After a long run with few Idaho wolf mortalities, the alpha pair of the Landmark Pack has been killed by possible foul play near the Middle Fork of the Salmon River inside the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. On May 9, 1998 the Idaho Statesman (Boise) reported that the body of the B6F, or Bee-Yah, had been recovered and is on the way to the Ashland, Oregon forensic pathology lab for autopsy. The body of of Bee-Yah was found on a trail. She had been lactating. B8M's body was located in the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and has not been recovered.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assumes the new pups perished.
This pair had been exceptionally well-behaved. In 1995, 96, and 97 they occupied the meadow country near the southern end of the Frank Church Wilderness where many cattle graze. They, and their numerous offspring never attacked the cattle.
The Landmark Pack began in May 1996, when Bee-Yeh and Keea produced their first litter. They had a second litter in 1997, making the Landmark Pack perhaps the largest in Idaho. Last autumn it is believed that one or more of the 1996 litter dispersed from the pack. As mentioned, it is assumed the 1998 litter is dead.
The mortalities were discovered in a routine wolf monitoring flight.
I received email from the Nez Perce Tribal Wolf Recovery Team reminding me that foul play has not been formally established as the cause, and that speculation about foul play might be wrong. I hope so. The Bear Valley Pack (3 unrelated adult wolves) recently passed through the Landmark Pack's territory. It is possible these deaths could have been due to territorial conflict. The fate of the remaining seven wolves in the Landmark Pack is not known. None of them is radio-collared.
9-15-1999. It turned out that some of the pups survived and prospered. The pack has been rediscovered and is inhabiting its traditional territory.
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Copyright ©1998 Ralph Maughan
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