July 30 Idaho Wolf Update

July 30 Idaho Wolf Report 7-30-97

The Nez Perce Tribal Wolf Recovery Team has released another report on the status of the Idaho wolves. Most of the information is very similar to the July 22 report, so I will only spotlight a few things.

Wolf B36F was observed to climb right over the highest mountain in the White Cloud Mountains, famous Castle Peak, and proceed down into Warm Springs Creek. This area is in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. B36F appears to be a solitary wolf.

The trio of B28M, B30F, and B19M (all adult wolves from the 1996 reintroduction) moved from Whitehawk Basin down into the Deadwood River (where the Boise National Forest is planning one of the worst timber sales in the west).

Biologists estimate the total population of new pups for Idaho in 1997 was 25-30. The largest litter appears to be six pups (Jureano Mtn. "pack"?). I don't have the adults' ID numbers yet.

There his been no livestock predation by wolves this summer. One pack without pups, a lone male, and four wolf packs presently inhabit areas that have livestock.

Known mortality of Idaho wolves still stands at just four. Two of these were natural mortalities (one by a mountain lion and one by starvation).