Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery 2000 Annual Report

Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery
2000 Annual Report

A cooperative effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
the Nez Perce Tribe, the National Park Service, and USDA Wildlife Services

Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery 2000 Annual Report - PDF version (303KB)

This cooperative annual report presents information on the status, distribution and management of the recovering Rocky Mountain wolf population from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000.

BACKGROUND

Gray wolf populations (Canis lupus) were extirpated from the western U.S. by the 1930s. Subsequently, wolves from Canada occasionally dispersed south into Montana and Idaho but failed to survive long enough to reproduce. Public attitudes toward predators changed and wolves received legal protection with the passage of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973. Wolves began to successfully recolonize northwest Montana in the early 1980s. By 1995, 6 packs lived entirely in northwestern Montana. In 1995 and 1996, 66 wolves from southwestern Canada were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park (YNP) (31 wolves) and central Idaho (35 wolves).

The Rocky Mountain wolf population comprises 3 recovery areas: The Northwest Montana recovery area (NWMT, Figs.1, 2 ) includes northwest Montana and the northern Idaho panhandle. The Greater Yellowstone recovery area (GYA, figs. 1, 4 ) includes Wyoming and adjacent parts of southeast Idaho and southeast Montana. The Central Idaho recovery area (ID, Figs. 1, 3 ) includes central Idaho and adjacent parts of southwest Montana. Wolves in the 3 recovery areas are managed under different guidelines, depending upon their designated status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). NWMT wolves are classified as endangered, the most protected classification under the ESA. GYA and ID wolves are classified as nonessential experimental populations and managed with more flexible options than the endangered population. The Service believes that 30 breeding pairs of wolves, with an equitable and uniform distribution throughout the 3 states for 3 successive years would constitute a viable and recovered wolf population. If other provisions required to delist are met, primarily adequate regulatory mechanisms in the form of state wolf management plans that would reasonably assure that the gray wolf would not become threatened or endangered again, the Service would propose delisting. It is expected that meeting the recovery goal and delisting will occur within 3 to 5 years.

NORTHWESTERN MONTANA WOLF RECOVERY AREA

Personnel

The year 2000 saw changes in the staffing of the USFWS wolf recovery program, as Diane Boyd took a job in the private sector, and Tom Meier moved to Kalispell, where Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is providing the USFWS with office space. The Turner Endangered Species Fund hired Val Asher to work closely with USFWS on monitoring and research with Montana wolves. In 2001 the USFWS expects to hire two seasonal biologists to help with summer field work. As in previous years, volunteers will also help with wolf collaring and monitoring efforts. Staffing of USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services changed as Carter Niemeyer, formerly the Rocky Mountain wolf specialist working out of Helena, left to take a job with the USFWS in Boise ID. As local Wildlife Services agents have become more familiar with wolves, they have taken over the handling of wolf livestock depredations, and the agency will now rely on them for most investigations and control actions.

Monitoring

Spring and Fall trapping efforts resulted in the capture and collaring of 7 wolves from 5 packs. Field work was hampered by widespread forest fires and the closing of public lands that resulted from them. At the end of 2000, 19 radio-collared wolves (~30% of the population) from 8 different packs were transmitting in the NWMT area. These packs, together with uncollared packs and suspected new packs, totaled about 64 wolves in the area (Figs. 1, 2; Tables 1, 4). Radio-collared wolves were located from airplanes approximately twice per month. Collared wolves in and around Glacier National Park (GNP) were located daily from the ground in summer and at least weekly in winter by GNP and USFWS staff and volunteers. Packs included in the NWMT recovery area as of December 2000 were South Camas, North Camas, Murphy Lake, Ninemile, Boulder, Whitefish, Grave Creek, Little Wolf, and Spotted Bear (Table 1). Packs that occasionally travel into NWMT but den and spend most of their time in Canada, and therefore are not counted in the NWMT area, include the Wigwam, Spruce Creek, and Belly River Packs. No radio-collared animals lived as resident lone wolves in 2000, although several dispersing or translocated wolves traveled alone for varying periods of time. Eight collared wolves were known to have dispersed from their packs in 2000, and another eight disappeared and may have dispersed (Table 1).

Several small, new packs of wolves are known or suspected, including a pack that reportedly had pups in the Danaher River area of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, possible packs in the Lincoln/Alice Creek and Ovando areas south of the Scapegoat Wilderness, a pack of 3 south of Libby in the Fishtrap/McGinnis Creek area, a pair of wolves found killing cattle north of Browning, and a pair of wolves seen in the North Fork of the Sun River drainage.

Reproduction was confirmed in the North Camas, Murphy Lake, Ninemile, Boulder, Whitefish, Grave Creek and Spotted Bear Packs, and suspected but not confirmed in the Little Wolf and Danaher Packs (Table 1). Pup survival appeared to be low, with only 3 of 7 Murphy Lake pups, 4 of 5 Whitefish pups, and 0 of 2 Spotted Bear pups surviving into 2001. The presence of only 2 pups in the North Camas and Grave Creek Packs in winter 2000-2001 also suggested that some pups may have been lost earlier. Cause of death for these pups is unknown. A minimum of 18 wolves (radio-collared and uncollared) died in northwestern Montana in 2000. This count does not include animals that disappeared whose fates were unknown. Where the cause of death was known, illegal killing by humans was the most common (at least 7 wolves), followed by government control actions (4 wolves) and train or car strikes (4 wolves).

Table 1: Northwest Montana wolf recovery area: Wolf packs and population data 2000

WOLF PACK	PACK SIZE JAN 2001			MORTALITIES			KNOWN DISPERSED	MISSING³	CONTROL		CONFIRMED LOSSES
WOLF PACK	ADULT	PUP	TOT	NATURAL	HUMAN¹	UNKN²	KNOWN DISPERSED	MISSING³	KILLED	MOVED	CATTLE	SHEEP	DOGS
South Camas	2	0	2		1		1	2
North Camas ⁴	2	2	4					1
Murphy Lake	2	3	5		5			1
Ninemile	5	4	9					1					1
Boulder	5	6	11					1			3
Whitefish	3	4	7		1	1	2
Grave Creek	2	2	4			1	1				1
Little Wolf	1+	?	5?		6				4		2
Spotted Bear	2	0	2		2	1	4	2
Danaher	2	2?	4?
Alice Creek			?									2
Fishtrap	3		3
Browning	2		2								3
Sun River	2		2
Ovando			2?
Misc./ Lone	1		1								1		2
Total	34	23	63	0	15	3	8	8	4	0	10	2	3

¹ Includes 4 wolves killed in control actions.
² Does not include 7 pups that disappeared before winter.
³ Missing collared wolves.
⁴ Underlined packs are counted as breeding pairs toward recovery goals.

Outreach

Program personnel presented informational talks and status reports throughout the year to various federal and state agencies, public and private institutions, special interest groups, and rural communities. During 2000, project personnel (USFWS and WS) gave 50 public presentations to approximately 3300 people. Additionally, scores of informal presentations to small groups or individuals were conducted during this time. Numerous radio and television interviews and news spots featuring project personnel were broadcast locally and nationally.

Livestock Depredations and Management

All reports of wolf depredation on livestock are investigated by USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, who then take appropriate control action in consultation with USFWS. Livestock losses and resulting control efforts were lower in 2000 than in 1999. Confirmed losses in 2000 included 10 cattle, 2 sheep, and 3 dogs (Tables 1 and 5). In wooded and/or mountainous country, livestock carcasses may not be found promptly, if ever. It can be difficult or impossible to confirm wolf depredation when livestock carcasses are eaten or decomposed. Therefore, confirmed losses represent only a portion of actual losses. Whether this is a large or small portion of such losses is the subject of much controversy and current research (see Diamond Moose calf mortality study, Central Idaho section). With wolves occupying more widespread areas and awareness of wolves increasing, more ranchers suspect wolf depredation. In addition to the 11 incidents of verified wolf depredation in northwest Montana, USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services investigated approximately 25 other reports that were not verifiable as wolf depredation or were attributed to other causes. Depredation control efforts resulted in the killing of 4 wolves. All confirmed livestock depredations by wolves in NWMT in 2000 occurred on private land.

Little Wolf Pack: Since 1990, two wolf packs, the Marion and Pleasant Valley Packs, have been virtually eliminated by control actions in the Pleasant Valley/Lost Prairie area west of Kalispell. Prior to 2000, 8 wolves had been killed and another 8 translocated from this area. After the removal of the Pleasant Valley Pack in 1999, the Little Wolf Pack moved down from the north and began killing cattle in the area. Four wolves from the Little Wolf Pack were killed in two control actions in 2000. The formation of Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge and several adjoining conservation easements will greatly reduce the number of cattle being grazed in this area and increase the opportunity for wolves to successfully reoccupy it.

Boulder Pack: No other wolf control was conducted in NWMT in 2000, except for capture, collaring and release on site. The Boulder Pack near Deer Lodge was involved in the confirmed losses of 3 calves, and the ranch where this pack lives reported losses of 40 calves in 2000, compared to normal losses of 15-20 calves. The cattle were not monitored closely in summer because of widespread forest fires and land closures. In 2001, several juvenile members of the Boulder Pack will be captured and relocated to more remote parts of NWMT, to decrease the food demands of the Boulder Pack in hopes of reducing the likelihood of depredations.

Other Packs: The Grave Creek Pack near Eureka killed one calf in Spring 2000. This is the first known depredation by this pack, which usually lives in remote parts of the Whitefish Range. A yearling female wolf was captured and radio-collared 1/4 mile from the scene of the depredation, the same morning. The wolves soon moved away from the area and no further problems were reported. A single wolf killed a calf near Lincoln in May 2000. The Alice Creek Pack, east of Lincoln and south of the Scapegoat Wilderness, killed 2 lambs in August. Efforts to locate and collar this pack in 1999 and 2000 were unsuccessful. In December 2000, a pair of wolves killed 3 heifers near Browning on the Blackfeet Reservation. The wolves could not be located so no control was attempted. Sporadic depredations and reports of wolves have come from this area east of Glacier National Park over the last 20 years.

Dog attacks: Losses of domestic dogs to wolves in 2000 included one guarding dog that was attacked and eventually disappeared in the Ninemile Valley, and two lion-hunting dogs killed in the Fish Creek drainage, probably by the Kelly Creek Pack, which spends most of its time in the Central Idaho recovery area.

Rancher compensation: Since 1987, Defenders of Wildlife has administered a compensation program to reimburse ranchers for livestock losses to wolves in the Rocky Mountain States. Since 1987, more than $150,000 has been paid to ranchers in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. For information on that program, see the Defenders website:

http://www.defenders.org/wolfcomp.html

GREATER YELLOWSTONE WOLF RECOVERY AREA

Personnel

USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services Wyoming State Director Rick Phillips retired in 2000 and was replaced by Rod Krischke. Yellowstone National Park wolf biologist Kerry Murphy left the wolf program to lead the Park’s efforts to understand rare forest carnivores such as lynx and marten. Shaney Evans, formerly a research assistant with the Yellowstone Park Foundation, is now conducting graduate research on elk and wolves in YNP.

Monitoring

At the end of 2000, at least 177 wolves in 18 packs (including 13 breeding pairs as defined in the recovery plan) were present in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) (Figures 1, 3, Tables 2, 4). Fourteen wolves were captured and radio-collared by helicopter in January and February 2000, and 2 wolves were captured with traps, radio-collared and released on site south of the park in summer 2000. At the end of the year, 43 radio-collared wolves (26% of the population) were being monitored. Approximately 119 wolves (8 packs) were located inside Yellowstone National Park (YNP) and 58-60 outside YNP (10 packs: 6 in Wyoming and 4 in Montana). One new pack formed inside YNP, a dispersing female (#152) from the Leopold Pack paired with an uncollared wolf and had a litter of at least four pups in the Swan Lake-Sepulcher area of YNP. They were named the Swan Lake Pack Two new packs formed northeast of YNP, the Absaroka and Beartooth Packs. Pack size in the GYA averaged 9.3 wolves with larger packs in YNP (mean = 14.6) than outside the park (mean = 5.8). Collared wolves were located approximately 4 times per month by airplane and more often by ground crews in several research areas both inside and outside YNP.

A total of 71-77 pups survived to December 31, 2000. Pup survival was higher in 2000 in YNP than in 1999 (2000 = 65 of 84, 77%; 1999 = 18 of 40, 45%). Parvovirus possibly explained the poor survival in 1999 as all captured wolves tested positive, and the timing of pup mortality was during the post-weaning period, when pups become vulnerable. Sixteen litters were born to 13 breeding pairs. Two packs had more than one litter, the Druid Peak Pack had at least three and the Rose Creek Pack had two. Recovery plan standards define a breeding pair as a male and female wolf that successfully raise at least two pups to December 31. Because these packs with multiple litters contained only a single breeding male, each pack was counted as a single breeding pair for recovery purposes.

At least 20 wolves died in GYA in 2000. These mortalities do not include pups that died within the first 4 months of life. Nine wolves died due to human caused mortality (6 in control actions, 2 from vehicle strikes, 1 illegal killing), 4 to natural causes (prey, cougar or other wolves), and 5 to unknown mortality, some of which are still under investigation. Six collared wolves were known to have dispersed away from their home packs. Another 3 collared wolves are missing and may have dispersed (Table 2).

Two YNP packs were renamed because they no longer lived in the area they were named after, and none of the original wolves were still present in the pack (although descendants are still present). The Crystal Creek Pack, which resides in Pelican Valley, was renamed Mollie’s Pack after the late Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Mollie Beattie, to recognize her extraordinary contribution to wolf recovery in the northern Rockies. The Soda Butte Pack was renamed the Yellowstone Delta Pack after the Yellowstone River delta, an area of YNP where they are often located.

Table 2: Greater Yellowstone wolf recovery area: Wolf packs and population data 2000.

WOLF PACK	PACK SIZE JAN 2001			MORTALITIES			KNOWN DISPERSED	MISSING²	CONTROL		CONFIRMED LOSSES ³
WOLF PACK	ADULT	PUP	TOT	NATURAL	HUMAN¹	UNKN	KNOWN DISPERSED	MISSING²	KILLED	MOVED	CATTLE	SHEEP	DOGS
Druid Peak ⁴	7	20	27	2	1
Rose Cr. (2 groups)	10-13	5-8	18	1		1	1
Leopold	6-8	5-7	13				2	1
Swan Lake	2	5	7
Mollie's (Crystal Creek)	4	0	4			1	1	1
Chief Joseph	7	6	13		1		1			2	1		2
Nez Perce	15	7	22				1
Y. Delta (Soda Butte)	6	7	13	1		1
Sheep Mountain	7	0	7		3				3	4	3
Teton	4	0	4			1		1
Gros Ventre	3	3	6		2				2		3		3
Washakie	4-5	2-3	6-8										2
Sunlight Basin	6	4	10
Absaroka	2	3	5
Beartooth	3	0	3
Taylor Peaks	3	2	5
Gravelly Range			5?
Mill Creek	3+	2+	7
Loners inside YNP	2	-	2
Loners outside YNP ⁵	0	-	0	2	2	1			1			39	1
TOTAL	94-100	71-77	177-179	6	9	5	6	3	6	6	7	39	8

¹Includes 6 wolves killed in control actions.
² Missing collared wolves.
³Additional losses listed as "probable" or "possible" described in text.
⁴ Underlined packs are counted as breeding pairs toward recovery goals.
⁵ Wolf numbers indicate collared lone wolves. Uncollared lone wolves killed 25 sheep in SW Wyoming, 14 sheep and 1 dog in SE Idaho.

Ongoing Research

Research in Yellowstone National Park

Wolf-Prey Relationships: Wolf-prey relationships were documented by observing wolf predation directly and by recording characteristics of wolf prey at kill sites. Wolf packs were monitored during two winter-study sessions, periods of time in which wolves were intensively radio-tracked each day for 30 consecutive days during March and November-December. The Leopold, Rose Creek, and Druid Peak Packs were monitored by teams of two persons from the ground and from aircraft; the Chief Joseph, Crystal Creek (Mollie's), Nez Perce, Sheep Mountain, and Soda Butte (Yellowstone Delta) Packs were monitored from aircraft only. Behavioral interactions between wolves and prey, predation rates, the total time wolves fed on their kills, percent consumption of kills by wolves and scavengers, characteristics of wolf prey (e.g., nutritional condition), and characteristics of kill sites were recorded and entered into a data base. The abundance and sex-age composition of elk within wolf pack territories were also estimated from the ground and from fixed-wing aircraft.

Composition of Wolf Kills: Project staff detected 113 definite and 210 probable kills made by wolves in 2000, including 281 elk (87% of total), 10 bison (3%), 4 moose (1%), 5 deer (1.5%), 4 coyotes (1%), 1 wolf, and 17 unknown prey (5%). The composition of elk kills was 34% calves (0-12 months), 34% cows, 19% bulls, and 13% unknown sex and age. Bison kills included 3 calves, 1 cow, 1 bull, and 4 adults of unknown sex. Moose kills included 2 cows, and 2 of unknown age and sex. Most bison and moose were killed during late winter.

Winter studies: During the March winter study, wolves were observed for 261 hours from the ground. The number of days wolf packs were located from the air ranged from 10 (Soda Butte Pack) to 23 (Leopold, Rose Creek, Druid Peak, and Nez Perce Packs). Eighty-five definite or probable wolf kills were detected, including 70 elk, 5 bison, 1 mule deer, 3 moose, 1 coyote, and 5 prey of unknown species. Among elk, 30 (43%) kills were calves, 23 (33%) were cows, 14 (20%) were bulls, 2 (3%) were adults of unknown sex, and 1 (1%) kill was an elk of unknown sex and age. Packs that resided on the northern range averaged 1 ungulate kill per 1-3 days. During the November-December winter study, wolves were observed for 309 hours from the ground. The number of days wolf packs were located from the air ranged from 11 (Soda Butte Pack) to 21 (Swan Lake, Leopold, and Rose Creek Packs). Sixty-seven definite or probable wolf kills were detected, including 63 elk, 1 bison, 1 coyote, and 2 unknown prey. Among elk, 15 (24%) kills were calves, 19 (30%) were cows, 24 (38%) were bulls and 5 (8%) kills were elk of unknown sex and age. Packs that resided on the northern range averaged 1 ungulate kill per 2-3 days.

Other Carnivore Studies: In addition to studies on wolf-prey relationships, YNP staff and researchers from the Biological Resources Division (BRD), the Hornocker Wildlife Institute (HWI), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and State of Montana began collaborative studies of carnivore interactions on the northern range of YNP and Gallatin National Forest. A 3-month study using funds from all of the above agencies, plus funds raised privately by the Yellowstone Park Foundation (YPF) examined the effects of big game hunting on carnivore behavior before and after the hunting season north of YNP. YNP was considered a refuge from human activity during the hunting season. Preliminary results indicate that grizzly bears were drawn toward hunter activity, cougars were repulsed, and wolves were affected little.

Wolf Genetics: Familial relationships among Yellowstone wolves were estimated using microsatellite analysis of DNA that was collected from live-captured or dead wolves. One-hundred-fourteen free-ranging wolves born in 14 different packs (26 total litters) were genotyped at 12-23 loci, including 79 offspring. A wolf pedigree was constructed. Preliminary results suggested that, immediately after reintroduction, Yellowstone wolves were more polygynous than in areas characterized by wolves in long-standing populations. Three publications are in preparation. This work is a collaborative effort with Eric Mathur and Dorris Hafenbradl at Diversa Corporation, Janet Zeigle and Larry Joe at Celera Agen Corporation, Dr. Karl Broman at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Michael McClelland at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, and John Varley and Sara Stevenson at the Yellowstone Center for Resources.

Wolf Management: Radio-collaring: Fourteen wolves were captured by helicopter darting in January and February 2000. Eight males and 6 females were captured. Nine and 5 were adults and pups, respectively. This was an unusual age composition for helicopter capture of wolves as typically >80% of the wolves captured in YNP are pups. Below normal pup survival was likely a contributing factor to this capture ratio. Wolves were captured in the following packs: Rose Creek (4), Leopold (2), Crystal Creek (2), Nez Perce (2), Sheep Mountain (2), Chief Joseph (1), and Druid Peak (1). Besides attachment of radio collars, standard measurements and blood (genetics and disease monitoring) were collected on all wolves handled.

Pen Removal: The wolf acclimation pen near Nez Perce Creek and the remaining portions of the Trail Creek, Fishing Bridge, and Blacktail Deer Plateau pens were removed from the field during August and stored near Stephens Creek. Only one pen left over from the 1995 reintroduction in Lamar Valley is still standing in YNP.

Research in Wyoming outside Yellowstone National Park

Winter prey selection of wolves in the Gros Ventre River drainage:

Cooperators: USFWS, Grand Teton National Park, US Forest Service, and the National Elk Refuge.

We monitored wolves near Jackson Hole, Wyoming to: 1) determine wolf distribution and occurrence, 2) determine winter food habits of wolves, and 3) describe the behavioral response of elk to the presence of wolves. In 2000, 2 wolf packs resided in the Jackson Hole area. We located radio-collared wolves several times per week and estimated home ranges using 95% minimum convex polygons. The Teton Pack (5 wolves) established a home range of approximately 1,414 km² (546 miles²) using the Gros Ventre River drainage and the northeastern corner of Grand Teton National Park. The Gros Ventre Pack (6 wolves) had a home range of approximately 1,100 km² (425 miles²) that overlapped with the Teton Pack in the Gros Ventre River drainage and extended southwest onto the National Elk Refuge.

During winter, we located and examined 40 wolf kills by snow-tracking the Teton and Gros Ventre Packs from January 19, 2000 to April 5, 2000. Eleven additional kills were located during aerial telemetry flights or discovered by biologists from other agencies. Wolves killed 48 elk, 2 coyotes, and 1 beaver. Fifty-six percent of the elk killed were calves and 44% were adult cows. Due to high consumption of calf carcasses, it was not possible to determine sex on most of the calves killed. Mean consumption of carcasses by wolves was 84%.

The Teton and Gros Ventre Packs routinely hunted elk on 3 state feed grounds located 5 miles apart along the Gros Ventre River drainage. Approximately 800 elk were fed hay in each feed ground. When wolves hunted near the northern (Alkali) feed ground, elk routinely left the area and dispersed to the middle (Cabin) feed ground. When wolves hunted elk near the southern (Fish Creek) feed ground, elk also dispersed to the Cabin feed ground. Throughout the winter, about 2000 elk frequented the Cabin feed ground. Even though wolves killed elk on Cabin feed ground, elk often remained in the area. We did not detect any surplus killing. Alkali feed ground had considerably more tree cover around its perimeter, while Fish Creek feed ground had deeper snow cover. The Cabin feed ground was surrounded by relatively open sagebrush. We hypothesized that elk congregated in larger herds as a predator defense strategy and preferred Cabin feed ground due to its relatively lower snow cover and better visibility to see approaching predators. However, fidelity to Cabin feed ground was probably also influenced by the 100+ bales of hay put out each day for elk to eat. The unexpected crowding of elk at Cabin feed ground became very controversial as the state game management agency was forced to adjust winter feeding programs.

Aversive Conditioning of Captive Wolves:

Cooperators: Turner Endangered Species Fund, USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, USFWS.

We tested aversive conditioning on wolves at the Flying D Ranch in Bozeman, MT in an attempt to look at alternative non-lethal methods to manage wolf depredations. We received 4 members of the Sheep Mountain Pack that were killing cattle in the Paradise Valley. They were placed in a 1-acre pen and allowed to acclimate for several months before aversive conditioning trials were initiated. When the wolves were captured to fit electronic training collars, wolf #16 died of renal failure due to heat stress. A calf with an Innotech remote training system was placed in the pen with the two 2-year-old wolves and one yearling male wolf. Wolves were shocked when they came within 1 meter of the calf. We initially tested the collars by placing a beef hide in the pen. Wolf # 195 received a shock when it approached the hide and immediately retreated and remained wary of the hide for the next 6 hours. The other 2 wolves watched the wary behavior of wolf #195 and would not approach the hide nor that side of the pen for the duration of the trial. We placed a bison calf in the pen to allow wolves to kill native prey. The wolves made 1 attempt snapping at the head of the bison calf, but the calf showed no vulnerability and continued to live in the pen for 10 days. When it was apparent the wolves would not kill the bison calf, we euthanized the calf and allowed the wolves to feed on it.

Five trials with a beef calf were conducted. We allowed the calf to roam freely in the pen. We left the calf in the pen overnight during 1 trial and found it unharmed the next morning. Interactions between wolves and calf ranged from bedding down to agitation and pacing by both species, to the calf chasing the wolves around the pen. We observed #195 grab the calf by a hind leg. The collar did not seem to shock and we immediately shouted, stopping the attack. Another trial was conducted after this attempt, but the wolves would not come near the calf.

We are still in research and development stages of this project. Improvements are being made to the collars by adding a digital logger to verify that wolves are receiving shocks. We believe pack dynamics of decision makers in the group may play a major role in whether attacks occur. The project will continue for 2-3 years to test this method.

The three Sheep Mountain wolves, wearing conventional radio collars, were released back into their natal territory in December. They visited their old den site and rendezvous site and split up during the late elk hunt. Wolf #195 has remained in his territory on the east side of Paradise Valley and was seen with up to 4 other uncollared wolves. Wolf #189 and #196 stayed together and traveled with a dispersing female (wolf #155 from the Rose Creek Pack), frequenting the west side of Paradise Valley. On March 1, wolf #189 was found dead. His death is under investigation. Wolf #196 and #155 split up after this incident and continued to travel alone. To date, no depredations have been documented by these wolves.

Outreach

YNP wolf staff gave approximately 70 formal presentations to approximately 2000 people and an untallied number of informal talks both within and outside YNP. The internationally televised wolf documentary about Yellowstone wolves Return of the Wolf by Robert Landis and National Geographic was televised in November 2000.

USFWS staff gave numerous presentations and status reports to federal and state agencies, conservation groups, rural communities, guide/outfitter organizations, livestock associations, schools, and various other public and private institutions. Wolf recovery personnel also participated in local radio call-in programs, television interviews, and newspaper feature stories.

Livestock depredations and management

Wyoming portion of GYA

Potential wolf depredations in Wyoming are investigated by Wildlife Services (WS) and the USFWS. Depredations are classified as either confirmed, probable, possible/unknown, or other, based on specific criteria agreed upon by the USFWS and WS. If wolf predation is confirmed, nonlethal or lethal control, or a combination thereof, is implemented under the direction and authorization of the USFWS. Confirmed losses in Wyoming for 2000 included: 3 cattle, 25 sheep, and 5 dogs. Probable depredations included: 2 horses and 21 sheep. One horse was killed and recorded as a possible wolf depredation. Four dogs and 1 calf were attacked by wolves but survived. No livestock losses were reported from the Absaroka, Beartooth, or Sunlight Basin packs east of Yellowstone National Park.

Gros Ventre Pack: The Gros Ventre Pack killed 2 calves and 3 dogs on federal grazing allotments. One dog and 1 calf survived the attacks. Two wolves were removed and 1 wolf was radio-collared and released on-site.

Teton Pack: The Teton Pack killed 1 calf and attacked 1 herding dog on federal grazing allotments. The dog was taken to a veterinarian and survived. No control was conducted and no further depredations occurred.

Washakie Pack: The Washakie Pack killed 2 dogs, 3 horses, and attacked a third dog which later died of injuries suffered in the attack. Two of the horse depredations were recorded as probable and 1 was recorded as possible. All depredations occurred on private land. One wolf was trapped, radio-collared, and released on-site.

Uncollared wolves: Wildlife Services investigated complaints of a pair of wolves and a single wolf killing sheep in the Kemmerer and Pinedale areas. Twenty-five confirmed kills and 21 probable kills were recorded on both public and private land. A lethal control action was initiated but no wolves were removed and no further depredations were reported.

South-central Montana portion of GYA

Chief Joseph Pack: Livestock depredations continue to occur as wolves move north out of YNP into the Paradise Valley area of south-central Montana. The Chief Joseph Pack killed several sheep and guard dogs in Tom Miner Basin, just north of the park, prior to 2000. In January 2000 they killed a guard dog, in May a calf, and in July another guard dog. They also chased horses during this period. Two wolves from the pack were translocated to southern YNP on May 25 but soon returned to the pack territory. Plans to translocate the alpha female and pups back into YNP were suspended when they returned to the park on their own. In October 2000, workers from the USFWS, Turner Endangered Species Fund, Defenders of Wildlife and Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks, together with ranchers, cooperated to build a "wolf-proof" woven wire and electrical fence around a 4-acre area where the sheep and guard dogs might be protected at night and in the winter. This type of fence was developed by MT FW&P for protecting beehives and sheep from bears.

Sheep Mountain Pack: The Sheep Mountain Pack continued to prey on cattle in the Emigrant/Pray area of Paradise Valley in 2000. In February they attacked 2 yearling cattle, one of which subsequently died. Two days later wolves ran 99 cattle through 2 electric fences nearby. In May, two more yearling cattle were killed. Five members of the Sheep Mountain Pack were darted from a helicopter on May 25. One yearling female died during the capture, and the other 4 wolves, including the alpha female, were placed in a pen at the Flying D Ranch (see aversive conditioning research, p. 9). The last pack member still in the wild was shot on June 23, after two unsuccessful attempts to capture her.

Gravelly Pack: In August, a pack of up to 4 wolves scattered a band of sheep, injuring several, and attacked a guard dog in the Gravelly Range. Two black wolves involved in the attack may have been members of the Gravelly Pack, which has been known to exist for a year or more but does not include any radio-collared wolves. Permits to kill wolves caught in the act of attacking livestock were issued to 2 sheep producers in the area. These permits were not used, and no further conflicts were reported. Attempts to locate and radio-collar the Gravelly Pack in summer 2000 were unsuccessful due to wildfires and public land closures, and the pack has not been located since the depredation occurred.

Southeast Idaho portion of GYA

Soda Springs Wolf: Late in 1999, a lone black wolf began attacking sheep in the Soda Springs area in southeastern Idaho. In the 1999 wolf recovery report, 7 sheep and 1 guarding dog were listed as confirmed depredations by this wolf. In 2000, the lone wolf associated with a feral guarding dog and they continued depredating on sheep in the area. The dog was shot on June 25 and depredations stopped for a time, then resumed. The wolf was snared and killed in November. Total confirmed losses attributed to this wolf in 1999 and 2000 include 21 sheep and 3 livestock guarding dogs. Another 6 sheep were identified as probable wolf depredation, and 46 sheep and 2 livestock guarding dogs as possible wolf depredation.

CENTRAL IDAHO WOLF RECOVERY AREA

Personnel

In 2000, the office of the Nez Perce Tribe wolf recovery project moved from Lapwai to McCall, Idaho. Cheri Ramos joined the Tribal wolf recovery team as the new Office Assistant. In Boise, USFWS wolf recovery coordinator Roy Heberger retired and was replaced by Carter Niemeyer, formerly the Rocky Mountain wolf depredation specialist with USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services.

Monitoring

During the 2000 field season, 23 wolves were radio-collared. Of that total, 17 new wolves were collared and 6 wolves were re-collared. At the end of 2000, 35 wolves (18% of the population) were being monitored in 15 packs. Another 9 wolves were being monitored as lone or dispersing animals. These packs and lone wolves, along with known uncollared packs, accounted for about 192 wolves in the central Idaho recovery area (Figs. 1, 4; Tables 3, 4). Radio-collared wolves were located approximately twice per month by airplane. Packs included in the central Idaho recovery area as of December 2000 were Big Smokey, Big Hole, Chamberlain Basin, Flint Creek, Jureano Mountain, Kelly Creek, Landmark, Marble Mountain, Moyer Basin, Orphan, Selway, Stanley Basin, Thunder Mountain, Whitehawk, Wildhorse, and Wolf Fang (Table 3, Figure 4).

Reproduction was confirmed in 15 packs producing a minimum of 62 pups. Nine of these packs met the recovery standards of a male and female wolf raising two pups to December 31 (Table 3). One radio-collared wolf died of natural causes and 5 died of unknown causes. Seventeen wolves died of human-related causes (including 10 that were killed in depredation control efforts). Seven collared wolves were known to have dispersed away from their home territory and another 8 wolves are missing and may have dispersed.

Six new Idaho wolf packs were documented in 2000 including Big Smokey, Marble Mountain, Orphan, Whitehawk, Wildhorse, and Wolf Fang. The Big Smokey Pack was formed by uncollared animals from unknown pack origins in the Boise River drainage. Dispersing wolf B48 joined an uncollared wolf to form the Marble Mountain Pack in the Saint Joe River drainage. The last remaining wolf of the Bear Valley Trio, male B28, paired with dispersing female B61 to form the Orphan Pack. Dispersing wolves B40 and B47 and four other uncollared wolves of unknown pack origin formed the Whitehawk Pack in the Bear Valley area. Translocated wolf B2 and dispersing wolf B66 paired to form the Wildhorse Pack. Dispersing wolf B38 paired with an uncollared wolf of unknown pack origin to form the Wolf Fang Pack.

The status of 3 previously established Idaho wolf packs was unknown by the end of 2000 including Twin Peaks, White Cloud, and Snow Peak. The Twin Peaks and White Cloud Packs were removed through relocation and lethal control measures in response to depredations on livestock (see "livestock depredations and management"). Both alpha wolves from the Snow Peak Pack died in late winter of 1999/2000. Although wolf activity continues to be reported from the upper St. Joe and North Fork of the Clearwater drainages, the status of this pack remains unknown.

Table 3: Central Idaho wolf recovery area: Wolf packs and population data 2000

WOLF PACK	MIN PUPS PROD	EST PACK SIZE	MORTALITIES			KNOWN DISPERSED	MISSING²	CONTROL		CONFIRMED LOSSES³
WOLF PACK	MIN PUPS PROD	EST PACK SIZE	NATURAL	HUMAN¹	UNKN	KNOWN DISPERSED	MISSING²	KILLED	MOVED	CATTLE	SHEEP	DOGS
Big Smoky	6	7		2							5
Big Hole	0	4-10
Chamberlain Basin⁴	8	8-15		1
Flint Creek		3									5
Jureano Mountain	6	8					2		2	3
Kelly Creek	2	8				1
Landmark	8	6-13		1
Marble Mountain	2	4
Moyer Basin	5	11			3
Orphan	1	3
Selway	4	9
Snow Peak		?		1	1
Stanley Basin	7	?		3		1	2	1	2	1	27
Thunder Mountain	3	12	1			4	2
Twin Peaks	0	?		4		1	2	4	2	5
White Cloud	2	?		5	1			5	4	4
Whitehawk	1	5-7
Wildhorse	2	5
Wolf Fang	5	7
Lone/Dispersing		9								2	2
TOTAL	62	NA	1	17	5	7	8	10	10	15	39	0

¹Includes 10 wolves killed in control actions.
²Missing collared wolves.
³ Additional losses listed as "probable" or "possible" described in text.
⁴Underlined packs are counted as breeding pairs toward recovery goals.

Ongoing Research

Winter predation and interactions of wolves and cougars in Panther Creek, Central Idaho

Investigators: Dennis Murray and Jason Husseman, University of Idaho; Gary Powers, Lemhi County; and Dick Wenger, US Forest Service.

Cooperators: Nez Perce Tribe, USFWS, University of Idaho, Lemhi County, Salmon Challis National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Wolf Education and Research Center, Hornocker Wildlife Institute, Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

This study was initiated to investigate wolf-cougar interactions and predation on wintering ungulate populations, primarily elk and deer. The study area is located within Game Management Unit 28 west of Salmon Idaho, and encompasses the Panther Creek drainage and surrounding areas. Two wolf packs, Jureano Mountain and Moyer Basin have established territories within the study area. In addition, 4-6 cougars were radio-collared and monitored within the study area.

The 2000 field season was the second year of this multi-year project. Samples of wolf and cougar-killed prey indicate that elk and deer comprise the bulk of their winter diets. In wolf diets, elk were represented in greater proportions relative to deer during both years. In addition, elk calves followed by elk cows were favored. Crude kill rates were estimated to be between 3.45 and 4.98 days per kill for both wolf packs over the two field seasons. These figures are thought to underestimate the true kill rate as researchers often lost track of wolves for varying lengths of time, and were unable to search all the areas where wolves had traveled due to terrain and time constraints.

Cougar diets were similar to wolf diets in both species and composition. During both winters, elk were represented in greater proportion relative to deer in samples of cougar killed prey. Likewise, elk calves followed by elk cows were represented in highest proportions in samples of cougar killed elk. Predation of elk bulls by cougars may have been under-represented because a majority of cougars collared were females, which may focus on smaller prey than male cougars.

Wolves and cougars tended to kill prey in different habitats, with wolves killing prey in higher elevation areas with low to moderate slopes. A majority of kills occurred in riparian areas. Cougars also tended to kill prey in higher elevations, but kills occurred on significantly steeper slopes with less snow cover.

Winter predation and interactions of wolves and cougars in the Central Idaho Wilderness

Investigators: Jim Akenson, Holly Akenson, and Howard Quigley, Hornocker Wildlife Institute.

Cooperators: Hornocker Wildlife Institute, Nez Perce Tribe, University of Idaho, Charles DeVlieg Foundation, Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

This study was initiated to investigate wolf-cougar interactions and predation on wintering ungulate populations, primarily elk and deer. The study area is located within the Big Creek drainage in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. The study area encompasses part of the wintering area of the Chamberlain Basin Pack. In addition, 5 cougars were radio-collared and monitored within the study area.

The 2000 field season was the second year of this multi-year project. Samples of wolf and cougar-killed prey indicate that elk and mule deer provide the bulk of wolf and cougar winter diets. In wolf diets, elk were present in greater proportion than deer during both years, and these prey species were taken in proportion to their relative abundance in the study area.

In cougar diets, like wolf diets, elk and mule deer were taken in similar proportion to their relative abundance in 1999. In 2000, however, cougars disproportionately selected deer as prey over elk. This difference between years was attributed to a mild winter and the resulting change in distribution of elk and deer relative to cougars within the study area during 2000.

Elk calves were taken in greater proportion than their availability in both wolf and cougar diets. Older adult cows were the predominant age and sex class of ungulate carcasses found in the study area during both years. Median age of adult elk carcasses was 15 years in 1999 and 10 years in 2000. Mule deer fawns were taken by wolves and cougars in a greater proportion than their availability in the first year and a lesser proportion in the second year. Mule deer killed by wolves and cougars were also primarily older adults, with a median adult age of 7 years in 2000.

Wolves visited cougar kill sites, but researchers did not document cougars visiting wolf kill sites. Researchers felt wolf presence in cougar home ranges affected cougar movements.

A large-scale forest fire burned much of the Big Creek winter range in August 2000. This resulted in a shift to an adjacent winter range by some elk and the wolf pack in winter 2000-2001. Effects of this forest fire on predator-prey relationships will be explored in the future years of this study.

Preliminary assessment of wolf predation on livestock on the Diamond Moose allotment in Central Idaho

Investigators: Dennis Murray and John Oakleaf, University of Idaho; Curt Mack, Nez Perce Tribe; Rick Williamson, Wildlife Services.

Cooperators: University of Idaho, Nez Perce Tribe, US Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, Salmon Challis National Forest, Lemhi County Cattle Association, Diamond Moose Association, Lemhi County, Defenders of Wildlife, Wolf Education and Research Center, National Wildlife Federation, Idaho Cattle Association.

The Diamond Moose Calf Mortality Study is designed to better identify the extent of livestock losses to wolves on the Diamond Moose Grazing Allotments administered by the Salmon Challis National Forest.

We examined interactions between the Moyer Basin and Jureano wolf packs and cattle, on a USFS grazing allotment near Salmon, Idaho in an attempt to evaluate effects of wolves on calf survival. The Diamond Moose Association (DMA) calf losses increased over historic levels following wolf establishment. Despite this increase, few calf mortalities were conclusively documented as being the result of wolf depredation. During the 1999 grazing season, we embarked upon a two-year study to determine the fate of calves by radio-marking one third of the total calf population (n=231). Overall, calf survival was high (95%, 98% for 1999 and 2000 respectively), with relatively few mortalities (n=9, n=5) among the marked population. Natural calf mortality (pneumonia, unknown causes, fire mortality), and wolf-caused calf mortalities represented 64% and 29% of deaths (n=14), respectively during the two grazing-seasons. The Jureano Mountain Pack was deemed responsible for 2 of 3 unmarked calf deaths on the DMA. An additional six mortalities (2 in 1999 and 4 in 2000) attributed to wolves were discovered on a neighboring pasture. The fate of 33 missing calves on the DMA was unknown at the conclusion of the study.

Detection rates for all causes of mortalities (marked and unmarked calves) were low within the DMA (1 of 2.3 mortalities) and similar to detection rates for wolf-caused calf mortality (1 of 2.3). Detection rates of wolf-caused mortality dropped considerably (1 of 5.7) when marked calves were removed from this estimate. Calves selected by wolves were significantly younger than average (p < 0.05), indicating that ranchers should consider altering calving periods to favor older calves in areas with wolves. Calf vulnerability to predation appeared to be correlated with spatial proximity to wolf home ranges and rendezvous sites. Wolf control actions coupled with natural and illegal wolf mortality apparently reduced the rate of wolf-caused calf mortality.

Outreach

Program personnel presented informational talks and status reports throughout the year to various federal and state agencies, public and private institutions, special interest group organizations, and rural communities. Additionally, scores of informal presentations to small groups or individuals were conducted during this time.

Livestock depredations and management

Idaho Wildlife Services reports a continued gradual increase in the number of potential wolf depredation investigations and control actions implemented. Within the Central Idaho Recovery Area, wolves were confirmed to be involved in 25 of the 51 investigations conducted, affecting 26 producers. Wildlife Services initiated 20 control actions during 2000 in the Central Idaho Recovery Area. Livestock losses included 15 confirmed calves killed, 4 probable calves killed, 4 possible calves killed, 39 confirmed sheep killed, 3 probable sheep killed, and 4 possible sheep killed. Ten of 15 cattle killed by wolves were on private land. All sheep depredated by wolves in Idaho were killed on public Forest Service grazing allotments, while those killed in the Montana portion of the Central Idaho recovery area were on private land. Six wolf packs were involved in confirmed livestock depredations: Jureano Mountain, Twin Peaks, White Cloud, Big Smokey, Stanley Basin, and Flint Creek. In addition, wolves of unknown origin were involved in two confirmed depredations near Arco and McCall, Idaho. In response to depredations, 4 wolves were collared and released on site (two of those were later lethally controlled), 8 were relocated, and 10 were lethally controlled. In addition, the two remaining pups from the Jureano Mountain Pack’s 1999 litter were relocated during a management action to prevent possible future depredations.

Jureano Mountain Pack: Control actions, illegal take, disease, and dispersal through the summer of 1999 essentially eliminated the Jureano Mountain Pack. Surviving pack members, two pups of the year, were helicopter darted in March 2000 and relocated to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness after they habitually scavenged close to livestock operations. Although the pups did not stay together, both survived and are currently being monitored. A dispersing Jureano Mountain Pack female paired with an unknown mate and returned to claim her mother’s vacated territory. The revived Jureano Mountain Pack was implicated in two depredation events on public grazing allotments during summer 2000 resulting in confirmed losses of 3 calves. No control actions were implemented in either incident. In one incident, cattle were successfully moved out of the area, and the other was part of the Diamond Moose calf mortality research project.

Twin Peaks Pack: The Twin Peaks Pack depredated livestock on private land during the winter calving season. Livestock depredation continued between January and March and included confirmed losses of 5 calves. Control actions resulted in the relocation of the alpha pair (B18 and B35), the lethal control of 4 wolves, and the collaring and release on-site of one wolf (B83). After control, pack composition was estimated to be 3 uncollared subadult wolves. Their current status is unknown, although wolf activity was reported in the area throughout the summer. The alpha female, B35, was presumed pregnant at the time of her relocation. The Twin Peaks alpha pair remained together after release and appeared to settle in an area south of Anaconda, Montana (Mount Haggin Pair). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists were not able to document the breeding status of this pair over the summer. Radio contact was lost last fall and their current status is unknown. Wolf B83 dispersed to Baker, Oregon where he was hit and killed by an automobile.

White Cloud Pack: The White Cloud Pack depredated livestock on private property during the winter calving season. Confirmed losses included 4 calves. Control actions resulted in relocation of 4 wolves to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, and lethal control of 5 wolves (including the alpha male which was initially relocated). Relocated wolves included the pregnant alpha female B36, the alpha male B85, and two subordinate pack members (B63 and B86). The intent was to relocate as many of the pack as possible and maintain pack integrity. It was hoped that the birth of pups would anchor the relocated "pack" close to the release site. Unfortunately, the wolves split up immediately after release. Unexpectedly, the alpha male left the female and returned to his territory where he was killed during further control actions. Alpha female B36 produced a minimum of 2 pups, raising them on her own in the Lost Trail Pass area near Gibbonsville, Idaho. In Fall 2000, B36 (and presumably her pups) joined her son B86 in the Big Hole area of Montana. Wolves have attempted to recolonize this area on at least two previous occasions, but a large portion of the Big Hole is in private ownership producing large numbers of livestock. During the winter, when natural prey is scarce, livestock become extremely vulnerable to wolf predation. Two previous recolonizing attempts by wolves in this area resulted in lethal removal of those wolves. As a proactive conservation measure, the Recovery Project is attempting to relocate the White Cloud wolves to northern Idaho. Relocated wolf B63 also frequented the north end of the Big Hole but has stayed out of livestock producing areas, traveling between the Big Hole and Bitterroot Valley of Montana.

Big Smokey Pack: The Big Smokey Pack was discovered when they killed 5 sheep in early summer. In response to confirmed depredations, Wildlife Services and Nez Perce Tribal trapping crews captured and radio-collared 2 wolves. They were released on site to better determine the status of the pack. Subsequent monitoring confirmed reproduction and the presence of a new pack. Although the Big Smokey Pack frequented both sheep and cattle allotments throughout the summer, no further depredations were reported. Two radio-collared wolves from this pack, including the suspected alpha male, were illegally shot during the winter. The current status of the pack is unknown.

Stanley Basin Pack: The Recovery Program committed much time and effort addressing livestock depredations involving the Stanley Basin Pack in Summer 2000. The Stanley Basin Pack continued to depredate on livestock from early June through mid September, despite efforts to discourage depredations. They were involved in 11 depredation events resulting in the loss of 27 sheep and at least 1 calf. Nez Perce Tribal field crews and members of the Boulder White Cloud Council engaged in intensive monitoring and non-lethal hazing to prevent wolves from interacting with livestock. Control actions resulted in the relocation of two pack members, including the alpha male, and lethal control of one pack member. Continued livestock depredations by the Stanley Basin Pack despite management and control efforts indicate the difficulties of keeping wolves from killing livestock, once they have incorporated livestock into their diet. The chronic nature of the problem also indicates the need for more creative management and a higher level of cooperation among the Recovery Project, other agencies, organizations, and livestock producers to resolve wolf-livestock conflict.

Flint Creek Pack: In October 2000, a new pack of at least 3 wolves was discovered when they killed sheep northwest of Deer Lodge, Montana. This area near the Flint Creek Range is in the northeast corner of the Central Idaho wolf recovery area. Five sheep were confirmed killed by wolves. No control action was taken. The pack contained no radio-collared members and has not been located again.

Table 4: Northern Rocky Mountain States minimum fall wolf population and breeding pairs*, 1979-2000

Minimum fall wolf population:

Year:	79	80	81	82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89	90	91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00
Recovery Area: