More on mange problems in Greater Yellowstone wolves

1-8-2004

Since I last reported (12-22) that two wolf packs east of Yellowstone Park had mange, and possibly some north of the Park too, I have gathered more information. There is bad news and maybe some better news too.

According to Ed Bangs, all three eastside packs have been confirmed to have sarcoptic mange -- the Absaroka, the Sunlight Basin and the Beartooth Pack.

On the other hand, loss of fur in some wolf packs to the north, Sheep Mountain and Lone Bear,  has not been traced to sarcoptic manage. They did not test positive for mange. While mange has not been completely ruled out, other factors might be responsible. Bangs said one possibility was a high load of lice or fleas.

To the northwest of the Park, however, 2 pups in the Taylor Peaks pack did test positive for mange.

All wolves captured for collaring or whatever are being given shots of Ivermectin, which is effective against most "ecto-parasites." However, treatment of free ranging animals with Ivermectin is not regarded as likely to be very effective against sarcoptic manage. It might, however, help the healthier or more resistant wolves fight off the parasite. Val Asher of TESF reports that more wolves are being collected as possible for testing.

Mange is the result of a very small mite, invisible to the naked eye. It burrows into the skin, feeds, and lays its eggs, the larva hatch and borrow some more, causing inflammation and itching which is compounded by the animals scratching. The mite causes the direct loss of fur and scratching makes it worse. Scratching "posts" can then infect other animals. Most mange is transmitted directly, however, through contact with packmates.

All canids are susceptible and mange has often caused high mortality in red, but not gray foxes. The mite can also sometimes spread to other animals such as bears and to humans too, although the human form is mild and usually treated quickly. Hogs, sheep and cattle can also acquire mange.

Loss of fur in the winter, of course, exposes the animal to hypothermia, and in the summer to sunburn. Those who have handled mangy wolves say there are a sorry sight and they stink.

Some individual animals, including individual wolves, are more resistant to the mite than others, and can keep the parasite at minimal levels. Wolves under stress, and especially pups, are more susceptible to bad infestations. In some cases the entire body is involved and the animal becomes emaciated, staggers, fails to flee danger or humans, and dies directly rather than from exposure. One adult wolf was described in the literature as weighing only 37 pounds at death.

There is some evidence that mange outbreaks are cyclical.

Mange in wolves in the United States has been observed in the past in NW Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. No mange has been observed in Idaho where the restored Northern Rockies wolf population is the greatest.  See: "Nine Wolves Have Died Over Winter in Wisconsin." International Wolf Center.

It is believed that mange was introduced into Montana by act of the Montana legislature in about 1910 as a crude form of bio warfare to kill coyotes and wolves. I have not been able to determine if mange is a native disease or an exotic from another area.

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