Montana Wolves Rebound
Oct. 27, 2000
Once the brightest spot in Northern Rockies wolf recovery with 70 or so wolves even before the 1995 wolf reintroduction to central Idaho and Yellowstone, the northwest Montana wolf population dwindled rather than grew. By 1998 the population was down in the 40s with only 4 breeding pairs of wolves.
The horrible winter of 1996-7-
The indirect cause of the decline was the severe winter of 1996-7 which decimated the whitetail deer population which has always been the most basic prey of these wolves. Over 20 wolves were killed directly by the federal government after livestock depredations which were likely related to the decline of wild prey. Other packs had low reproductive success.Deer population rebounds beginning in 1998-
However, the deer population has rebounded and the wolves have been, with a bit of a lag, quick to follow. By the end of 1999 the population was estimated at 63 with five breeding pairs. Nevertheless, control for livestock depredations continued. In 1999, nine wolves were killed by the government, including the Pleasant Valley Pack of five wolves which was terminated.Close to ten pairs in 2000?
The year 2000 has shown dramatic improvement, and at the end of the year there could possibly ten breeding pairs, helping NW Montana achieve its first year of the recovery goal the "old fashioned way" -- the ten pairs in each of the three recovery areas rather than the proposed 30 pairs anywhere in the West that is currently proposed in the dowlisting and reclassification plan.The identified breeding pairs (packs with pups and a breeding pair) are: Camas, Whitefish, Murphy Lake, Ninemile, Spotted Bear, Boulder. Likely are: Graves Creek, Little Wolf, Danaher, and Alice Creek. Population estimate at present is 80 to 100 wolves.
The happy story of the Spotted Bear Pack-
Folks may remember that the Spotted Bear Pack was the happy result of what was a troubled beginning for the pack above the crowded Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville. A new wolf pair had settled in and had an unusually large litter. The wolves, new to the area, failed to move the pups when the deer and elk left their winter range for summer pasture. They killed some cattle; the pack was captured, but soon the alpha male died in enclosure due to strangulation by a faulty snare. Later several pups died of parvo-virus. The diminished pack was released late last fall in new wolf territory for present day Montana, the Spotted Bear River. A lone male wolf showed up immediately to become alpha of what has been, so far, a successful pack with new pups despite a summer of firefighters in the area.Downside: Alpha male of Little Wolf Pack taken out-
The Little Wolf pack is the only pack so far this year to suffer a control kill. They have inhabited the area near and including the territory of the ill-fated Pleasant Valley pack, where wolf pack after wolf pack have been eliminated for killing cattle (4 packs since 1988). Unfortunately, what was thought to be the alpha male was put down, so Little Wolf may not be a breeding pair this year, although the actual structure of the pack is not certain.SW Montana-
Southwest Montana is split between the Yellowstone Recovery area and the Idaho recovery area (yes, you read that correctly). The diving line is north/south Interstate Highway 15. In the past I have been critical that the wolves may be declared "recovered" without a single pack in SW Montana (now I worry about my home in Eastern Idaho remaining wolfless). This year there are perhaps four packs in the area. Ironically, two of them may be the seemingly ill-fated wolves from the Twin Peaks and White Cloud Packs in Idaho that were heavily controlled due to controversial livestock depredations (many said it was a lot of dead wolves for precious few cow calves).Hard-hit Challis area Idaho Wolves now in SW Montana-
For several months the whereabouts was unknown of the Twin Peaks alpha pair and the White Clouds alpha female which were transported to north central Idaho just prior to time for their litters. However, the White Clouds female B36F moved to the Big Hole Valley with perhaps one or more pups. Two of her former pack mates (her children) are nearby and she may have paired with B86M. On the last location flight B63 and B98 were within ten miles of her. They have inhabited the wildlife rich areas near Swamp Creek and Tom Miner Lake in Big Hole Mountains. This area is wildlife rich in the summer, but bare in the winter.Will White Clouds female return to the White Clouds? Fortunately B36F has been located several times in Idaho near Salmon which is winter range. Will she return to the White Cloud Mountains, her home?
Idaho Watershed Project Romps-
If she does return, there is change on the range in the East Fork of the Salmon. The scrappy Idaho Watersheds Project has assumed management of a beautiful 440 acre bottomland ranch and over 30,000 acres of associated Forest Service and BLM grazing allotments.Twin Peaks Pack now at Anaconda- The Twin Peaks alpha pair migrated from Idaho into the Yellowstone Recovery area and are settled in the Mt. Haggin Wildlife Area near Anaconda, Montana. They are thought to have pups, but ground searches have not located them. Snow on the ground will help the search.
Two packs originate from Yellowstone wolves and move west- R115F originated from the Chief Joseph Pack and met another Yellowstone wolf. Two pups have been visually observed. The pack lives in the Madison Range, and recently were in Wolf Creek. Last winter there were also reports of wolves on the Wall Creek game range on the north end of the Gravelly Range. This is the next mountain range west of the Madison Range and about 40 miles west of Yellowstone NP. The wolves are all uncollared, but at least two adults are suspected and they are thought to have pups. They have been observed along the entire length of the Gravelly Range, even up on Lobo Mesa.
Place Names and wolves- Reading this article you may have noticed all the wolves in places named after wolves--Little Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek, Lobo Mesa. Certain places have always been wolf country. A scientist would say the ingredients of prey base, topography, geology, etc., just make certain places good wolf habitat. Another narrative would say the land has called the wolf back.
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