There is a variety of wolf news to report.
Yellowstone-
Chief Joseph Pack vehicle mortality-
Another pup from the Chief Joseph Pack has been hit and killed by a vehicle on the US 191 speedway through the NW Corner of Yellowstone National Park. Killed on November 27 was a gray female wolf pup. She has been designed wolf 142F. She was about 7 months old. Her brother 141M, a black wolf, was killed on October 16, 1998.Pup 142F was the fourth pack member killed on that highway since the Chief Joseph Pack was established. There other two were the alpha female, 32F, killed in 1996, and one of 16F's pups (Chief Joseph II Pack) in the summer of 1997. The pack now has five of its 1998 litter of seven pups.
This highway also takes a heavy toll of other Park wildlife and wildlife on the adjacent national forests.
Changing color of no. 9 and no. 16-
Most people who follow the Yellowstone wolves are very familiar with the Park's matriarch, no. 9F, alpha female of the Rose Creek Pack. This famous black wolf is the mother, aunt, or great aunt of a significant portion of Yellowstone wolves. However, she isn't black anymore. She was never a completely black wolf, but now her fur is silvery gray, with only black ears and tail. I understand she is still fat and healthy, and a significant provider of food for the pack.All but one of her famous 1995 litter has left the Rose Creek Pack. Only no. 18F remains. No. 18F is in turn mother of many members of the pack. No. 16F, leader of the Chief Joseph II Pack (the other six members are still pups), has, according to Park biologist Deb Guernsey, developed a coat that looks almost like her mother, no. 9, when she arrived from Alberta in 1995 -- black with a gray and white fur as part of the undercoat.
Yellowstone pups are now receiving numbers-
In past years, pups in Yellowstone received an ID number, such as "R52M," when they were positively identified for the first time. Because mortality rates of pups are often high and pups are hard to observe and observe again to notice features that identify them as individuals, this year the pups are being numbered during the winter -- right now though the winter study period. Unfortunately some of the first to receive numbers are mortalities (see Chief Joseph Pack vehicle mortality above).Idaho-
Head of the Nez Perce Tribal Wolf Team earns prestigious award-
Curt Mack, head of the Nez Perce Tribal Wolf Team, which manages the Idaho wolf restoration has achieved a very significant award. He was chosen by Audubon Society as one of the top 100 conservationists of this century -- "champions of conservation" -- because of his efforts to restore river otters, wolves, and grizzly bears to central Idaho. Other champions chosen were people such as Aldo Leopold, Bob Marshall, John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, Margaret "Marty" Murie, and Sigurd Olsen. That's quite an honor, Curt. Congratulations!!Montana-
Boulder Pack yearling loses radio collar-
Thought at first to represent a mortality in the hard-luck Boulder Pack of SW Central Montana, the collar of one of the two pack yearlings has been recovered. It looks like it slipped off. The pack consists of two yearlings, born to non-reintroduced wolves. Joining the pack just prior to the planned dispatching their mother, Opal, B14M from the the Idaho reintroduction came and joined the pack of three. Hopefully B14 and the two yearlings will be able to rebuild their numbers beginning next spring.The day after I wrote this, Tom Beno forwarded this to me from the Montana Standard on Opa1. Thanks. Tom!
Low livestock depredation-
After a year of higher-than-predicted livestock depredations, the Montana wolves have been well behavied in 1998. The Montana Office reports only five cattle were killed this summer in NW Montana.General-
Bangs hires more wolf biologists for Montana and Wyoming-
The positions for Wyoming wolf project leader, plus biologists to monitor the wolves dispersing from Yellowstone and other places into Montana and Wyoming have been filled. Ed Bangs the "Gray Wolf Recovery Coordination for the Northern Rockies reports:
"Soon-to-be-Dr. Mike Jimenez (Mike's MS involved studying wolves in SE B.C. His dissertation studied wolf/whitetailed deer/livestock interactions near Missoula, Montana) was selected for the Wyoming Project leader. Mike has about 15 years experience with wolf issues in the western U.S."
"The Wyoming biologist position was filled by Brian Cox. Brian has a wildlife BS, an MS in Agriculture. After serving as an officer in the military, Brian managed the wildlife/livestock program for a ranch in Texas, and spent several years at the Starkey Wildlife Research Center in Oregon. He was working as the lead wildlife biologist for large private timber company in Oregon. Mike and Brian should be in their new office (along side the USFWS office run by Dave Skates) in Lander the first week of January.""Dr. Diane Boyd-Heger (Diane's MS involved studying the first wolf in Glacier National Park and coyote interactions, her Ph.D involved the genetics, dispersal, and landscape use of wolves in NW Montana) and Dr. Tom Meier (Tom's Ph.D involved a wolf ecology study in Denali National Park in Alaska) were selected for the 2 wildlife biologist positions in Helena, Montana. They both have at least 15 years experience working on wolf conservation in various parts of North America and Europe. Both have worked as wolf depredations control experts for USDA Wildlife Services."
These folks were selected from among 150 applicants. Many will recognize Mike's efforts with the Ninemile pack north of Missoula. He has now been chronicled in two books. Diane's recent efforts with the Mexican wolf restoration have been heroic, despite the unfortunate turn of events in the area.
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