Are Isle Royale Wolves Headed Toward Extinction? PAGE4 Wolf Hunts to Begin in Minnesota and Wisconsin PAGE 6 Mexican Wolf Population Climbs 40 Percent PAGE 9

Are Isle Royale wolves headed toward extinction? PAGE4 Wolf hunts to begin in Minnesota and Wisconsin PAGE 6 Mexican wolf population climbs 40 percent PAGE 9

THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER VOLUME 22, NO. 3 FALL 2012 Features Departments 3 From the Executive Director

13 Tracking the Pack

17 Wolves of the World

4 Ann Mayo-Kiely 6 Eileen Jurkovich 9 US Fish and Wildlife Service 20 Personal Encounter Isle Royale Wolves: Wolf Hunt Mexican Wolf 22 Wild Kids Down but Not Out Planned for Two Recovery: Moving Midwestern States Forward Through How long will wolves 24 A Look Beyond survive on Isle Royale? Minnesota and Wisconsin have Collaboration In 2012, only nine wolves both passed laws directing Things are looking up for remained in the isolated their respective departments of the Mexican wolf. In the On the Cover population on that natural resources to implement last three years, the popula- wilderness island in Lake wolf harvest seasons this fall. tion has grown by nearly Image by Michael J. Perkins Superior some 20 miles The following articles detail 40 percent—from 42 to at Wildlife artist Michael J. Perkins, an (32 kilometers) from the the proposed hunting and least 58, with more pups avid outdoorsman and photographer, Ontario mainland. That trapping seasons for each state. born this past spring. has won numerous awards. See more is the lowest level ever of his artwork at 10,000lakesart.com recorded for this popula- Minnesota’s First-Ever Sherry Barrett Special note: 250 limited-edition prints tion, which has been Wolf Season of this cover image are for sale. See the ad on the back inside cover for details. monitored annually Dan Stark every winter since 1959. Wisconsin to Open Did you know... Rolf Peterson Wolf Hunt October 15 Jess Edberg one easy way for you to help us conserve natural resources is to make sure we have your email address. Simply email your address to: [email protected] Kelly Godfrey INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER Major Contributors and Special Gifts MARCH 2012 – MAY 2012

Publications Director Major Donors Memorials Honorary In-Kind Tom Myrick Thank you to the In memory of Jane Besler: In honor of Leslie Brown: Donations anonymous donor who Tamahay Camp Alexis Bailly Vineyard Graphics Coordinator covered Luna’s (formerly Qwest Foundation for Girls Carissa L. Winter Peanut’s) surgery expenses Chris and Paul Batiste In honor of Pam Churn: in May. We are very In memory of my mother Google Consulting Editor grateful for your support Isabelle Gulsvig: Lorianne Churn and generosity! Joe and Jody Greenhalgh Fran Howard Barbara Hanson In honor of Hank Fischer Cathy Beard at National Wildlife Hoigaard’s In memory of Federation: Technical Editor Scot Bernstein Robert Hansen: Rebecca Jurgens Jeanne Gehrman L. David Mech Michael Briselli and Mary Hansen Linda Lemke Jeannee Sacken In honor of Pamela Fluent: Barbara Kuncl Deborah Wold Lewis Graphic Designer Lispeth and Paul Buettner Mary Roth Stephanie Lewis Tricia Austin Anita Litwitz Chris and Sheila Coon In memory of In honor of Richard Francis Kenney: Dorothy Molter Museum Lammot Copeland Jr. Grizzer’s Birthday: Care First Animal National Camera Exchange International Wolf (1089-683X) is published Henry Davies Carl Anderson quarterly and copyrighted, 2012, by the Hospital at Oberlin Michael J. Perkins Mary Lee Dayton In honor of Anika Hahn’s International Wolf Center, 3410 Winnetka In memory of Dot Melvin: ninth birthday: Kevin, Beth and Brian and Ellen Dietz Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55427, USA. Christine and Megan Hayes Hunter Porro email: [email protected]. Dorene Eklund Paul Batiste Kristin Radermacher In honor of All rights reserved. In memory of mom: Jerry Goodrich Robert E. Hansen: Paul and Susan Schurke Joe and Jody Greenhalgh Rebecca Mesa Publications agreement no. 1536338 John Bennett Sexton Printing Henry and Stephanie In memory of Poggie: Joseph and Shirley Wolf Membership in the International Wolf Center Howell In honor of Mary Ortiz, Rhonda Coppola with thanks for her work. includes a subscription to International Wolf Christopher Kennedy Howl on!: magazine, free admission to the Center, and Bonnie Hooks Decker Matching Jeanie and Murray Kilgour Joyce Wells discounts on programs and merchandise. Barbara Eberhart Gifts and • Lone Wolf memberships are U.S. $35 Martin Kraimer Cheryl Flinn In honor of Sherry Turney. Foundations • Wolf Pack $60 • Wolf Associate $125 Cindy Manke Carol Kah Thank you for making us Wolfs: Ameriprise on behalf of: • Wolf Tracker $250 • Wolf Sponsor $500 Sylvia Manning Tracie Koziura • Alpha Wolf $1,000. Canada and other coun- Tina Owens Audrey Wolf Kristine Elias Dr. L. David Mech Michele Puzzello Erik Johnson tries, add U.S. $15 per year for airmail postage, In honor of Ray Wells: $7 for surface postage. Contact the Interna- Seamus Metress Sandra Sheehy Brian Ogren Vicki Minahan Tyco Electronics Shannin Seeholzer tional Wolf Center, 1396 Highway 169, Ely, MN In memory of Foundation 55731-8129, USA; phone: 800-ELY-WOLF; Susan Navratil Dianna Short: BD on behalf of: email: [email protected] In honor of Audrey Wolf’s Jennifer Neary The Tinius Olsen Testing Clifford Boldt Machine Company birthday: Lisa Nivens International Wolf is a forum for airing facts, ideas David Thorne Mary Barss Charlevoix County and attitudes about wolf-related issues. Articles Thomas and Victoria Elaine Todd Nancy and Curtis Linder Community Foundation and materials printed in International Wolf do O’Connell Sherry and Ed Turney In memory of Widgie Corning on behalf of: not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the Lynn Palmer and Dugan: International Wolf Center or its board of directors. In honor of Nevada Wayne J. Cadden Debbie Reynolds Christine Englert Wolf’s birthday: General Mills Foundation International Wolf welcomes submissions of Wilson B. and Juanita E. Anonymous (4) In memory of David York on behalf of: personal adventures with wolves and wolf Reynolds Fund and Deirdre McCann: Deborah and Dorene Eklund photographs. Prior to submission of other Martha Schoonover Susan York Walter Cromartie Ashley and types of manuscripts, address queries to Sharon Siebert GRACO on behalf of: Tom Myrick, magazine coordinator. Elliott Dorsey David Smith Estates Ian Justin Dorsey Lori Soldatke PHOTOS: Unless otherwise noted, or obvious Ted and Barbara Edna Lamb Jovan Hardy The Harold W. Sweatt from the caption or article text, photos are of Spaulding Ka Wai Ho Foundation captive wolves. Frances Stofflet Celeste Moore US Bancorp on behalf of: Thomas Thoreson Nakia Williams International Wolf is printed entirely with Deborah Wankel soy ink on FSC® Helen Tyson certified paper. Xcel Energy Foundation John and Donna Virr on behalf of: We encourage Joseph and Shirley Wolf you to recycle FSC logo here Shannon McDonald this magazine. Paul Yakimovich

2 Fall 2012 www.wolf.org From the Chair of the Board of Directors INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Nancy jo Tubbs Chair Please Welcome Our Dr. L. David Mech New Executive Director Vice Chair Cree Bradley fter a national search, directors of the Inter- Secretary national Wolf Center are thrilled to announce Paul B. Anderson Rob Schultz as the Center’s new executive Treasurer director. Rob’s leadership experience in non- Debbie Hinchcliffe profit organizations, his fundraising exper- Atise and his skill in working with boards and guiding staff Nancy Gibson brought him to the top of our list of 109 candidates. Judy Hunter A parks and recreation graduate of David Merhar Andrew Engelhart Mankato State University, Rob has Rob Schultz Dr. Rolf O. Peterson worked in the nonprofit sector for the Mike Phillips past 20 years. At the age of 27, he was appointed executive director of Debbie Reynolds the International Peace Garden—a botanical garden straddling the border between the Canadian province of Manitoba and the U.S. state of Jerry Sanders North Dakota. During his tenure at the Peace Garden, Rob worked tire- Paul Schurke lessly to grow annual park visits to more than 250,000, making it North Ted Spaulding Dakota’s second-largest tourism destination. Dick Thiel Nancy jo Tubbs He has also held leadership roles in other nonprofits including: Deb Wells executive director of the YMCA’s Camp St. Croix, Hudson, Wisconsin; Ray Wells director of the Humanities Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota; and capital campaign director of the Boy Scouts of America’s Northern Star Council, Minneapolis. Its successful $25 Teri Williams million capital fundraising campaign reached goal nine months ahead of schedule. Most recently, Rob served as executive director of the Saint Paul Police Foundation, a EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR nonprofit organization that provides financial support to the Saint Paul Police Department. Rob Schultz Since 2005, the Saint Paul Police Foundation has provided nearly $2 million in funding MISSION and grants for the department’s special initiatives. In his former position, Rob worked with The International Wolf donors and the foundation board to secure funding and support from the community. Center advances the survival Rob is an active Rotarian and continues to volunteer with the Boy Scouts, serving as of wolf populations by a member of the President’s Cabinet and chairing a scholarship program that has pro- teaching about wolves, their vided nearly 150 college scholarships in the last five years. He is also an Eagle Scout. relationship to wildlands and the human role in their future. Rob, who joined the Center May 16, said his first weeks have been “rewarding and exciting.” His focus will be on guiding the Center during this “pup year” and preparing Educational services and for the Center’s international symposium in 2013. informational resources are available at: Due to Rob’s love of camping, photography, travel, and spending time in the outdoors 1396 Highway 169 with his golden retriever, Rusty, we know Rob will easily become a key member of the Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA Center’s family. Please join us in welcoming him. n 800-ELY-WOLF 218-365-4695 email address: [email protected] Web site: www.wolf.org Nancy jo Tubbs, Board Chair

International Wolf Fall 2012 3 ow long will wolves survive on Isle Royale? In 2012 there were Honly nine wolves in the isolated population on that wilderness island in Lake Superior some 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the Ontario mainland. Wolf M 93 (whitish That is the lowest level ever recorded wolf in center) is for this population, which has been shown here with monitored annually every winter since the Middle Pack. 1959. The risk of extinction for these famous wolves is further compounded by a severely skewed sex ratio—no more than two adult females were present in 2010, the last year of genetic testing for gender identification, and few pups have survived since then. Isle Royale is one of the few sites in the world where people have never killed wolves. When Isle Royale Durward Allen (left) of Purdue University launched what he thought would be a decade-long study Wolves: of predator-prey ecology in 1958, wolves were feared Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey and reviled almost Down everywhere else, and they were relent- John A. Vucetich lessly persecuted, shot, trapped and poisoned. In the decades that followed, by ROLF PETERSON accurate information on wolves from Isle Royale helped turn the tide of of genetic risks for small isolated popu- breeding males on the island had per- public opinion, enough so that recov- lations, usually living in habitats frag- ished, and he immediately assumed ery of wolves was possible in many mented by human activity. that role for the Middle Pack. In 1998 parts of their former range. When I The Isle Royale wolves squeezed seven pups were born to a native female began directing studies from Michigan through a previous extinction “crisis” in and M 93, producing the largest pack Technological University in 1975, the early 1990s, when the population we had seen on the island in two wolves had only recently been listed hovered around a dozen animals that decades. In a process that took two as an endangered species. By the time were not reproducing well. The list of years, the Middle Pack pushed aside John Vucetich joined the project as co- possible causes for low numbers then the long-established West Pack, becom- leader in the late 1990s, a remarkable is the same as it is now—genetic losses ing sole possessor of more than half wolf recovery had occurred in many from inbreeding, food shortage, the island. Before he died in 2006, places in the Northern Hemisphere. random demography (birth and death M 93 had sired 34 surviving pups, and The wolf population in Isle Royale rates and sex ratio) and disease. Canine since 2007 all the wolves living on Isle National Park has always been rela- parvovirus was implicated in the Royale have been his descendants. His tively small. Average population size crash of the wolf population in 1981 spectacular success is attributable, in in 1959-2011 has been 23. The maxi- and in its stagnation through the 1980s, part, to the severely inbred condition mum was 50 in 1980, and the previous but until recently we could not explain of the native population. minimum was 12 wolves in the early the poor reproduction that occurred in One intriguing detail in the life of 1990s. Aware of the limited gene pool the early 1990s. M 93 occurred in 2001. When his first for this island population, some scien- The arrival of a single immigrant mate died that year, M 93 took up with tists expected the population to wink male in 1997 revealed a lot. This wolf, his daughter, born in 1998. They out decades ago. The fact that it has not dubbed M 93, had the good fortune to successfully reproduced until his is testimony to both the resilience of arrive over the ice from the mainland death, and she continued to lead the wolves and our lack of understanding at a time when at least two of the three pack through the first decade of the

4 Fall 2012 www.wolf.org 21st century. Wild wolves usually captured and radio-collared. Even 1960s. Isle Royale has been called the avoid close inbreeding, but did M 93 though this wolf has not yet bred, two wildest of our national parks, but it is evaluate the genetic viability of his females are much better than one. not so wild as to be isolated from the potential mates and decide that his What will happen next is anyone’s global human footprint. n own daughter was a better bet than guess. However, for this population any of the native females? the reality of extinction has never been Rolf Peterson is a research professor at By 2010, scat analysis for DNA closer. The U.S. National Park Service Michigan Technological University in indicated that only two females were has begun a process for evaluating Houghton, Michigan. He has been involved present in the population. Males pre- possible management responses, which with studies of wolves at Isle Royale and dominated among the 101 individual might include intervening before elsewhere since 1970 and is a member of the board of the International Wolf Center. wolves that lived on Isle Royale during extinction, restoring wolves after 1999-2010, but sex ratio imbalance extinction or doing nothing to stave reached an extreme while the popula- off extinction or respond to it, should tion was lowest. Funding limitations that occur. Part of this deliberation have meant that DNA samples from includes the realization that wolves 2011 and 2012 remain unstudied, cannot get to Isle Royale over the ice and in winter 2012 only one female very easily anymore, as the probability was obvious. So it was a surprising and of an ice bridge in any given winter significant development in late April has been reduced from almost 80 per- 2012 when a young adult female was cent to less than 10 percent since the

but Not Out University Michigan Technological New Data Arrives, Explaining Higher Mortality

On June 7, 2012, acting on a tip from a biologist studying a nearby lake, my wife, Carolyn, and I went to investigate what appeared to be one or more floating animal A second female wolf in carcasses deep in an abandoned 19th century Isle Royale National Park mine shaft. We fished out decomposing remains was confirmed in April 2012 when of three wolves and salvaged their skeletons this young non-reproducing wolf for cleaning, study and preservation. The dead was captured and radio-collared. wolves included an 8-month-old female pup, an old male and a radio-collared male that was about 6 years old, probably all from the Chippewa Harbor pack. We could only speculate about how this might have happened, but accumulating snow and ice (and possibly thin ice) probably played a role. During the 2012 winter study we had only heard a couple errant beeps from the collar, and we did not observe the collared male anywhere. This event helps explain the high mortality (about 45%) of 2011-12, reducing the unexplained mortality to near the usual level (about 25%). The wolf population has endured many unfortunate and unanticipated events. Readers are encouraged to follow this story to see how the Isle Royale wolves manage this time around

Sally Irmiger (www.isleroyalewolf.org). —R.P.

International Wolf Fall 2012 5 EDITOR’S NOTE: This past spring, the Minnesota and Wisconsin legislatures both passed laws directing their re- Minnesota’s spective departments of natural resources to implement First Ever wolf harvest seasons this fall. These legislated directives Wolf Season removed the decision-making power from the departments to determine if and when a wolf hunt would be appropriate. by DAN STARK In both states, statutory provisions The following articles detail the innesota’s first regulated wolf framed the hunting and trapping sea- proposed hunting and trapping hunting and trapping season sons, license fees, and methods of seasons for each state and include Mwill be conducted this fall harvest with limited opportunities for comments from a concerned Wiscon- and winter. The Minnesota Department public input. sin citizen and several Minnesota of Natural Resources (DNR) is propos- As of this writing, both states are legislators. These two perspectives ing to split the season into two parts: implementing a public input process illustrate the vast range of opinions an early wolf hunting season coinci- to allow people an opportunity to and the challenges the states face in ding with firearms deer hunting and a comment on the wolf hunt in general finding common ground for civil late wolf hunting and trapping season and the negotiable aspects of each debate. following the firearms deer season for state’s wolf harvest season. those with a specific interest in hunting and trapping wolves. A total of 6,000 licenses will be offered, with 3,600 available in the early season and 2,400 in the late season. Licenses will cost $30 for residents and $250 for non-residents. Non-residents will not be eligible to purchase a trapping license in Minnesota, but will be eligible to apply and purchase a hunting license if selected through the lottery process. Late-season licenses will be further split between hunting and trapping, with a minimum of 600 reserved for

Ray Laible trappers. Hunters and trappers will Minnesota Wisconsin be selected through a lottery process in which they will need to submit an Number of 6000: 3,600 during early season; 500* application as well as proof of a current Licenses to 3,400 during late season; minimum of or previous year’s hunting license to be Sold 600 of the total reserved for trappers be eligible. The target harvest quota Revenue All revenue from application and license All revenue from application and will be 400 wolves for both seasons Allocations sales will go into a wolf management license sales will go toward depre- combined and will initially be allo- and monitoring fund to be used only for dation compensation first and then cated equally between the early and wolf management, research, damage all other costs associated with wolf late seasons. control, enforcement and education. management. The early hunting season will be Methods Firearms Firearms open only in the northern portions of Allowed Bows and crossbows Bows and crossbows Minnesota where rifles are allowed for Foothold traps Predator calls deer hunting. It will start November 3, Cable restraints (snares) Up to six dogs to track/trail wolves the opening day of firearms deer hunt- (after deer season) ing. It will close either at the end of the Foothold traps respective firearms seasons in the two Cable restraints (snares) northern deer zones (November 18 in Hours of One-half hour before sunrise until Day and night hunting allowed with Zone 1 and November 11 in Zone 2), Hunt one-half hour after sunset (the same as the use of a light at time of kill or when a registered quota of 200 is firearm deer hunting) reached, whichever comes sooner. The late hunting and trapping sea- Use of Bait No Yes* son will begin Saturday, November 24, * Denotes elements of the wolf hunting and trapping plan that were not finalized as of this writing. 6 Fall 2012 www.wolf.org Minnesota The following is an excerpt from a statement released by Minnesota Reps. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, Dan Fabian, R-Roseau, and David Dill, D-Crane Lake.

Wolves are a menace to farm animals in the northern Wisconsin

part of Minnesota, one of the main reasons we need Juan Carlos Blanco to control the wolf population in our state…The The following excerpt was taken from testimony submitted by Corey White, a legislature’s intent was to allow wolves to be taken Wisconsin citizen, to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources during through the end of February to include a greater the public comment period on the state’s proposed wolf hunt. portion of prime wolf season and help us reach a [T]he law passed by our legislature to establish a hunt is an embarrassing wolf quota. The way it is set up now, the season will disaster…I suggest that the hunt be much more closely targeted to areas where end January 6, regardless of how many wolves are wolves have entered people’s property and caused problems. In zones where taken. It is doubtful many wolves will be taken during wolves live remote from humans, they ought to be left alone completely. I mean the firearms deer hunting season, leaving a narrow that wolf sanctuary areas ought to be established. Wolves ought to be in jeop- late-season window to manage the population… ardy from this barbaric hunt if and only if they wander into areas where they If the goal is to take 400 wolves a season to manage are in danger of encountering human habitations…I completely support that the population and reach the quota this first season, wolves now live near my cabin where they had been eradicated when I was then let’s take 400 wolves. young. Where they cause no problems for the people who live closest to them they need to be left alone; where they threaten property they can be controlled. and close January 31, 2013, or when a registered total target harvest quota of Wisconsin to Open 400 in both seasons combined is reached, whichever comes sooner. The Wolf Hunt October 15 late season will be open statewide. The quota is a conservative estimate by JESS EDBERG of the number of wolves thatSt. canPaul be harvested without resulting in a n April 2, Wisconsin Gov. changing the statutory provisions. reduced wolf population. It takes into Scott Walker signed Act 169 “[The provisions] were decided for account that wolves in Minnesota OSt.into Paul law, which included us by the legislature,” stated Vander die from a number of human-related House Bill 502 and Senate Bill 411, Zouwen when opening the forum for causes including depredation control, both of which detailed wolf hunting comments and questions. vehicle collisions and illegal shooting and trapping provisions for the state. It was also evident that the pro- in addition to what will be harvested The Wisconsin DepartmentMadison of vision allowing night hunting raised during this fall’s season. Natural Resources (WDNR) hosted 10 safety concerns with WDNR officials. Total proposed licenses and quotas public meetings to inform residents on Comments from the audience are consistent with DNR testimony which parts of the authorizing legisla- wereMadison fairly well balanced, reflecting during the 2012 legislative session. tion are statutory provisions (already both support and criticism of the pro- While Minnesota’s wolf population passed into law) and which draft rule visions. However, it was apparent that of approximately 3,000 animals could ideas are open for public feedback. most attendees supported a wolf likely sustain a higher level of hunting At the first meeting, held June 6 in harvest season in Wisconsin. and trapping mortality, this first season Spooner, Wisconsin, 53 attendees lis- WDNR was tasked with developing is designed to provide information on tened to Bill Vander Zouwen, WDNR recommendations on the draft rule wolf hunting and trapping interest wildlife and landscape ecology chief, ideas (negotiable elements) by the end and success rates, which will help Adrian Wydeven, WDNR mammalian of June and submitting them to the inform the design and implementation ecologist, and Brad Koele of Wisconsin’s state’s Natural Resources Board in early of future seasons. Wildlife Damage Program share a July. The board then met July 17 to In addition to passing hunting and history of wolves in the state, current determine the final rules. trapping regulations for wolves in wolf management and depredation The lottery application process for Minnesota, the 2012 legislation estab- actions and details of the fall wolf hunt. a wolf hunting or trapping license lishes a wolf-management account What was very clear from the begin- began August 1 and will run through into which all wolf application and ning was that the provisions in Act 169 August 31. Drawn applicants will be license fees will be deposited. This are nonnegotiable. Barring a lawsuit or notified in early September, with the account will fund wolf management, an injunction preventing this fall’s wolf actual season opening to hunters and research, education and enforcement. harvest, the public has no options for trappers October 15, 2012. continued on page 8 continued on page 8

International Wolf Fall 2012 7 Wisconsin Hunt Minnesota Hunt Wolf numbers and their distribu- continued from page 7 continued from page 7 tion have remained relatively stable for more than a decade and have been The WDNR’s objectives for its first The establishment of this account well above the federal wolf recovery wolf hunt are to begin to reduce the allows the DNR to continue to monitor population goal since the late 1980s. statewide wolf population, provide and manage wolves in the state with Recent wolf population indices indi- hunting and trapping opportunities funds generated directly from wolf cate that the population has stabilized and monitor, learn and adapt for future hunting and trapping licenses. or increased since the last survey esti- seasons. Wolves were returned to state mate in 2008. In recent years, verified The state’s population goal as set in management in January 2012 when wolf depredation complaints have its 1999 wolf management plan is 350 they were delisted from the federal been above the 10-year average and wolves outside of tribal reservation Endangered Species Act. Prior to their continue to be an important manage- lands. The current Wisconsin wolf complete protection under federal ment issue in Minnesota. population is estimated at 815-880. n law in 1974, wolves were unprotected Typically, about 80 farms have veri- under state law, and the DNR had no fied wolf depredation complaints each Jess Edberg is the International Wolf wolf management authority. This year. Over the past several years, an av- Center’s information services director. proposal marks the first regulated har- erage of 170 wolves have been captured She coordinates and leads Adventure vest season for wolves in state history. or killed annually by federal trappers Learning Vacations and oversees the in response to verified livestock depre- Center’s exhibits and library. dation. More than 100 wolves have been trapped and killed so far this spring following verified livestock damage complaints, primarily on calves. Although hunting and trapping is a new paradigm for wolf management and conservation in Minnesota, there is a strong tradition of hunting and trapping in the state. It is likely that in a few years the wolf season framework will look much different than it does now as the DNR evaluates the first wolf seasons, the wolf population and the management objectives. One of these objectives could be a more directed

Eileen Jurkovich Managing by the Numbers in Minnesota take of wolves in areas of the state that experience high rates of livestock dep- When wildlife The estimated number of wolves each year over redation conflict. This could provide managers create the last 10 years, always counted in winter 3,000 more opportunities for hunters and hunting and trap- The average number of wolves in a Minnesota pack trappers to harvest a wolf while reduc- ping policy for 6 ing wolf management costs. wolves, they take The average number of pups produced by a pack each After taking public comments, as into consideration spring, doubling the number of wolves in the pack 6 three key numbers: required by law, the DNR will publish the total estimated The general mortality rate of pups in their first year 20-80 % a final rule for the 2012 wolf seasons. wolf population, While decisions about whether to The average number of years that most wild wolves live the number of pups 2-6 have a wolf season and when to start likely to be born The annual mortality rate for wolves more than it have already been made through the in the following 5-months old. Major causes of death include lawmaking process, the DNR public- spring and the starvation, killing by other wolves, diseases such as 10-40 % comment process is intended to seek numbers of wolves mange and canine parvovirus, injuries from prey input on the wolf season proposal. The likely to be taken and other wolves and human causes. complete proposal is available at www. by each method in The rate by which wolf population can increase in a year % dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/wolves/ the following fall 15 - 50 mgmt.html. n and winter. For The number that Minnesota’s plan estimates is needed Minnesota, here are for long-term survival of the state’s wolf population 1,600 Dan Stark is a large carnivore specialist a few key statistics: in the Division of Fish and Wildlife The proposed total limit of wolves to be taken for the Minnesota Department of by hunters and trappers in the first year 400 Natural Resources.

8 Fall 2012 www.wolf.org Mexican Peter Thody (www.thody.net) Moving Forward Through Collaboration

Wolf Recovery:HINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR THE MEXICAN WOLF. In the last by SHERRY BARRETT three years, the population has grown by nearly 40 percent—from 42 Tto at least 58, with more pups born this past spring. The number of breeding pairs, seven, is now at its highest level. The Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is the smallest, rarest and most genetically distinct subspecies of gray wolf in North America. Conflicts with livestock led to the eventual extirpation of the Mexican wolf in the United States in the mid-1900s. Mexican wolves were listed as an endangered species in 1976, following passage of the 1973 Endangered Species Act. This prompted recovery efforts to save the species from extinction.

International Wolf Fall 2012 9 Mex Wolf Interagency Field Team Mex Wolf Elizabeth Murray

In 1977 and 1978, the last known From those first 7 wolves, we five wild Mexican wolves were cap- now have a captive breeding pro- tured in Durango and Chihuahua, gram consisting of a motivated

Allan Claybon Mexico, to establish a captive breeding and supportive group of wolf care- population. In 1995, two addi- takers who manage approximately tional lineages of pure 300 Mexican wolves in 50 facilities Mexican wolves, held in in the United States and Mexico. ARIZONA NEW MEXICO captivity in the United Because this captive population is de- Santa Fe States, were integrated rived from such a small number of into the captive breeding wolves and is the sole source of Mexican 40 40 Nonessential Experimental Zone program, increasing the wolves available to reestablish the spe- Fort Apache founder population to cies, managing for the genetic diversity Indian Reservation seven. of both wild and captive populations is Secondary 10 Recovery Zone Due to the perilous one of our greatest challenges. Phoenix Primary status of the Mexican wolf The first 11 captive-reared Mexican Recovery Zone and the uncertainty over wolves were released into the Blue 10 whether captive-reared Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA) in wolves could successfully 1998. The Blue Range wolves have be returned to the wild, the 1982 Mex- now adapted to hunting and living in ican Wolf Recovery Plan stated that the wild and are successfully moving delisting might never be possible. The from a largely captive-released pop- primary goal of the plan was to ensure ulation to a wild one. More than 95 the survival of the species by maintain- percent of the 58-plus Mexican wolves ing a captive breeding program and living in the wild in Arizona and New reestablishing a population of at least Mexico today were conceived and born 100 Mexican wolves in the wild. in the wild. We now have fourth-

10 Fall 2012 www.wolf.org Jim Clark, UWFWS Sayuri Mori generation pups whose great grand- Plan. This team is focusing on develop- have to be biologically defensible and parents were also born in the wild. ing criteria that would lead to recovery provide innovative ways of restoring Recovery of the Mexican wolf and delisting of the Mexican wolf. the wolf to a working landscape occu- should be easier than the recovery of The team consists of a subgroup of pied by people with different and many other species because the highly qualified scientists with a wide sometimes conflicting expectations of Mexican wolf is not a habitat specialist. range of expertise in wolf manage- the land and the use of its resources. It basically just needs large protected ment, genetics, conservation biology, Based on the final Recovery Plan, landscapes with low densities of biogeography, ungulate biology, pre- USFWS will determine if any changes humans and roads and sufficient prey dator-prey dynamics, trophic cascades, to the experimental population rule are (elk and deer). However, recovery of a southwestern landscapes and social needed to accomplish recovery. If top predator in a working landscape, sciences. The team also incorporates a changes are needed, we’ll continue to where it has been virtually absent for diverse array of recovery partners from engage the public openly through the a century, is by no means uncompli- the United States and Mexico, includ- development of an environmental cated. To take a fresh look at these and ing representatives from tribes, federal, impact statement. other issues, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife state and county governments, hunting We are continuing to work with Service (USFWS) appointed a diverse and fishing organizations, environ- partners to resolve conflicts that arise and energetic Mexican Wolf Recovery mental groups and the livestock indus- with the reestablishment of a preda- Team to update the 1982 Recovery try. To be successful, the team’s plan will tor on a working landscape. The 11-

International Wolf Fall 2012 11 Mex Wolf Interagency Mex Wolf Field Team

member Mexican Wolf Interdiction With our renewed goals, the grow- Stakeholder Council represents county ing strength of our partnerships and coalitions, tribes, the ranching com- the recent increase in the population munity and environmental organiza- of wild Mexican wolves, we have great tions in New Mexico and Arizona. optimism for the future of the Mexican This collaborative approach has led wolf. As Dave Mech stated recently to significant progress toward resolv- at a lecture in Tucson, Arizona, “Getting ing longstanding conflict related to a population of wild wolves started livestock production and wolf conser- with only captive wolves to release is vation. The goals of the council are to a very tough proposition. However, maintain healthy western landscapes the hardest part is now over, and the Stephanie Bidwell and communities while supporting current, robust population of several ranching operations and viable wolf wild-raised generations is now in an populations. Healthy landscapes are excellent position to really move this less likely to be fragmented and effort forward.” n more likely to provide areas for livestock production to coexist with wolf Sherry Barrett is the Mexican wolf conservation. recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Will we see you at this year’s Alpha Weekend?

The Alpha Weekend is a special recognition benefit for Alpha Legacy, Alpha Wolf and Wolf Sponsor members. Experience behind-the-scenes activities, lectures and much more. Join us in Ely, Minnesota, September 14-16, 2012, for an unforgettable adventure.

RSVP to Kristine at 763-560-7374 (ext. 228) or email [email protected].

12 Fall 2012 www.wolf.org

There’s No Manual When It Comes to Pup Care by Lori Schmidt, wolf curator, International Wolf Center

n our 23 years of wolf management, we’ve had a variety of experiences managing pups. This edition of Tracking the Pack highlights each Iof our pup litters including the successes and challenges we faced with each.

International Wolf Center 1989 Litter: Jedadiah.

he Center began operations with a part-time wolf exhibit in May 1989. Four pups were born at housed at the home of the curator, who had a large T enclosure subjected to minimal human traffic. Each another facility April 24 and acquired when they were season the pups returned to the Center, but it was 12 days old to socialize them to the Wolf Care staff and apparent that their winter isolation made them less familiarize them to life on display at a public facility. At compatible with a public display. They had become 12 days of age, pups are still in their neonate phase, and accustomed to a limited amount of outside distraction, it is necessary to introduce pups to human activities and began showing anxiety with each subsequent during this period. This litter included two females, season. At the same time, the Center had raised enough Raissa and Bausha, and two males, Ballazar and funds for a new wolf enclosure and educational facility. Jedadiah. By selecting four pups from the same litter, Construction began in the summer of 1992 with a we managed them using the “even aged” management grand opening scheduled for June 1993. The decision style. Theoretically, pups that mature together are more was made to find alternative placement for the 1989 cohesive when managed using this style, and there isn’t pups and start a permanent Exhibit Pack with new as much strife with younger wolves testing older wolves. pups in 1993. We quickly learned, however, that environmental stresses influence pack dynamics. The Center’s Exhibit Pack enclosure at that time was- relatively small compared to its current habitat. The facility was still in its development stage, and all view ing by the public was outdoors directly adjacent to the wolf enclosure. The current enclosure only allows for observation through windows. With the 1989 litter, we experienced some anxiety from the pups and redirected aggression within the litter during public viewing. The aggression was primarily between females, and both In 1989, the females postured for dominance. By the time they were 5 months old, the females were in conflict for the role Center’s pen was of dominant female, and the added stress of high- small and too intensity viewing led to the decision to place one of the close to viewers. females at another facility. The other significant issue with this litter of pups was that the Center’s operations were seasonal. The pups were on site from Memorial Day through Labor Day. After Labor Day, they were

International Wolf Fall 2012 13 The 1993 litter had an active female rank order starting as young pups.

1993 Litter: ur second litter of pups was born at another Ofacility on April 28, 1993. The 1993 pups were also acquired as neonates (newborns). We selected three females, Mackenzie, Lakota and Lynn and Donna Rogers, www.bearstudy.org Kiana, and one male, Lucas. We managed these pups using the “even aged’ management style and experienced some active female rank-order issues with MacKenzie as dominant, Kiana as - second ranking, and Lakota as the omega female. Interaction for Lucas, the sole male on the Exhibit, was limited. We learned that it was prob - ably best to balance the number of males and females within the Exhibit Pack, and possibly reduce the number of females, as female domi nance seems to be inherently more aggressive than male dominance. We also discovered that by the time the wolves reached 6 years of age, they didn’t have as much stimulus to remain active. They became rather sedate in their daily lives, and this drove our decision to change to a “multi- age” management style.

2000 Litter:

Nancy Gibson ur third litter of pups was born at another facility on May 8, 2000. OWe acquired two neonate male pups, Shadow and Malik, but the pups were socialized off site and didn’t arrive at the Center until they Shadow and were 6 weeks of age. While the pups were socialized to humans, they Malik as early had limited exposure to the sights, sounds and intensity that accom packmates prior panies public viewing. It took some time to transition the pups, and as- adults they seemed to retain some issues with strangers. These are to their arrival the only adult wolves we have on site that regularly bark-howl during at the Center. behind-the-scenes programs or at work crews in the wolf yard. We also noticed that these pups already showed some threat displays toward their adult packmates when they made their initial introduction at the fence. We learned that it is critical to expose the pups to the human aspects of a public facility through programming, and they must meet their future adult packmates while they are still neonates to stimulate strong social bonds.

14 Fall 2012 www.wolf.org 2004 Litter: - ur fourth litter of pups consisted of representatives from two differ Oent litters. Two pups were born May 5, 2004: a female named Maya and a male named Grizzer. On May 12, a second female, Nyssa, was born, and all were acquired as neonates, with Nyssa being managed prior to her eyes opening. These pups flourished and met Shadow and Malik

Steve Lokker through the fence on their first day at the Center. This stimulated Shadow,- the dominant male in the Exhibit Pack, to regurgitate for the pups. This is an important feeding behavior, and the pups clearly stimulated nurtur ing behavior and hormones in the adults. We also learned that the Wolf Care staff’s handling techniques can influence social behavior. Due to- Staff created an increased Nyssa’s younger age, staff members tended to protect her from rough interactions with the other pups. This intervention, while well inten dominance attitude by always tioned, created a situation where Nyssa became extremely dominant, protecting Nyssa (right). and somewhat socially awkward when interacting with the pack. If pups are going to be socially compatible, they need to work out their rank orders without human interference.

2008 Litter: Denali. This litter was also the first time we ur fifth litter of pups brought a unique managed three age structures within the Exhibit. Ochange to our operations. This was the first We learned that predatory behavior in these pups litter of pups that had a direct link to a wild pop- was easily triggered. This inappropriate behavior ulation of wolves. All of the other litters we was also directed toward staff and included acquired came from captive facilities and repre circling and biting from behind when the pups sented varying numbers of captive generations.- expressed anxiety. This pup behavior continued For most captive facilities, lineages were probably into adulthood and requires rigorous protocol for removed from the wild sometime prior to the staff interactions. On the positive side, after years 1973 Endangered Species Act, with the exception of working with pups, we seem to have mastered of some arctic subspecies, which had known the necessary handling techniques to condition wild lineage when they entered into captivity in pups to the physical care they need as adults. the 1980s. This doesn’t mean these wolves have Aidan and Denali are the most accepting of vet been domesticated or are tamer due to a history of erinary and other physical care including applica-- multiple years of captive breeding, but there are tion of fly ointment, brushing, tick removal, tooth probably some selective genetic influences that inspection, ear cleaning and vaccinations. succeed in a captive environment. For instance, if an individual is too aggressive or if a management problem develops, the wolf might not be retained The 2008 on exhibit, while calmer, more compatible wolves litter seemed are more likely to be kept. to have a On April 27, 2008, Aidan and Denali were born at a facility that placed their father into stronger predatory captivity when he was captured as a pup in Yellowstone. This Yellowstone pup was part of a drive, possibly pack that depredated on livestock, and while the related to their law allowed for the adults to be dispatched, it was close lineage to not legal to euthanize the pups. We acquired two wild populations. male neonate pups from this litter, Aidan and Awen Briem Awen

International Wolf Fall 2012 15 Ed Stimpson The early whelping period resulted in large pups by summer and in the pup introduction being moved up by a week.

When Luna (far left) was on restricted activity, she had to be isolated, but staff slowly transitioned her back into interactions with Boltz .

Ed Stimpson

2012 Litter: ur sixth litter also brought a unique change to our operations. While all other pups Owere born between April 24 and May 12, the 2012 litter arrived a month early. Luna, a female pup, was born March 25 and Boltz, a male pup, was born March 17. We also didn’t acquire these two pups as neonates; we picked them up on April 13, making them the oldest pups transitioning to our bottle-feeding regimen. We also had some health challenges with this set of pups, specifically with Luna, who has low bone density and a fragile bone structure, making her susceptible to injuries. She suffered a femoral fracture May 11 and required surgery that involved the insertion of a plate to repair the fracture. Her post-surgical recovery required that she spend some time isolated from Boltz until the fracture healed and nutritional supplements improved her bone density. At press time, Luna’s fracture was healing well, and we were transitioning her to spend time with Boltz and discussing plans for her future introduction into the Exhibit Pack. The next issue of Tracking the Pack will detail the pups’ introduction into the wolf enclosure with Aidan and Denali. We are reminding staff of the lessons learned with Nyssa when she was overly protected and are using our experience to shape our day-to-day operations in 2012. The only certainty about raising pups is that every pup has its own unique personality, and every litter is different depending on gender, the source facility, the current dynamics of the Center’s Exhibit Pack and the handling techniques used. While we learn from our experiences and apply n that knowledge to current situations, there is no manual when it comes to pup care.

16 Fall 2012 www.wolf.org Oslo, but no one is panicking. A jogger Updates From Around the Globe saw a wolf in the middle of the trail, staring at him from a distance of 30 by Tracy O’Connell meters (90 feet). “The wolf stood for a few seconds…then disappeared. It was he constant battle for and against in mid-March. But it is unknown an exotic experience,” the jogger said. wolves continues globally. whether this was the wolf responsible Another resident spotted a wolf A brief summary of some of and if it was rabid. “The wolf is a pro- being chased by a deer. Researchers T following the wolf, marked with an what is happening around the world— tected animal, but shooting is justified both to conserve and eradicate when it threatens local people and electronic tracking device, said it’s a wolves—is presented below. their property,” the forestry depart- year old, citing lack of experience for ment stated. Police are patrolling in why the wolf was scared by a deer CHINA: case the culprit is still alive. instead of the other way around.

Armed police are escorting FINLAND: sheep to protect them from NORWAY: wolf attacks in Inner Mon- Two political parties in A deeply rooted hatred of golia, according to the Indo- Norway’s coalition govern- wolves is blamed for poach- Asian News Service, which said wolves ment, the Center Party and ing, which has halved the there killed more than 1,000 livestock the environmentally minded nation’s wolf population since in 2011, equaling nearly one million Socialist Left party (SV), are at odds. 2005, the Ministry of Forestry and yuan (about $158,000 U.S.) in value. The Center Party supports farmers and Agriculture concluded after ruling A local herder said the wolves’ move ranchers who feel threatened by out alternative theories. With licensed to densely populated areas was new. wolves, while SV champions protec- culling, only nine wolves would have One attack saw four to five wolves kill- tion of wolves, which were nearly been killed. Under scrutiny by the ing more than 230 sheep in a pen extinct in Norway until 20 years ago. European Commission, Finnish police belonging to several families. Owning Possibly three wolves have been have ramped up investigations, a gun is illegal in Inner Mongolia. spotted in residential areas around including monitoring phone traffic, In eastern China’s Shandong prov- but cite an underlying conflict that ince, attacks on seven people (two fatal) needs to be worked out. over six days led police to shoot a wolf SWEDEN: At least 450 wolves are necessary to achieve favorable conservation status in Sweden, according to predator investi- gator Lars-Erik Liljelund, former director general of the Environmental Protection Agency. Today there are an estimated 250 wolves. Sweden continues to strengthen genetic quality through a captive- breeding program and planned to transplant pups from parks to wild dens this year. Discussions with Russian wolf management officials seek to introduce Russian wolves to the Swedish genetic program. Meanwhile, the Nature Democrats, a new political party, has just one issue: Internaltional Wolf Center Internaltional Wolf

International Wolf Fall 2012 17 Internaltional Wolf Center Internaltional Wolf Martin Harvey

the elimination of wolves. The party TAJIKISTAN: ETHIOPIA: seeks to influence predator policies, and according to one member: “We Radio Free Europe reports Wolves here are threatened by don’t want to eradicate wolves. We just wolf attacks on people in frequent rabies outbreaks, don’t want them in Sweden.” the southeastern part of this spread in part by dogs. Re- country, one an 89-year-old searchers are looking for ways GERMANY: woman (her attacker was chased off by to preserve the wolves’ numbers (it is a neighbor’s cries). Blamed are heavy believed there are 400 left) and di- Scientists of the Senckenberg snows and the 2006 end of a local versity by ramping up a vaccination Research Institute in Görlitz government program to reduce wolf and semen-collecting effort, according have investigated the feeding numbers. Environmental Protection to Cosmos, a literary science magazine habits of wolves for eight is coordinating an armed operation to based in Australia. Cryopreservation years, finding livestock comprises “neutralize” wolves in the region. and an in-country captive breeding less than one percent of the diet. In program, it is hoped, will keep this 3,000 samples of wolf scat, wild ungu- RUSSIA: national symbol from becoming lates accounted for more than 96 per- “the next dodo.” cent of the prey. The growing population of gray wolves in the northern The United Kingdom’s online CHERNOBYL: Telegraph reported in January that republic of Yakutia has killed while 11 years ago there was a single more than 1,700 domestic The name speaks to nuclear pack, there are now 12 packs in reindeer, more than 100 horses and 5 devastation, but since the area Germany, with an estimated total cows since the beginning of 2012, it was evacuated following the population of 100 wolves. The return was reported in April. The wolf popu- 1986 disaster that bears its of the wolf to all of Germany is now lation, currently about 4,000, exceeds name, wildlife, including rare and “unstoppable,” according to the head the target level by at least threefold endangered species, has rebounded. of the Federal Agency for Nature and is increasing by about 500 new A PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) Conservation, Beate Jessel, who added, wolves each year. The annual damage Nature documentary aired in October “Wolves can fit into the most varied to livestock is approximately 147 2011 called “Radioactive Wolves” habitats.” Two packs, comprising 18 million rubles ($4.7 million U.S.). documents life in the 1,100-square- animals, are said to live 65 kilometers Local authorities have allocated 17.75 mile (2,849-square-kilometer) “exclu- (40.4 miles) from Berlin. million rubles ($568,000 U.S.) this sion zone” that straddles the border of But problems have emerged, with year to control the wolf population. Ukraine and Belarus in the former wolves killing sheep in Mecklenburg Soviet Union. The show can be seen (in and western Pomerania as well as the United States) and the DVD can be Bavaria. Wolves are also being killed, purchased at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ at least 17 died on roads since 2001, nature/episodes/radioactive-wolves. while hunters have illegally shot at least 13 since 1990.

18 Fall 2012 www.wolf.org making their conservation a challenge that needs to be holistic. There is evidence the Indian wolf belongs to an ancient group that has not mixed with other wolves, making it genetically different from all other wolves, which is all the more reason to prioritize conservation efforts, Rathod said.

ARMENIA:

In the Caucasus, a cold snap last winter saw wolves target- ing livestock. Reports put Image of Arabian wolf the number of wolves in the captured by trail country between 500 and 700. The camera in Eastern Yemen Armenia Ministry of Nature Protection on February 27, 2012. further claims wolves are a threat to Foundation for Endangered Wildlife (Yemen)/Foundation for the Protection (Yemen)/Foundation of the Arabian Leopard in Yemen endangered species. The government in February announced it would pay THE MIDDLE EAST: hunters 100,000 drams ($250 U.S.) for each wolf hide—a hefty sum for Green Prophet, an online Species (CITES) and listed as needing rural Armenians. About 170 wolves resource described as a sus- protection by the Royal Society for have been killed as a result. tainable voice for green news the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), Some environmentalists disagree from the Middle East, notes are hunted, poisoned and run over, with the approach, questioning the the Iranian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) and therefore, they are shrinking government’s numbers and calling can be found in dwindling numbers in number. for culling only as a last resort. “Instead throughout Iran, Israel, Turkey and In Oman rising wolf numbers are of rewarding hunters, the government Saudi Arabia. attributed to a hunting ban. In Israel, should give money to villagers to for- Turkey is home to 1,500 or so although wolves prey on livestock— tify their barns and purchase fences wolves, and the government has col- particularly near the Golan Heights— and dogs,” one suggested. Poaching, laborated with the environmental extraordinary measures protect them. deforestation and mining are seen as group KuzeyDoga to monitor a pair In addition to paying for electric fenc- contributing to the disruption of the to better understand habitat needs and ing and guard dogs, the government wolves’ natural food chain. minimize human-wolf conflicts. offers partial compensation for depre- Meanwhile, the Arabian wolf (Canis dation damages. CANADA: lupus arabs) can be found in Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, INDIA: Genetic testing confirmed an Yemen and possibly in some of Egypt’s The Times of India reports that animal killed in April by a Sinai Peninsula. But only Oman and a four-month research ex- hunter in northern New Israel give them legal protection. pedition in the Banas region Brunswick was a wolf, the Arab News reported that farmers of Greater Ranthambhore first confirmed sighting in the province shoot, poison or trap Saudi Arabia’s in Rajasthan has confirmed the pres- in 150 years. The 90-pound (41-kilo- Arab wolves, and hunters kill wolves ence of the Indian wolf, a Schedule 1 gram) canine had both gray and they come across in remote desert species, meaning it receives the great- eastern wolf DNA. The carcass will areas. As a symbol of their “heroic act,” est protection. Facing immediate be examined to determine whether it they exhibit the bodies of wolves threats of mining, construction and was a wild or a captive-raised animal. at public places or hang them from cultivation, a 30-square-kilometer An 82-pound (37-kilogram) canine electric posts or signboards. (11.6-square-mile) tract there is now shot in March in Newfoundland was n This view holds also in Jordan, “protected community land.” also found to be a wolf. despite the wolf’s role in controlling Pooja Rathod, a research volunteer the wild boar population, which Tracy O’Connell is an associate professor student from Fergusson College, notes of marketing communications at the threatens to destroy farm crops if the Indian grey wolf primarily inhabits University of Wisconsin-River Falls and a not checked. Jordan’s wolves, despite human-dominated agro-pastoral land- member of the International Wolf Center’s being listed by the Convention on scapes, suggesting large populations of magazine and communications committees. International Trade in Endangered the wolves are outside protected areas,

International Wolf Fall 2012 19 treks. On a few trips, a wolf pack Protecting Our Cache From Wolves would show up almost like clockwork wherever the ski plane dropped our by Paul Shurke dog teams and us. The pack would then shadow us throughout our ince we have a kennel of Inuit shows wolves romping around the journey—an immense source of sled dogs here in northern mushers’ dog teams and, with dramatic intrigue and entertainment for our SMinnesota wolf country, I was music, seems to build toward a pend- team members and dogs alike. They more than a little curious about the ing attack. But that never happens. never showed aggression. In fact, on video clip a friend sent titled “Wolves Instead the wolves appear to be simply one trek, a male wolf attempted to Attack Inuit Dogs” (www.youtube. curious about their canine cousins mount a female sled dog. com/watch?v=nVU02fVEKzM& new to the neighborhood. But they did get into mischief— feature=related). The clip, filmed by That’s the same phenomenon we’ve once. French mushers on Ellesmere Island, experienced on our Ellesmere dogsled In January 1986, Will Steger, Ann Bancroft, myself and other members of our North Pole team trained in northern Ellesmere before departing across the Arctic Ocean. There on a frozen fiord, we practiced threading our 1,000-pound (455 kilograms) sleds through the torturous rubble piles of shattered pack ice. Nearby, seven lovely white wolves, the resident pack, sat on their haunches watching our efforts. Occasionally they’d engage in antics of their own by attempting Courtesy of Paul Schurke to race up the steep walls of a massive iceberg locked in the center of the fiord. The towering spire of blue-green ice looked like a mini- Matterhorn. After a running start, the wolves would scramble up its near- vertical walls until they’d lose purchase and slide back, only to try again. It reminded me of the legend of Warrior Hill in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, where young braves were said to test their prowess by see- ing how far they could race up the smooth granite slope before sliding back into the waters of Lac La Croix. Above: From left to right: Ann Bancroft, Brent Boddy, Will Steger, Paul Schurke, Geoff Carroll, Richard Weber. Not pictured: Bob McKerrow Left: Day one–launching the expedition from

Courtesy of Paul Schurke Ellesmere Island.

20 Fall 2012 www.wolf.org Jim Brandenburg

One wolf succeeded in its quest pemmican, butter and cheese. In a our precious rations that might now be and reached a small notch high up blind rage, we lunged into the may- contaminated with rabid wolf saliva? on the iceberg. Photographer Jim hem kicking and swinging. Amazingly, Fortunately a solution presented Brandenburg, who was with us to the wolves simply backed off, stunned. itself. Our team member Brent Boddy cover the launch of our expedition They could have shredded us in an announced that he’d recently had for National Geographic magazine, instant. Instead they stared at us with the rabies antidote series following snapped a picture that caught the heads cocked and an expression that an incident with a feral dog in his arctic precious moment: a wolf bathed in a said, “Are you some kind of idiots?” village. He volunteered to eat the shaft of sunlight in a regal “king of the The wolves sauntered away as we contaminated rations. So we set about mountain” pose. We cheered the wolf’s took inventory of the damage. painstakingly gouging from the frozen success, pleased to have shared this Fortunately, the loss was light. The blocks every tooth-punctured piece of arctic realm with it and its packmates. packaging was punctured and much food and placed them in a bag as But the next day the tide turned. We of the frozen food had been clawed Brent’s rations for the trek. Brent was were awakened abruptly by scuffling and chewed. But we’d caught them in our hero and his leering comments and growling on the hillside above our time—they’d eaten only a few pounds about “shape-shifting into a werewolf” tents. I looked out the door and saw the (less than 2 kilograms). We congratu- during our polar trek probably gained wolf pack thrashing through our cache lated ourselves at dodging a bullet him and his sleeping bag a little extra of expedition supplies stowed along a and pondered our foolhardiness at room in our tent. n gravel airstrip. Bolting from my sleep- challenging them. ing bag, I raced out of our tent and But that evening the incident Paul Shurke is a member of the Inter- yelled for my tent mates to follow. That became worrisome again. During our national Wolf Center’s board of directors. three-ton cache was our lifeline—every nightly radio chat, we reported the He is co-owner of Wintergreen Northwoods unit of food and fuel had been rationed mishap to our base camp on Baffin Apparel and Wintergreen Dogsledding to the ounce to sustain our eight team Island 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) Lodge, based in Ely, Minnesota. He is an author, arctic adventurer and leading members and five teams of sled dogs away. A Royal Canadian Mounted authority on cold-weather safety, winter for our 60-day shot at reaching the Police officer who was listening wilderness travel and camping. Paul joined pole. A resupply wasn’t an option, responded with concern. He said some the board in 1989 and has since sponsored especially since the nearest village was arctic fox on Ellesmere were known many wilderness adventure trips to benefit 500 miles (805 kilometers) away. to be rabid and wondered if it was the International Wolf Center. Seven wolves in a feeding frenzy possible some wolves were as well. were tugging and tearing at our flats of What would we do, he asked, about

International Wolf Fall 2012 21 olf pups born in from the wild are Center International Wolf Notes Wgrowing fast this time of year. They can weigh anywhere between 28 and 70 pounds (13 and the Field 32 kilograms). That is a big difference! Wolf pups are born in late April or early May, so they are 5 to 6 months old by October. They are also very active and are no longer at their den. They have spent the summer at a rendezvous site with the adult wolves and are starting to join the pack on short hunts, often returning to the rendezvous site by themselves. Soon they will be nearly fully grown, and it will be tough to tell a pup from the pack’s adult wolves. n

Meet the Vocabulary ack Den: A shelter, often a P small cave or hole dug ids out of the ground, to d K protect the mother il wolf and her young pups from weather GrizzerW and other animals. Grizzer was born May 5, 2004, Rendezvous site: A and has since been one of the place where the pack International Wolf Center’s moves when the pups ambassador wolves. are big enough to Grizzer has always been big. The leave the den. The Wolf Care staff nicknamed him “Grizz” adults will leave the because he looked like a grizzly bear cub when rendezvous site to hunt but come back to he was 12 days old. Voters in the “Name the eat, play and sleep. Pup” contest voted to keep his nickname. He The pack will use the was officially named Grizzer. By the time he was site until the pups are 6 months old, Grizzer weighed more than 80 pounds large enough to travel. (36 kilograms). To identify Grizzer in videos or photos, Grizz! look for the largest wolf, not in height but in width. The center of his broad muzzle shows some white guard hairs. A dark line of guard hairs extends up his forehead. International Wolf Center International Wolf

22 Summer 2012 www.wolf.org “When I first visited the International Wolf Center, Maya, Grizzer, Malik and Shadow still made up the

Exhibit Pack. I have followed the pack for a long time now—when it’s getting pups, who’s retiring and

the social hierarchy within it as well. When Maya passed away in March 2011—over a year ago now— I was very sad about what had happened. I drew a picture of her a few weeks later and sent it to the International Wolf Center. I enjoy spending time with my dogs, mushing, drawing, drumming and being outdoors. I will be entering ninth grade this year at Minnetonka High School, in Minnetonka, Minnesota.” —Alika Rutter 1

2 3 Play! 4 5 Cris Cross 6 7 Fill in the squares with the answers or definitions using the clues below. Use the word bank at bottom, or visit www.wolf.org/wolves/ learn/basic/biology/pupdevelopment.asp if you need help! Across Down 4. Our female ambassador 1. The kind of hair that pup’s name. becomes apparent on 8 6. When pups no longer wolf pups at 8-10 drink milk from their weeks of age. 9 mother and begin 2. The developmental eating meat. stage right before 7. Where the pups are born. a wolf pup becomes an adult. 8. Our male ambassador pup’s name. 3. When pups are born, they can’t see. 10 9. When pups are born, they can’t hear. 5. The site pups are taken to after the den.

10. The color of a pup’s ean W Guard uvenile Deaf Rendezvous Boltz Luna Blind Blue Den Regurgitate J

eyes when it is born. Bank Word

International Wolf Summer 2012 23 Noninvasive Sampling Informs Today’s Wildlife Research (This is not your grandparents’ wildlife biology–Part II)

by Nancy jo Tubbs, chair of the International Wolf Center

t one time, scientists killed and POPULATION took the entire animal to study VIABILITY ANALYSIS it. As noninvasive sampling A (PVA) U.S. Geological Survey/National Aeronautics and Space Administration (USGS/NASA) Landsat techniques evolved, biologists could (First used in the 1970s to predict minimize harm to the animal being grizzly populations in Yellowstone) studied and survey animal popula- REMOTE SENSING tions in ways never before possible. Want to know the probability of an (Wilbur Wright first took an aerial The work became safer for researchers animal’s extinction within a number photo in 1909) and reduced the need to trap animals. of years? PVA input data includes vari- To view and measure the changing Noninvasive sampling techniques ables such as population trends, prey characteristics of ecosystems, scientists include DNA analysis, camera trapping species, habitat change and diseases. use aerial and satellite-based photos and remote sensing. The results of these studies are used of large areas taken over time. Images in endangered species recovery plans captured from these flights are fed MOLECULAR and help wildlife managers assess into computer programs that analyze GENETICS the potential of various management variations, which might have been (First made practical in the 1980s) scenarios. caused by climate change, floods and The television crime show CSI has AUTOMATIC TRAIL even indirectly by wolves that have nothing on the world of wolf biology been reintroduced, such as those in CAMERAS Yellowstone National Park. Research when it comes to DNA analysis. In (Early trail cameras were used in 1877) genetic sampling, a small sample of teams on the ground can investigate tissue is taken to obtain DNA for study. Stationary cameras are automatically more closely to analyze the cause Noninvasive methods involve studying triggered by an animal’s motion to take of the changes shown in the remote hair, urine, shed skin and intestinal time-logged photographs. Using “cam- sensing data. n cells in feces. It’s not necessary to catch, era trapping,” biologists can estimate handle or even see the wild animal to the number and density of animals estimate the survival rate of a popu- in an area. lation or determine genetic diversity. Forensics studies can be used, for example, to determine whether wild wolves have hybridized with coyotes or dogs.

Shown is one type of trail camera. The image to the right was captured on a

trail cam in Washington State in 2009. Conservation Northwest

24 Fall 2012 www.wolf.org from the heart of the city

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