Late August Idaho Wolf Report

Mid-August Idaho Wolf Report 8-20-97

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 August 12 report, so I will only spotlight a few things. Their aerial flight budget for the fiscal year is exhausted. The last flight was made on Aug. 3. This report relies a good deal on "information gathered in the field."

North of the Salmon River
The new Kelly Creek Pack which consists of the two adults (B15F and a native wolf) and five pups, has once again moved back from Montana to, appropriately, Kelly Creek in Idaho on the Clearwater National Forest. The pack may include one additional sub-adult wolf. It has occured to me that this wolf may be related -- an unreported pup from last year? After all, B15F and this native wolf have been paired for over two years.
The Selway Pack (B5M and B10F and two yearlings) was located in the Storm Creek drainage.
B14M and B20F had not been located for some time. Both were last located north of the Salmon River. Surprise, B20 has finally been located -- about four miles south of the Salmon River at Chamberlain Meadows. This is in the middle of the vast Chamberlain Basin in the middle of the Frank Church Wilderness. They are still looking for B14M.
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 (to try and confuse them so they won't find their way back to the Big Hole Valley of SW Montana). Since the release they have moved to nearby Snow Peak.
South of the Salmon River
Payette National Forest (west central Idaho)
The Chamberlain Pack, was located in Moose Creek in the vast Chamberlain Basin.
B22F and her presumed mate, presumed to be wolf B34M were located in Monumental Creek, in or near the west side of the Frank Church Wilderness. I haven't had news on these wolves for a while. I guess they didn't have pups in 1997.
Wolf 31M which was located in late July at scenic Loon Lake. The latest report says he was "presumed to be involved in a depredation" last week at Warren Summit. On the other hand, the report summary says there have been no reported depredations this year. This needs some clarification.
Boise National Forest (south central Idaho)
The trio wolves, no name pack, B-28-M, B-30-F and wolf B-19-M were observed chasing elk in a small meadow in Rough Creek. This is near Red Mountain.
Landmark pack female Wolf B-06-F, Wolf B-08-M, 4 subadults and 4 pups were yet again located in the Elk Creek drainage.
B33M and B12M were not located.
Salmon-Challis National Forest (east central and east south central Idaho):
The Stanley-Asher pack, wolves B-23-F and Wolf B-27-M and their 5 pups, were again 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 had moved and were located in Moose Creeek (not sure which Moose Creek; there are many "Moose Creeks" in Idaho).
The Moyer Basin Pack, wolves B-29-M and B-37-F and their pups remained in the Woodtick Creek drainage.
Wolf B36F, which I mentioned during the last two reports for having climbed over famous White Cloud mountain peak, Castle Peak, and then descending into Warm Spring Creek, still has not been located since. Now the pair, wolf B35F and B18M, have been located at the head of Warm Springs Creek. The White Cloud Mountains and Warm Spring Creek are in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

Summary of the Idaho wolf packs
Here are the eight known Idaho wolf packs. This does not include male/female pairs.
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.
Misc.
Two of the Boulder pups are at the Running Creek pen in the Selway/Bitterroot Wilderness. Their mother and two remaining siblings remain free in the Boulder Creek drainage to the east of Deer Lodge, Montana.