Gray Wolf Recovery Weekly Progress Report
Week of February 14 - February 20, 2004
Monitoring
NEW WEB ADDRESS - See westerngraywolf.fws.gov/
for maps of wolf pack locations and home ranges, tables of wolf numbers and depredations, litigation and
funding issues, and summaries of scientific studies. The 2003 annual report is in preparation.
The NPS and FWS in Wyoming are wrapping up their routine winter wolf capture efforts in Wyoming. On the
afternoon of the 13th, the Yellowstone Delta pack was located on a bison carcass in the southern part of
Yellowstone National Park. One was netted and 5 darted. Hawkins & Powers and Jimenez did their usual
great job and now hold the unofficial 'record' for fewest darts used per capture, 5 darts for 6 wolves.
On the 14th, Washakie pack was located toward Thermopolis, WY far outside their traditional home range and
5 of the 7 pack members were radio-collared. On the 16th, the Greybull River pack which had no radioed
members was seen during a WY G&F ungulate survey and a capture effort was successfully pulled together
resulting in 3 of 7 packs members being collared.
Attempts are still being made to radio-collar wolves and capture efforts in SW Montana continued this week.
MT FW&P are tagging elk for the predator prey relationship studies in the Madison Valley and Asher and
Fontaine tapped into this studies to cooperate in wolf capture efforts. On the 16th, 2 grey males, a
yearling and suspected 2-3 year, from the Chief Joe pack were radio-collared. One of them had fairly
extensive mange and he was found on mortality mode the next day and capture & mange related hypothermia
is suspected. An attempt to try for Sentinel pack was postponed after the landowner preferred that we not
collar wolves on their property. We always respect landowner wishes regarding access.
Sheep Mountain wolf #333 was located on mortality mode near Dome Mtn. on the 15th.
Livestock Depredations & Management (control)
WS western district supervisor Glazier provided less-than-lethal munitions training and munitions [cracker
shells and rubber bullets] to a remote landowner near Ringling, MT on the 20th. The landowner had a radioed
wolf [likely a disperser from Yellowstone] walk through his front yard/pasture a couple of days before and
he took some video of it before running it off. Asher provide some less-than-lethal munitions training to
a landowner in the Boulder River area [SE of Livingston, MT] who had some wolves chase a few of his cattle
before he ran the wolves off. She also provided a radio receiver and wolf frequencies to a rancher who lost
sheep in the Paradise Valley earlier this winter.
Research
Nothing new to report.
Information, Education & Law Enforcement
The FWS Director Steve Williams met with the WY Governor and members of the WY Legislature again this week.
They discussed what changes are necessary in WY state law and state wolf plan for the Service to be able
to proceed with a delisting proposal this year. The Wyoming legislature did not move the modified wolf
legislation that Service indicated was necessary to proceed with delisting forward this week. The WY house
did move legislation out of committee that would make WY state law consistent with its state wolf plan. At
this time it appears unlikely that any delisting proposal for the gray wolf Western Distinct Population
Segment could move forward this year.
More proof comes in that Bangs is losing his mind. He completely forgot about flying to Boise, ID early AM
on Monday for a Regional wolf coordination meeting on the afternoon of the 17th. Opps! Fortunately they
were able to patch him in via conf. call with the FWS field office and R-1 representatives who did
remember to travel to Boise for the meeting.
Wolves made several national news stories this week. NPR Radio Morning Edition had wolves featured in news
stories Thursday and Friday morning. ABC Nightly news had a 2 minute piece on wolves Tuesday night. Both
stories featured Dr. Douglas 'Hollywood' Smith and the amazing ecological changes that are being documented
in Yellowstone National Park as well as the unique wolf viewing opportunities in the Lamar Valley. As usual,
great job Doug.
Bangs and Smith conducted TV and U.S. and Canadian radio and print interviews on the 17th regarding the
death of wolf #41. She was the former alpha female of the Sunlight Basin pack who was shot on Feb 12th
because of chronic livestock depredations. She was the last of the original wolves that were reintroduced
into Yellowstone National Park. She was brought down as a pup in 1996, left the Druid pack in 1999 and
formed the Sunlight Basin pack. She was alpha until the past year or so. There are still a couple of
wolves in Idaho from the reintroduction B-2 [just discovered on mortality mode] and B-7 and B-11 relocated
from the Big Hole Valley several years ago - its surprising that the only two remaining reintroduced wolves
are an 'old married couple'. They have been the alpha pair of the new pack near Lolo on the MT/ID border
for many years.
Tom Meier, the FWS lead wolf biologist for NW MT, in Kalispell, MT was selected for the wildlife biologist
supervisory position in Denali National Park in Alaska. Congratulations to Tom but woe to us and the NRM
wolf recovery program. He will report to Alaska in March. Tom has done an excellent job and will be sorely
missed. Good luck in Alaska Tom!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY NEZ PERCE TRIBE GRAY WOLF RECOVERY PROJECT
The Nez Perce Tribe is seeking volunteers to assist on the Idaho Gray Wolf Recovery Project for the 2004
field season. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable field experience while working in the rugged
and beautiful backcountry of Idaho.
- Work Environment:
- Work is conducted throughout the state of Idaho and SW Montana, including front-country (road accessible)
and backcountry (remote and Wilderness) areas. This is a physically demanding position; extreme climate
and terrain will be encountered. Volunteers may be required to carry up to 80 lbs. for varying distances
over trail and cross-country conditions. Accommodations vary from cabins to backcountry houses to tent
camping depending upon the locations of wolves and logistics. Travel is mostly by 4-wheel drive, ATV,
fixed-wing aircraft, and foot.
- Work Schedule:
- Typically 10 days on/4 days off, though work may extend beyond the 10 days depending upon conditions,
Project needs, and logistics.
- Duration:
- Expected approximately late May through September, but may be shorter depending upon access, workload,
volunteer availability, and Project funding. Preference will be given to qualified applicants able to
commit for extended periods of time.
- Compensation:
- Includes transportation and $15.00/day while on duty. Some housing (travel trailers, USFS accommodations,
and bunkhouse-style quarters) is available for non-duty days. Volunteers are covered under the Tribal
Workmen's Compensation program.
- Primary Duties:
- · assist in locating, via ground and aerial telemetry, potential breeding packs/pairs of wolves to determine reproductive status,
- · assist in obtaining accurate counts of wolf pups at home sites,
- · assist in documenting locations of wolf home sites,
- · assist in collecting scientific data on the ecology of wolves in Idaho,
- · assist in capturing, processing/handling, and radio-collaring wolves, and
- · other duties as assigned.
- Qualifications:
- · documented experience backpacking and camping for extended periods of time in remote settings,
- · proficiency with orienteering (use of map and compass for navigating) required,
- · good physical condition,
- · must hold valid driver's license and be insurable under the Tribe's insurance policy,
- · must be willing to comply with the Tribe's drug and alcohol policy,
- · possess the ability to get along with others in backcountry settings for 10-day + time periods,
- · possess the ability to communicate verbally with interested and affected publics,
- · completion of, or enrollment in college/university Wildlife, or related, curriculum preferred,
- · radio-telemetry experience preferred,
- · capture, immobilizing, and handling/processing experience with wild animals preferred, and
- · experience flying in fixed-wing and helicopters preferred.
- Application Period:
- Applications will be accepted from March 1, 2004 until March 31, 2004. Applications must be received
at Gray Wolf Recovery Project office no later March 31, 2004. Applications received before March 1, 2004
and after March 31, 2004 will not be considered - no exceptions.
- How to Apply:
- Submit a cover letter expressing interest in the Project, and resume detailing educational and
employment backgrounds, along with the name and contact information of 3 work-related references.
Send application materials to:
Nez Perce Tribe Gray Wolf Recovery Project
Attn: Volunteer Program
P.O. Box 1922
McCall, ID 83638
Telephone: (208) 634-1061
Fax: (208) 634-3231
The weekly wolf report can now be viewed at the Service's Region 6 web site at
www.r6.fws.gov/wolf and
westerngraywolf.fws.gov. This report is
government public property and can be used for any purpose. Please distribute as you see fit.
Contact: Ed Bangs (406)449-5225 or Internet - ED_BANGS@FWS.GOV
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