Downes, the DuNoir, and wolves-
Tomorrow is the final scheduled day on Judge Downes' hearing about the Diamond G's lawsuit asking the removal of all wolves from its property and the vicinity. And it appears that some wolves may be back in the area, although not radio-collared wolves. The Fish and Wildlife Service reported that a field crew they sent to the DuNoir area found sign of two or three wolves. Whether they represent the return of the two uncollared Washakie yearlings is unknown. One of the radio-collared Washakie yearlings is still in the deep wilderness Thorofare area. It is not known if he is with other wolves. The other radio-collared yearling was last tracked west of West Yellowstone, Montana -- very far from the Diamond G. Note: due to press of judicial business the hearing has been delayed. There is some speculation that Downes will let this drag out until the 10th Circuit rules on his general removal order of December 1997.In the Fish and Wildlife Services weekly gray wolf report they wrote of these wolves: "the wolves could be one or both of the uncollared Washakie yearlings and/or one or two of the 9 or so missing uncollared Yellowstone wolves, or uncollared members of the Soda Butte and Thorofare packs."
Note on grizzlies in the area.
The rest of Yellowstone-
Unlike the confusing situation in SE Yellowstone and the Teton/Washakie Wilderness further south, the rest of the Yellowstone Packs are in their usual places. I understand a number of sightings were made of the Druid Peak Pack this Labor Day, including one by my esteemed colleague Mark McBeth.
The Druids seem to all be alive and well, although the radio collar on the alpha female no. 40F may have stopped working.Doug Smith got an impressive aerial view of 17 of the Rose Creek Pack standing around a grizzly bear on an elk carcass. Fish and Wildlife Service opined that the bear probably took the carcass from the pack. Their update added, "Brave Bear!"
Idaho
The Idaho packs were reported to be in their usual locations. However, it was reported that up to three black wolves may be in the Idaho Panhandle area (extreme northern Idaho). This is part of the Montana wolf recovery area where there were no reintroductions, and where the population has not been faring well the last year.Farther south in Idaho efforts to capture members of the White Clouds Pack were not sucessful, and now guard dogs and/or aversive conditioning may be employed. A pair of wolves from the pack killed five ewes several weeks ago. The Wolf Recovery Foundation is one group working on alternatives to trapping and relocating or lethal control.
Montana
Good News. A new pack has been located in NW Montana. Its range is between that of Pleasant Valley and Murphy Lake Packs. It has been named the Little Wolf Creek Pack. An adult male and female from the pack were captured and radio-collared.
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