Sunlight Basin pack is in bad shape

Sunlight Basin pack is in bad shape

12-22-2003, update 1-5-2004

Since 1999, it's been a fixture on the opposite side of Absaroka from the Druid Peak Pack. Driven from the Druids by her sister 40F, in the spring of 1998, 41F found big 52M from the Rose Creek Pack and they began the Sunlight Basin Pack in the vicinity of the North Absaroka Wilderness east of Yellowstone Park.
Every year they've had a litter of about 5 pups, and the pack's size has remained at about 8 - 12 wolves. Stability for the pack ended this year.

This summer two members were shot after they killed 3 cow calves in private pasture.

This fall 4 more members of the pack were dead. The alpha male 52M was one of them. His death might have been naturally, but the other 3 were illegally killed.

In an effort to follow the pack more closely three members were recently collared only to discover they had mange, 2 of the pups badly.

Finally, while mange free, 41F's health has deteriorated and she is having a hard time keeping up with the pack. Mike Jimenez said while the wolves are not seriously underweight it is sorry to see them with their lost fur, sores, and stiff old 41F trying to her best to keep up.

The spread of mange throughout the area is of growing concern. It was first observed in the Absaroka Pack to the SE, where 5 sick wolves struggle on. Wolves that keeping showing up to the NE near Red Lodge often seem have mange too. Jimenez says many observers and trappers in the area report that the coyotes are mangy, the probable source of the parasitic infection.

Fortunately, Jimenez says that from the air a least, the hard to track Beartooth Pack, seems to be mange free.

Miles away, to the north of Yellowstone Park, mange has also afflicted both the Sheep Mountain pack near Daley Lake and the Lone Bear Pack just south of Livingston. Both packs have recently taken to killing livestock and one has to wonder if their affliction is a contributing factor.

I am trying to gather reliable information on this mite infestation and hope to do a more complete article soon.

Update Jan. 5, 2004. Jimenez, Hawkins and Powers collared 3 more Sunlight Basin wolves, making it the most collared wolf pack in the GYE. They used net guns to capture them. All three (females) had mange -- two light and one moderate. All were treated with Invermectin. in an effort to ameliorate the mange. A 4th female was netted and then darted to tranquilize her. The dart broke her femur. She had severe mange and was euthanized. Ed Bangs wrote, "She was in poor condition and had severe mange that likely contributed to the injury." According to Bangs, the Sunlight Pack now has 7 members, including struggling original wolf 41F.

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