Late Summer Wolf Status Report

9/9/95.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reported that the wolves
reintroduced to Idaho are wandering over less ground than earlier
anticipated. Most are staying in, or close to, the Frank Church/River
of No Return Wilderness, where they were reintroduced. Apparently
the Idaho wolves are finding plenty of prey in the wilderness area.

Six of the Idaho wolves have now formed into 3 pairs. There are 13
reintroduced wolves total (one shot dead last winter; one probably
back in Canada).

There are still 3 pups loose outside the Rose Creek Pen. One pup was
recently captured and put back in the pen. The pups escaped the Rose
Creek enclosure when a July 29 thunderstorm blew big Douglas fir trees
down into the pen, allowing the pups to climb out over the fence.

The pups weigh from 30-45 pounds. They will be released when it is
decided they are more likely to be an asset to their mother (wolf no. R9)
rather than a liability; and, further, after hunting season. There is a
feeling that even though the pups have not gained the hunting skills they
typically would (having been penned), prey is so abundant in Yellowstone
that their mother will easily teach them what to do. The pups' father (no.
R10) was shot earlier this year.

The highly visible Crystal Bench pack abandoned the Lamar Valley in
August as the elk migrated out. The pack moved to the vicinity of the
Pelican Valley. This is just north and northeast of Yellowstone Lake.
Visitors enjoyed watching them there much as visitors did earlier in
the Lamar. The Pelican Valley is a bit less visible from the road,
however, and there are foot travel restrictions (due to a high concentration
of grizzly bears. By early September the pack was back near Specimen Ridge
again (just south of the Lamar Valley).