Gray Wolf Recovery Weekly Progress Report
Week of August 7 - August 13, 2004
Monitoring
NEW WEB ADDRESS - The 2003 annual wolf report is at westerngraywolf.fws.gov.
It has maps of wolf pack locations and home ranges, tables of wolf numbers and depredations, litigation and
funding issues, and summaries of scientific studies.
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 [male and female
that successfully raise at least 2 pups until December 31]. It takes lots of hard work to get these data
and we appreciate everyone's efforts, especially our hard working field crews. Reports from the public and
other agencies are important to help our crews know where to start searching. Because of differences in
the methods used to estimate wolf populations in each area [visual observations are more frequent in
Montana and Wyoming than central Idaho because of less vegetative cover and less rugged terrain]. Therefore,
fall/winter flights are especially important in estimating the status of the wolf population in Montana
and Wyoming so all of these estimates should be considered very preliminary. The only 'official' wolf
population agency estimate is made four months from now, at the end of each year. This mid-year estimate
is much more inaccurate than the end-of-year estimate but does indicate the wolf population continues to
expand slightly, especially in Idaho. The specific break down is:
Yellowstone National Park
In Yellowstone National Park, the 2004 mid-year wolf population estimate is 12 breeding pair, 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 - 7 adults/2 pups
- Cougar Creek - 5 adults/5 pups
- Druid Peak 2 - 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/? pups
- Slough Creek - 7 adults/7 pups
- Specimen Ridge - 3 adults/5 pups
- Swan Lake - 10 adults/3 pups
- Yellowstone Delta - 11 adults/6 pups
|
Wyoming outside of Yellowstone National Park
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 estimate 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 sightly lower.
Mid-year estimates for 2004 are: |
- Absaroka - 3 adults/? pups
- Beartooth - 7 adults/? pups
- Carter Mountain - 1 adult/4 pups
- Daniel Pack - unknown status
- Green river - 2 adults/no pups
|
- Greybull River - 8 adults/pups but # unknown
- Owl Creek - 2 adults/4 pups
- Sunlight Basin - 8 adults/3 pups
- Teton - 9 adults/8 pups
- Washakie - 5 adults/6 pups
|
2003 packs no longer existing in 2004 because of control |
|
|
Montana portion of Greater Yellowstone Area
There are 38 adults and at least 33 pups in 8 breeding pairs [>2 adults and >2 pups], and 10 packs [>2
wolves traveling together] of wolves in the Montana portion of the GYA compared to 5 breeding pair, 12
packs and 67 wolves in 2003.
Mid-year estimates for 2004 are: |
- Bear Creek - 2 adults?/0 pups
- Casey Lake - 2 adults/5 pups
- Chief Joe - 7 adults/2 pups
- Freezeout - 8 adults/7 pups
- Lone Bear - 4 adults/3 pups
- Mill Creek - 4 adults/7 pups
|
- Mission - 2 adults/4 pups
- Moccasin - 3 adults/+2 pups
- Phantom [Red Lodge] - 2 adults/2 pups
- Red Rocks - 2 adults/? pups
- Sheep Mountain - 2 adults/1 pup
|
So the wolf population in the Montana portion of the GYA is about where it was last year. |
SW Montana in central Idaho Experimental Population 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.
Mid-year estimates for 2004 are: |
- Battlefield - +2 adults/4 pups
- Black Canyon - 3 adults/? pups
- Como Lake - ? adults/? pups
- Fish Creek - ? adults/? pups
- Grassy Top - 2 adults/? pups
- Lupine - ? adults/? pups
|
- Mt Haggin - maybe 6 adults/? pups
- Painted Rocks - +2 adults/? pups
- Sapphire - 5 adults/3 pups
- Skalkaho - +2 adults/+2 pups
- Willow Creek - ? adults/? pups
|
Central Idaho
In Idaho, NPT and IDFG crews have documented twenty-nine litters [minimum of 106 pups and 149 adults - it
is very difficult to estimate numbers of adults and yearlings in each pack in Idaho because packs are
rarely visible during aerial relocations] 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 Mountain - 1 adults/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
- 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 Mountain - ? adults/? pups
- Kelly Creek - 3 adults/2 pups
- Landmark/Bear Valley - 6 adults/5 pups
- Magruder - 10 adults/5 pups
- Marble Mountain - 3 adults/2 pups
- Monumental - 3 adults/3 pups
- Morgan Creek - 5 adults/2 pups
- Moyer Basin - 2 adults/4 pups
- O'Hair 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 Mountain - 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
|
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.
Mid-year estimates for 2004 are: |
- Blanchard Creek - ? adults/? pups
- Candy Mountain - ? adults/? pups
- Fish Trap - ? adults/? pups
- Garnet - 1 adults/? pups
- Grave Creek - ? adults/? pups
- Great Bear - 2 adults/? pups
- Great Divide - ? adults/? pups
- Green Mountain - ? adults/? pups
- Halfway - 3 adults/0 pups
|
- Kintla - +2 adults/+2 pups
- Kootenai - ? adults/? pups
- Murphy Lake - ? adults/? pups
- Ninemile - 3 adults/? pups
- Red Shale - +2 adults/? pups
- Spotted Bear - ? adults/4 pups
- Whitefish - 3 adults/+2 pups
- Wolf Prairie - 2 adults/3 pups
- Yaak - ? adults/? pups
|
Nez Perce biologists have been attempting to document the status of wolf activity in the Monumental Creek
drainage, within the Frank Church River-of-No-Return Wilderness Area for the past few years. An initial
survey of the area this year indicated the presence of the uncollared Monumental pack, but status could
not be verified. Holyan surveyed this area for the second time this year and was able to verify the
presence of a minimum of 3 pups. He also captured and collared an adult female wolf from this pack. This
radio collar will help us learn more about the status and territory of this newly radio-collared pack.
Nez Perce biologists Adam Gall and Ana Kampe attempted to capture and collar members of the elusive
Magruder pack. This pack has eluded our collaring efforts for the past two years. Although we were not
able to locate the only radio-collared wolf in this pack from the air to help direct the crews efforts,
they were able to find the Magruder pack after backpacking in several miles to the bottom end of Dry
Saddle Ridge. After setting and monitoring an extensive trap line, Adam and Ana were able to capture and
collar an additional member of this pack.
After working with Dave Spicer, IDFG, to survey for the uncollared Marble Mountain pack last hitch,
Anthony Novack and Meschia Connine returned for additional work in this area. Following up on additional
information provided by Dave, they were able to locate the current rendezvous site, obtain a minimum pup
count of 2, and captured and radio-collared two members of this pack. Thanks to Dave and the field crew,
the Monumental pack is now back on the air.
Livestock Depredations & Management (control)
Dave Thomas [WS] confirmed a wolf depredation of a full grown cow on a grazing allotment on Potlatch land
16 miles SE of Elk River on the 10th. He had a significant attack and kill site and lots of tracks and
scat. The wolves came back and howled at him while he was finishing up the investigation. He set two traps,
via guidance from Niemeyer, to collar and release any captured wolves on site. An IDFG CO helped WS with
this investigation. They captured, radio-collared, and released a gray, male pup (about 45-50 lbs) at the
Elk River depredation site in central Idaho. This new pack may be called the Chesimia pack. WS will
continue trapping.
WS confirmed a wolf predation of a 300 lbs. calf near Fairfield, Idaho and didn't pick up any wolf radio
signals in the area. WS set foot-hold traps and contacted the Forest Service to inform them of the wolf
predation and that WS is trapping in the area.
On the 11th WS investigated a report of an adult cow killed by wolves in a valley next to the Dunoir Valley,
north of Dubois, WY. The Washakie pack has killed several other cattle in that area. The carcass was being
actively fed on by several grizzly bears and had been fed on by wolves. From the limited remains WS could
only classify it as a probable wolf-kill. Lethal wolf control is ongoing because of the chronic level of
cattle depredations by that pack this summer.
On the night of the 10th, members of the Teton wolf pack killed and ate a 400 lbs. calf in Grand Teton
National Park in NW WY. Jimenez confirmed the depredation and that the cattle were being legally grazed
in GTNP. The WY Service field crew is on site with cracker shells, rubber bullets, and lights etc. During
the night of the 12th wolves were in cattle chasing and testing them until they were driven off by cracker
shells. The wolves quickly returned however and were driven off several times, but no depredations occurred.
Our biologists will be camped by the cattle for another night. GTNP or the herder will take over those
actions soon. The cattle are between the pack's rendezvous site and a river bottom - where the elk are so
the wolves are crossing back and forth through cattle to get to the elk. They were observed going through
cattle again the night of the 11th. We will watch the situation closely for now and recommend a more
active course of action if there are any additional depredations. Several conservation groups from the GYA
have called asking about Service and Park response to this situation, and what they are going to do, if
more conflicts occur.
MT FWP volunteer Hartman has been radio tracking the Wolf Prairie pack (new pack west of Kalispell) from
the ground twice a week. Ranch hands reported seeing two large pups on July 30. On August 4th, Hartman
located 1 dead cow and contacted the ranch manager. The ranch manager reported finding a total of 3 dead
cows in the same area with similar injuries. The manager did not think the cows had been killed by wolves
and did not contact Wildlife Services. Hartman examined the most intact carcass and believed that the
wounds (withers area only) were not consistent with wolves. Bears have been seen in the area and sign was
observed near the cow carcass suggesting the bear had at least been scavenging. A sweep with a metal
detector was inconclusive but ranchers reported that livestock had been illegally shot in the area in the
past. Investigations will continue. Ground tracking indicates that the new pack is constantly near cattle,
but no further depredations have occurred (since 1 confirmed calf, 3 probable calves, and 1 probable cow
on July 14).
Research
Nothing new to report.
Information, Education & Law Enforcement
A Lewiston, Idaho, man pleaded guilty in Federal Court on July 29, 2004, to the killing of a gray wolf and
was ordered to serve one year of probation with nationwide revocation of hunting privileges and to pay
$21,252 in civil restitution to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The man admitted in court that he
had shot and killed the wolf during a 2003 elk hunt near Elk River, Idaho, and had taken the tail of the
wolf to his Lewiston residence. The wolf, an adult female, was not radio-collared. Congratulations to FWS
and IDFG partnership in bringing this one to a successful closure of this law enforcement case.
On July 16th the DOI and Service announced a proposal to delist the Eastern Distinct Population Segment of
the gray wolf. The wolf population in the DPS is estimated at more than 3,200 wolves in Minnesota,
Michigan, and Wisconsin, and the numerical recovery goals have been met for the DPS. All three of those
states have state laws and state wolf management plans that will assure the wolf population remains
recovered should the Endangered Species Act's protection be removed. The proposal was published in the
Federal Register on 7/21. All outreach documents, including a pre-publication version of the proposed rule
on file at the OFR, are now on our web site at: midwest.fws.gov/wolf/edps/eastern-dps.htm.
The Office of the Federal Register has confirmed that the Notice of Public Hearings for the proposed rule
to delist the Eastern Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf will publish on Friday, August 13, 2004.
The notice was signed by Acting Director Elizabeth Stevens on August 6, 2004.
The Wisconsin DNR is providing opportunities for the public to comment on the state wolf management plan
on the DNR web. The DNR will conduct a 30-day comment period through September 2 for interested person to
submit comments. Web groups with interest in wolf management are encouraged to link to the questionnaire;
dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/news/on/2004/on040803.htm#art1,
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/mammals/wolf/.
MT FWP biologists Therease Hartman gave a wolf talk at the Big Larch campground in Seeley Lake on Friday,
August 6th. There were over 85 people in attendance. She began her talk with a puppet show that has the
wolf giving his side of the story regarding a couple of popular fairy tales. The puppet show also helps
address the human safety issue that is a frequent topic at campground talks, where people might be hiking
in wolf territory. After the puppet show she talked about wolf history and ecology, followed up by a
question and answer period. Some attendees were locals and there were people from Colorado, California
and Canada.
MTFWP is in the process of hiring 3 field-based state wolf management specialists. They plan to have the
process completed and staff in place by the end of September. Nearly 140 people applied and competition
for these Kalispell, Big Timber, and Dillon, MT based positions is high.
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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