Early August Idaho Wolf Report

Mid-August Idaho Wolf Report

8-12-97

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 30 report, so I will only spotlight a few things. Their aerial flight budget for the fiscal year is exhausted so reports will now be fewer. I have finally managed to put together the names of all the wolf packs with their adult members and probable size. A summary is given at the end of this article.

North of the Salmon River
It has been determined that the new Kelly Creek Pack consists of the two adults (B15F and a native wolf) and five pups. This is the most northerly of the Idaho wolf packs. The Nez Perce Tribal wolf recovery team has observed that this pack may have also been joined by a sub-adult wolf. Local residents' reports coincide with this conclusion. So the pack has 7 or 8 members. Most recently the pack was located in Boulder Creek.
The Selway Pack (B5M and B10F and two yearlings) was located on the Meadow Creek/Bargamin Creek Divide.
B14M and B20F have not been located for some time now. It is believed that B20's radio collar has failed. Both wolves were last observed (separately) in areas north of the Salmon River.
On August 2, B7M and BllF were released after a long period of captivity. The release was on the North Fork of the Clearwater River in northern Idaho.
South of the Salmon River
The Chamberlain Pack, was located in Big Ramey Creek. Thus, they continue to keep deep in the Frank Church wilderness stronghold.
Wolf 31M has moved to Loon Lake, a noted backcountry scenic spot on the Payette National Forest.
The trio of wolves B-28-M, B-30-F and wolf B-19-M were located near the Deadwood River. Landmark pack female Wolf B-06-F, Wolf B-08-M, 4 subadults and 4 pups were located in the Elk Creek drainage. These locations are the same as their July 30 locations.
The 5 pups with the Stanley-Asher pack, wolves B-23-F and Wolf B-27-M and their 5 pups, was located in the Valley Creek drainage. This just north of Stanley, Idaho.
The Jureano Mountain Pack, wolves B-25-F and B-32-M and their 6 pups were located in the upper reach of Phelan Creek.
The Moyer Basin Pack, wolves B-29-M and B-37-F and their pups remained near Woodtick Creek. All three of these packs are on the Salmon/Challis National Forest.
Wolf B36F, which I mentioned last time for having climber over famous White Cloud mountain peak, Castle Peak, and then descending into Warm Spring Creek, has not been located since. Cows were put into Warm Springs Creek just as the wolf was descending. Let's hope nothing happened.
Not a single wolf depredation of livestock has yet been reported in Idaho in 1997.
Summary of the Idaho wolf packs
This is the first complete summary I have made of the packs for 1997. Here are the eight packs.
Chamberlain Basin Pack. Six wolves, no pups in 1997. Alphas are B9M, B16F.
Jureano Mountain Pack. Eight wolves, including six pups. Alphas are B-25-F, B-32-M.
Kelly Creek Pack. Six or seven wolves. Five pups in 1997. Alphas are B15F, and a native male wolf.
Landmark Pack. Ten wolves, including four yearlings and four pups. Alphas are B6F, B8M.
Moyer Basin Pack. Seven or eight wolves, including 5 or 6 pups, Alphas are B-29-M, B-37-F.
Selway Pack. Probably four wolves, including two yearlings from 1996. Alphas are B5M, B10F.
Stanley-Asher pack. Seven wolves, including five pups. Alphas are B-23-F, B-27-M.
No name pack. Adult wolves B-28-M, B-30-F and wolf B-19-M.

Return To Maughan Wolf Report Page

Not to be reprinted, archived, redistributed, etc., without permission. Ralph Maughan PO Box 8264, Pocatello, ID 83209 208-236-2550