pine Creek (that's not near town).

Wolf B24F, which had been living in the bottoms along the main Salmon River, was not located.

Moyer Basin Pack
Wolves B-29-M and B-37-F and their pups were tracked in Silver Creek, just east of the confluence of Birdseye Creek. This is their normal range, deep in the Salmon River Mountains.

Long time pair, wolf B-35-F and wolf B-18-M have finally received a name -- the Danner Pair. They were in their normal range, this time in Triple Creek, which is in the Loon Creek drainage.

Sawtooth National Forest-

The Stanley Pack
Wolf B-23-F and wolf B-27-M and pups were located on a kill just east of Stanley in a drainage above the main Salmon River.

Wolf B36F and her companion for some time, a gray uncollared wolf, has been named the White Clouds pair. They were located in the White Cloud Mountains in Little Boulder Creek.

Wolf B2M or Chat-Chaaht has been relocated after 1 1/2 years. He approached the White Clouds pair, but was most recentled located at the head of Trail Creek just upstream from Sun Valley, Idaho.

Outreach

The wolf team reports: "Evening programs to share information on the results of monitoring efforts across the State with Idaho residents in rural and urban communities are in progress. The Project Leader has given presentations during the past 3 weeks to the Environmental Science and Research Foundation Board of Directors (formerly Idaho national Engineering Laboratory), Lemhi County Agricultural School and Stockgrowers, Morgan Creek Cattle Association, Soulen Livestock, and assisted film crews of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and Japanese Broadcasting Corp. Meetings are scheduled for Salmon, Challis, Stanley, and Rexburg during the third week in March.

Efforts to work with houndsmen continue so that conflicts between hounds used for pursuit of mountain lions and wolves are reduced to the extent possible."

My comment here is that the big stink about the wolves that killed four tracking hounds in two incidents in the general area of the town of Salmon, came not from the houndsmen, but from local politicians with a "chip on their shoulder." At least this was the comment of a retired Idaho Fish and Game official. . . RM

"Calving began in the Salmon area during the week of 12 January. To date there have been no conflicts with wolves in calving areas. Tribe personnel will attempt to continue to work closely with area residents on the location of wolves in that vicinity."

Research

"The Nez Perce Tribe has submitted a winter monitoring proposal to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for their assistance in assessing winter prey selection by wolves in four regions of Idaho. Ungulate wintering areas include the North Fork
Clearwater, Panther Creek, Big Creek, and Upper Middle Fork Salmon River. Cooperators are the Hornocker Wildlife Institute, University of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Regions 1 and 4, U.S. Forest Service. Methods to be used will be identical with these employed by Yellowstone National Park. The study period, if approved, will extend from mid-February through mid-April.

The second meeting designed to extend the discussions on predator-prey interactions and focus on wolf-livestock and human dimensions of wolf restoration was delayed until a 1998 budget was available. With the budget now in place we will attempt to identify dates to reconvene this effort."

Control

There have been no attacks on livestock to report. I watched a recent debate on Idaho Public TV between a Farm Bureau spokesperson and Tim Cook. The Farm Bureau person claimed there had been a wolf attack near Arco, Idaho. My guess is that if there was anything to it, he was actually referring to the suspected attack on sheep near Howe, 20 miles to the east of Arco. The attacks were investigated and determined to be from coyotes.

Email addresses for members of Congress and other officials.