Brief, but complete update on wolf packs in the Northern Rockies

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released a complete mid-year estimate of known wolf packs in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

Folks will recall that the Northern Rockies Wolf population is broken into 3 areas: NW Montana (which also includes the Idaho Panhandle), Central Idaho (which covers central Idaho, but also SW Montana outside of the Greater Yellowstone area (GYA), and the Greater Yellowstone Area (which includes all of Wyoming, Eastern Idaho, and Eastern Montana). The later 2 areas are "experimental" wolf populations where wolves were released in 1995 and 1996. The NW Montana contained many wolves prior to the reintroductions, and no reintroductions were made, although since that time there has been cross migration between the three areas.

A wolf population reaches its maximum size each year by about May 10 when all the new pups have been born. Then it declines to its minimum size at the end of March the next year. Every year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has given an official size estimate of the wolf population in total and in each area at the end of the calendar year. At the end of 2003, it was 763 wolves in 51 breeding pairs (there are also lone wolves and groups of wolves with no breeding pair at the end of each year).

The mid-summer estimate is, of course, not complete because locations of reported or expected pack activity are still being checked out, especially in the rugged central Idaho area.

USFWS did not release a exact mid-year estimate instead, they phrased it this way: "The mid-year rough estimate of the wolf population for Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming is about 66 breeding pairs. This will likely result in a total population estimate of 800 to 850 wolves in December 2004, a roughly 10% increase over the December 2003 estimate of 763 wolves in 51 breeding pairs [defined as a male and female that successfully raise at least 2 pups until December 31]." I should add that some don't like this definition. It does result in a count of fewer breeding pairs than of groups of 2 or more wolves traveling together.

Rather than re-write the USFWS report, I will simply copy and paste their figures below (while eliminating some of the abbreviations and typos). I make comments in navy, and red, further news.

Yellowstone National Park- In Yellowstone National Park, the 2004 mid-year wolf population estimate is 12 breeding pairs, 16 packs (two or more wolves traveling together) of wolves, and a total of about 169 wolves. Last winter’s count was 11 breeding pair, 14 packs, and 157 wolves. It appears the Yellowstone population is at or a little above what it was last winter, as expected because the Park seems full. Mid-year estimates for 2004 are: 340F group- 7 adults/no pups; Agate creek- 10 adults/4-6 pups; Bechler- 4 adults/3 pups; Chief Joseph- 7adults/2 pups; Cougar Creek- 5 adults/5 pups; Druid Peak- 11 adults/7 pups; Geode Creek- 4 adults/11 pups; Gibbon Group- 5 adults/1 pup; Leopold- 6 adults/12 pups; Mollie’s- 4 adults/5 pups; Nez Perce- 4 adults/?? pups; Rose Creek II- 4 adults/??; Slough Creek- 7adults/7 pups; Specimen Ridge- 3 adults/5 pups; Swan Lake- 10 adults/3 pups; and Yellowstone Delta- 11 adults/6 pups.

Note there is no pup count for Rose Creek II, or Nez Perce. Another note is that some may want to put Rose Creek II outside the Park in the Montana portion of the GYA.

The Specimen Ridge Pack is wolf 194M and the "U Black" and pups. 340F group (7adults!) is seen frequently near Old Faithful. A likely name if they had pups would be "the Old Faithful Pack."

Some people might want to say the Druid Pack now has 6 pups rather than 7.

It looks like the remote Yellowstone Delta Pack currently has the most adult wolves (11) in the Park, followed closely by Agate Creek and Swan Lake. Druid Peak too has eleven adult wolves, but it isn't clear if it is still one pack.

The Yellowstone Park populations appears to have stopped growing, factoring in expected mortality for the rest of the year.

Addition 8-25. The 340F group (a.k.a "Old Faithful) might not be 7 adults. Recent viewing by backcountry travelers near Lone Star Geyser Basin indicates it looks more like 340F, a mate and 5 pups.

Wyoming outside of YNP- In Wyoming outside of Yellowstone National Park there are an estimated 6 breeding pairs, 8 packs of wolves, and +68 wolves. In December 2003 there were an estimated 5 breeding pairs, 13 packs and 77 wolves. It appears that the number of wolves outside Yellowstone National Park is the same as last year or perhaps slightly lower.. Mid-year estimates for 2004 are: Teton- 9 adults/8 pups: Washakie- 5 adults/6 pups: Owl Creek- 2 adults/4 pups: Carter Mountain- 1 adults/4 pups: Absaroka- 3 adults/pups ??: Sunlight Basin- 8 adults/3 pups: Greybull River- 8 adults/pups but # unknown: Beartooth- 7 adults/pups??: Daniel Pack- unknown status: Green river- 2 adults/no pups: and 2003 packs no longer existing in 2004 because of control- Gros Ventre and Pinedale.

The count still has a long way to go, but it looks like the Wyoming population outside YNP is the same or lower than last year, especially in few of the fact that it is thought likely that all or most of the Daniel Pack of 12 or so wolves was poisoned. New groups or packs are Carter Mountain and Owl Creek. The Absaroka group may, or may not be derived from the original Absaroka Pack (that pack might have all succumbed to mange).

With just 68 or so wolves roaming Wyoming outside Yellowstone Park, Wyoming is supporting far fewer wolves than either Montana or Idaho. This means that the wolf controversy in Wyoming about the "great burden" the state is bearing by supporting these wolves is false. The fact that Idaho, with no national parks, and Montana with just Glacier NP and a small part of Yellowstone supports many more wolves than Wyoming never comes out in the news from Wyoming officials.

This shows just how uncoupled the Wyoming wolf controversy is from reality on the ground. For those who study politics this no great surprise. Many political controversies are like that. That is because they are over symbols, not any material situation. To biological scientists, wolf managers, and even the general public this might seem unusual and most disconcerting.

At any rate, anyone arguing about wolf numbers should be armed with the fact that Wyoming, minus Yellowstone Park, supports relatively few wolves, and, other than loners, the wolves are all in the NW corner of the state.

Montana portion of GYA- There are 38 adults and at least 33 pups in 8 breeding pairs, and 10 packs (>2 wolves traveling together) in the Montana portion of the GYA compared to 5 breeding pair, 12 packs and 67 wolves in 2003. Mid-year in 2004 our estimate is: Red Rocks- 2 Adults/pups??; Freezeout- 8 Adults/7 pups; Bear Creek- 2 Adults??/0 pups, Chief Joe- 7 Adults/2 pups, Lone Bear- 4 Adults/3 pups; Casey Lake-2 Adults/5 pups; Sheep Mtn.- 2 Adults/1 pup; Mill Creek- 4 Adults/7 pups; Mission- 2 Adults/4 pups; Moccasin- 3 Adults/+2 pups; Phantom (Red Lodge)- 2 Adults/2 pups. So the wolf population in the Montana portion of the GYA is about where it was last year.

New packs or groups are Red Rocks, Bear Creek, Moccasin, and Phantom. Gone is Sentinel (control), Beartrap (control), and Taylor Peaks (mange). Some might want to call Chief Joe a Yellowstone Park pack. Sheep Mountain split into Sheep Mountain and Casey Lake. Casey Lake as a geographic feature, is the pond on the road between Gardiner and Jardine.

8-20-04.
The Freezeout Pack, which has been around for about 3 years, seems to be a current success story with 15 members and causing no known trouble with the numerous livestock in the Snowcrest and Gravelly Ranges.

The Phantom Pack is a new pack, but probably won't last because they have killed livestock, both sheep and cow calves, every month since last March. Currently control of the pack is underway in their range near Roscoe, Fishtail, and Red Lodge on the Beartooth Front. They kill 8 more ewes on August 18.

They are trapping for the Red Rocks pair next week. Wolf managers believe the pair has pups, and the pups would be big enough to radio collar by now.

The range riders hired to keep wolves away from livestock this year, have picked up a signal of a Yellowstone Park wolf, a Leopold Pack wolf that seems to have dispersed into the area.

SW Montana in the central Idaho Experimental Pop. Area- The estimate for the packs in SW Montana is +16 adults and 9 pups, in 3 breeding pair and as many as 11 packs- up slightly from the 2003 estimate of 1 breeding pair, 5 packs and 23 wolves. In 2004 they are: Grassy Top- 2 Adults/? pups; Black Canyon- 3 Adults/? pups; Battlefield- +2 Adults/4 pups; Painted Rocks- +2 Adults/? pups; Sapphire- 5 Adults/3 pups; Skalkaho- +2 Adults/+2 pups; Como Lake- ?Adults/? pups, Willow Creek- ? Adults/? pups; Mt Haggin- maybe 6 Adults/? pups; Fish Creek- ? Adults/? pups; Lupine- ? Adults/? pups.

8-20-04.
There is a lot of work to still be done here. New this year is Black Canyon. It turns out there is no Skalkaho Pack. The wolves seen were part of the existing Sapphire Pack in the Sapphire Range (note that Skalkaho Pass is a notable pass over the Sapphire Range, and wolves were seen there).

Mt Haggin area has had wolf reports for a long time. The wolves might have originated from the Idaho, Twin Peaks Pack alpha pair that were relocated to north central Idaho after livestock problems near Clayton, Idaho way back in March of 2000. However, by July 2000 this pair, wolves B18M and B35F, were found about ten miles south of Anaconda, Montana. This is in the Ht. Haggin state wildlife area. Mt. Haggin (photo) is the big peak in the Anaconda Range just southwest of the small city of Anaconda. The wildlife area is to its south and southeast.

The Como Lake pack was observed several years ago, and might have now crossed over the Bitterroot Crest into Idaho.

The Willow Creek Pack has no count, but wolves, including yearlings have continued to turn up dead (such as hit on the highway) in the mountains to the south and southwest of Drummond, MT.

The Fish Creek and Lupine Packs are close to Lolo Pass and to Idaho. Last year they were put in the NW Montana area, but they seem to have moved a bit south putting them into the central Idaho area (SW Montana portion).

The Battlefield Pack (in or near the Big Hole Valley) is near the famous battlefield has been around for about 3 years.

The new Black Canyon Pack ranges on the Idaho-Montana border (Continental Divide) in the Beaverhead Range.

Central Idaho- In Idaho, Nez Perce Tribe and Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) crews have documented 29 litters (breeding pairs), a minimum of 106 pups and 149 adults. It is very difficult to estimate numbers of adults and yearlings in each pack in Idaho because these packs are rarely visible during aerial locations, and all 29 of those packs qualified as breeding pairs. There are 45 groups of wolves currently being monitored in central Idaho. In 2003 central Idaho had 26 breeding pairs and about 368 wolves. At this point in time it appears the number of wolves will increase in central Idaho.
The 2004 mid-year central Idaho minimum wolf population estimate includes: Bennett Mtn- 1 adult/0 pups; Big Hole- ? Adults/? pups; Buffalo Ridge 5 Adults/3 pups; Calderwood- 2 adults/ 3 pups; Castle Peak- ?Adults/? pup; Chamberlain- ? adults/ ? pups; Chesimia- 2 Adults/3 pups; Cold Springs- 2 Adults/4 pups; Cook- 9 Adults eliminated by control [in Aug. 2004]; Coolwater 2 Adults/3 pups; Eagle Mountain 4 Adults/3 pups; Eldorado- ? Adults/ ? pups; Five Lakes Butte- 2 Adults/? pups; Florence- 6 Adults/ 7 pups; Galena- 3 Adults/ 3 pups; Gold Fork- 2 Adults/ 3 pups; Golden Creek- 6 Adults/ 6 pups; Gospel Hump- 11 Adults/ 4 pups; Hazard Lake- 5 Adults/ 3 pups; Hemlock Ridge- 4 Adults/ 5 pups; Jureano Mtn.- ? Adults/ ? pups; Kelly Creek- 3 Adults/ 2 pups; Landmark/Bear Valley- 6 Adults/ 5 pups; Magruder- 10 Adults/ 5 pups; Marble Mtn.- 3 Adults/2 pups; Monumental- 3 Adults/ 3 pups; Morgan Creek- 5 Adults/ 2 pups; Moyer Basin- 2 Adults/ 4 pups; O'Hara Point- 10 Adults/ 4 pups; Orphan- 2 Adults/ 5 pups; Packer John- 2 Adults/ 5 pups; Partridge- 4 Adults/ 5 pups; Red River- ? Adults/ ? pups; Scott Mountain- 5 Adults/ 4 pups; Selway ? Adults/ ? pups; Soldier Mtn.- 4 Adults/ 5 pups; Steel Mountain- 9 adults/ 4 pups; Timberline- 2 Adults/ ? pups; Twin Peaks- 2 Adults/ 2 pups; Warm Springs- 2 Adults/3 pups.

Of these, 3 packs formed in 1996 and there are still wolves in the area, likely descendants of the original wolf pairs -- Chamberlain Basin, Selway, and Landmark. Many of these packs above are new and a number from last year are missing.

I am very pleased with the pack on Coolwater Ridge. My spouse was the Forest Service Coolwater fire lookout in 1992 -- a wonderful long and tall ridge with lots of wildlife then, and now wolves!

Not mentioned here is the fact that there have been many sightings (last year) of a canid that looks like a wolf on the Fort Hall Reservation north of Pocatello. Now people report 4 wolves -- a gray and a "dark" adult, and 2 gray pups. Pocatello is at the intersection of the central Idaho and GYA areas.

NW Montana- The 2004 mid-year estimate for NW Montana is +35 adults and 24 pups in 8 breeding pair compared to 92 wolves in 4 breeding pairs in 2003. The estimate in 2004 is: Ninemile- 3 Adults/? pups; Garnet- 1 Adults/? pups; Blanchard Creek- ? Adults/? pups; Halfway- 3 Adults/0 pups; Great Divide- ? Adults/? pups; Kintla- +2 Adults/+2 pups; Whitefish- 3 Adults/+2 pups; Murphy Lake- ? Adults/? pups; Wolf Prairie- 2 Adults/3 pups); Fish Trap- ? Adults/? pups; Candy Mtn- ? Adults/? pups; Grave Creek- ? Adults/? pups; Spotted Bear- ? Adults/4 pups; Great Bear- 2 Adults/? pups; Red Shale-+2 Adults/? pups; Kootenai- ? Adults/? pups; Yaak ? Adults/? pups; Green Mtn- ? Adults/? pups.

The number of wolves in NW Montana has varied between about 50 and 100 in the years since 1995. It was close to 90 at the time of reintroduction, indicating that the area was already at its social, if not its biological carrying capacity.