Wolves have showed up near Lander, Wyoming on the east side of the Wind River Mountains near the lofty range's southern end. The sightings have been confirmed. The wolves seem to wear no radio collars. They have been seen near Table Mountain which is just south of the mouth of famous Sinks Canyon. Reports are in also from nearby Red Canyon and even South Pass.

The report I got was 4 wolves, 3 black and 1 gray. Mike Jimenez, USFWS wolf manager for Wyoming, said the tracks show one wolf is a lot bigger than the rest, but he doubted the rest were pups. These wolves are not part of the missing 19-member Nez Perce Pack. That pack consists entirely of wolves that are gray.

Perhaps these wolves are part of the Teton Pack yearlings that went south, or even more likely dispersing wolves from the Washakie Pack north of Dubois. Way back in 1997, the early Washakie Pack in fact made a tour south around Crowhart Butte, not far from Lander, and then returned to their home range.

There is a lot of open country in this area, although just south of Lander there are a lot of small ranches, and due to the newness of the situation some local folks are worried (and others thrilled). Jimenez said he had talked with landowners and issued rubber bullets to one operator who expects his cattle to start calving soon.

Some suspect this is the route wolf 253M took when he headed to Utah.

1-30-2003. Mike Jimenez, Wyoming wolf manager for USFWS reports little has changed. There are 3-4 wolves still south of Lander. No problems.

2-5-2003. Fremont County braces for wolf battle at Lander. Casper Star Tribune. Fremont County commissioners have proven to be remarkably backward, certainly bad news to an area that depends so much on world class scenery. As one wag said, "They're flopping around like a wounded duck."

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As a side note, wolf 253M is still with the Druid Pack in Yellowstone. His limp has healed, although he retains the permanent limp on his hind foot. Rick McIntyre says 253 is very loyal to 21M, the Druid alpha male.