Unraveling the Biogeography of Wolf-Like Canids in the Horn Of

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Unraveling the Biogeography of Wolf-Like Canids in the Horn of Africa, PAGE 4 Denali’s Story: Nightmare Past Midnight, PAGE 7 Minnesota Wolf Management, PAGE 10 The Quarterly Publication of the International Wolf Center Volume 21, No. 4 WINTER 2011 Features Departments 3 From the Executive Director

15 Tracking the Pack ergen B 16 Wolves of the World obert Van obert Van Photo courtesy of Dan Stark 4Thomas Krumenacker 7 R 10 21 Personal Encounter Unraveling the Denali’s Story: Minnesota Wolf 24 A Look Beyond Biogeography Nightmare Management of Wolf-Like Past Midnight It has been more than Canids in the Denali, a wolf-dog hybrid, 10 years since Minnesota On the Cover Horn of Africa was the epitome of a gentle adopted a wolf management Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi). giant. Terribly loving, he plan in anticipation of Photo by Jacquelyn M. Fallon New genetic evidence gave me his complete trust, wolves being removed from Jackie Fallon, education advisor to the reveals a new species and I gave mine to him. In the federal endangered Mexican Gray Wolf Species Survival Plan, of wolf living in Africa. conducts fieldwork with wolves in the five years we shared, he species list. Little has Formerly confused with Yellowstone National Park as well as in never showed any aggres- changed in the biological the southwestern United States. She has golden jackals, and thought sion, ever, not to my wife, status of the wolf population been involved with wildlife conservation to be an Egyptian subspecies for nearly 25 years, and her work focuses my kids, my grandkids or over that time, but changes of jackal, the African wolf on resolving conflict between humans me—until that fateful night. may be needed to address and wildlife, particularly canids. shows members of the the evolving landscape wolf lineage reached Africa Robert Van Bergen of legal status, regulations, about three million years funding and agency partici- ago, before they spread pation in light of delisting Did you know... throughout the Northern in the near future. one easy way for you Hemisphere. to help us conserve Dan Stark natural resources is to make Claudio Sillero- sure we have your email address. Zubiri Simply email your address to: [email protected] acchi M Sylvain Avery’s Walk for Wildlife n the summer of 2010, 14-year-old Avery Mikel decided to organize a fundraising walk in Nevis, IMinnesota, to raise money to help birds affected by the Gulf oil spill. With the help of community members, Avery’s Walk for Wildlife raised almost $1,000. Publications Director Tom Myrick In August 2011, Avery organized another walk. This time, he wanted to donate the proceeds of his efforts to Graphics Coordinator support the International Wolf Center. The second Avery’s Carissa L. Winter Walk for Wildlife drew 60 participants and raised $870, Avery Mikel which Avery donated in support of wolves. Consulting Editor At a young age, Avery is already making a difference in his community. On Fran Howard behalf of all of us at the International Wolf Center, thank you, Avery, for your Technical Editor generosity and commitment. We have every confidence you will continue to do L. David Mech great work in support of wild animals around the world. n

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2 Winter 2011 www.wolf.org From the Chair of the Board of Directors INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER

Board of Directors Nancy jo Tubbs Chair Just the Facts Without the Spin Dr. L. David Mech Vice Chair illiam Butler Yeats said, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the Cree Bradley lighting of a fire.” Secretary People and organizations continually try to persuade us to their points Paul B. Anderson Wof view, filling our pails to overflowing with their spin on an issue. And Treasurer sometimes we subscribe to political parties, churches, or organizations because they fill Debbie Hinchcliffe our buckets with ideas we favor. I’m no different from most in that way. Nancy Gibson But I especially respect groups that don’t try to “educate” me to their Hélène Grimaud point of view, but rather offer opinion-free, in-depth information. These teachers stimulate my thinking. I respect a speaker who acknowledges Linda Lemke that people may legitimately disagree. I like a newsletter that introduces Dr. Rolf O. Peterson me to the pros and cons of an issue. Mike Phillips At the International Wolf Center we strive to present objective infor- Debbie Reynolds mation and not to take positions on the many juicy, controversial topics Jerry Sanders concerning wolves. Paul Schurke Should people own wolf-dog hybrids? Is it okay for the government to Ted Spaulding Nancy jo Tubbs kill wolves that kill livestock? Should Montana and Idaho allow wolves to be hunted? Does climate change endanger arctic wolves? Go online and Deb Wells you’ll find dozens of these discussions, some resembling blood baths. Ray Wells Members of the Center’s board and staff have opinions on these topics, but in our work Teri Williams we keep our opinions to ourselves and do our best to educate on the issues. Our latest temptation to advocate was a proposal that we publicly favor delisting gray wolves, Executive Director which does not include the Mexican gray wolf in the Southwest, from the endangered Mary Ortiz species list. In the summer issue of International Wolf, we published arguments on both sides of Mission the controversy: don’t delist because full recovery of the wolf has not been achieved in The International Wolf other than a few states and in only five percent of the wolf’s historical range in the lower Center advances the survival 48; delist because the ESA states that when wolf populations reach sustainable numbers of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their the species should be delisted, and delisting could help defuse the fury of those who have relationship to wildlands and the legitimate concerns that wolves take livestock and pets or kill game animals. human role in their future. After intense discussion, we affirmed our non-advocacy position and recommitted to Educational services and addressing hot-button issues with the unbiased approach of the educator. informational resources I’m not implying that having an opinion is a bad thing. Perhaps we are drawn to are available at: groups and individuals whose thinking syncs with our own. But after them, don’t we next 1396 Highway 169 best trust those who give us the facts without bias or exaggeration—and without filling Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA our buckets with their “truth?” n 800-ELY-WOLF 218-365-4695 Sincerely, email address: [email protected] Web site: http://www.wolf.org

Nancy jo Tubbs, Board Chair

International Wolf Winter 2011 3 ew genetic evidence reveals a new species of wolf living Nin Africa. Formerly confused with golden jackals, and thought to be an Egyptian subspecies of jackal, the African wolf shows members of the Thomas Krumenacker Canis aureus lupaster. wolf lineage reached Africa about three million years ago, before they spread throughout the Northern Hemisphere. We tend to think of wolves as a Northern Hemisphere species. The only other wolf on the African conti- nent is the Arabian wolf, Canis lupus arabs, in the Sinai Peninsula, where a scatter of sightings has been recorded throughout the years. Having worked for many years on Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis), a close relative of gray wolves, I have always been intrigued by CLAUDIO SILLERO-ZUBIRI by their evolutionary links. I have often pondered what might have been the routes and associated land bridges that “The cryptic African wolf: Canis aureus enabled Ethiopian wolf ancestors to reach the highlands of Ethiopia in the lupaster is not a golden jackal heartlands of the Horn of Africa. Scientists have consistently placed and is not endemic to Egypt.” Ethiopian wolves close to gray wolves and coyotes, with a common ancestor that might have lived a mere 100,000 years ago. Huddling by the fireplace under African skies, my associates and I have often had long conversations trying to undo that long winding road and wished-for fossil finds that might proffer the missing link we longed for. Sadly, such fossils are not abundant ebecca Jakeral

R in North Africa, and at any rate, genetics

4 Winter 2011 www.wolf.org might arguably be a better approach to answer this kind of question today. Having read the few accounts ugal T of large canids in North Africa Y iwari that I could find in Oxford’s African wolf, Canis aureus lupaster, stands alert. libraries, I targeted a population of golden jackals in southern Egypt described as Canis aureus lupaster Fast forward a few years to a collab- cally very close relatives and in many as a potential candidate to resolve the orative effort among biologists from cases cannot be easily distinguished by puzzle. As long ago as 1880, the great the universities of Addis Ababa and genetic studies. evolutionary biologist Thomas Huxley Oslo to study the relationship between Further analysis at Rueness’ lab commented that golden jackals in isolated Ethiopian wolf populations linked our cryptic “wolf” specimens in Ethiopia looked suspiciously like gray in the Highlands of Ethiopia, using the highlands of Ethiopia to the se- wolves. The same observation was DNA extracted from scat specimens. quencing of lupaster, 2,500 km (1,553 made by several 20th century biolo- The specimens, including some from miles) to the north in Egypt. This gists studying skulls. Nonetheless, the sympatric golden jackals, were shipped finding unambiguously placed the ill- conventional scientific classification to a lab in Oslo for analysis. A while fitting Egyptian jackal and its close has not been changed, and lupaster— later, Eli Rueness, the scientist respon- relatives from Ethiopia within the wolf the golden jackal of southern Egypt— sible for the analyses, contacted me species complex. It transpires that continued to be regarded as a subspecies with breathless excitement, saying that lupaster and its Ethiopian Highlands’ of the golden jackal, albeit with a some of the samples looked like wolf relatives are not jackals but wolves in hovering question mark. DNA, but did not match anything in jackal clothing. Taxonomically these A few years ago, Yugal Tiwari, a GenBank, the world’s largest repository African canids are grouped with the young Indian biologist who was of genetic sequences. Northern Hemisphere’s gray wolf, working in Eritrea, sent me a grainy Unwittingly, we had uncovered Indian wolf and Himalayan wolf. picture, captured from a video he had genetic evidence of a cryptic canid Recent genetic evidence suggests filmed from the road while travelling species that looked like a golden jackal that the Indian and Himalayan wolves in Eritrea’s Danakil (see photo above). but whose genetic code expressed evolved separately within the modern My interest was piqued, since it showed something else. A cryptic species wolf cluster, even before the gray wolf a young, lanky canid with large paws complex is a group of species that radiated throughout the Northern that could easily be a desert-dwelling satisfies the biological definition of Hemisphere. Furthermore, not only wolf. The evidence was modest, but species—that is, they are reproduc- did these two types of wolves originate we published a short note in the hope tively isolated from each other—but before gray wolves radiated in northern that we could attract similar reports. whose physical traits are very similar latitudes, but the wolf’s colonization of Unfortunately, no additional informa- (in some cases virtually identical). The Africa also took place before the gray tion has turned up. species in a cryptic complex are typi- wolf radiation.

International Wolf Winter 2011 5 oka B emeth- N ajos L Arabian wolf, Canis lupus arabs.

The colonization of Africa by the not threatened—but the newly discov- ancestral wolf stock took place about ered African wolf may be much rarer. oka

B three million years ago and is today Certainly, it has become a priority for embodied by the animal that has both canid conservation and science to emeth- N hitherto been called the Egyptian discover its whereabouts and numbers. ajos L jackal. It was not the missing link for It seems that the Egyptian jackal is Ethiopian wolves that I had hoped for, urgently set for a name change, and its but something just as intriguing. For unique status as the only member of The colonization me personally, this study showed the wolf complex in Africa destines it of Africa by the the strengths of modern genetic tech- to be renamed the African wolf. n niques, demonstrating that old puzzles ancestral wolf stock may be solved, and hidden biodiver- Acknowledgements sity may be exposed in relatively unex- took place about plored regions. * Rueness E.K., Asmyhr M.G., Sillero- three million years ago The news of a wolf in Africa, which Zubiri C., Macdonald D.W., Bekele A., went viral once our paper in PLoS ONE Atickem A. Stenseth N. (2011) and is today embodied was published, raised fascinating “The Cryptic African Wolf: Canis biological questions about how the aureus lupaster is Not a Golden by the animal that has new African wolf evolved and lived Jackal and Is Not Endemic to Egypt.” hitherto been called alongside not only the real golden PLoS ONE 6(1): e16385. jackals but also the vanishingly rare http://www.plosone.org/article/ the Egyptian jackal. Ethiopian wolf. The latter is a very info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal. different species, of more recent origin, pone.0016385 with which the new discovery should not be confused. But the African Professor Claudio Sillero-Zubiri is the wolf discovery contributes to our chair of the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist understanding of the biogeography Group. Sillero-Zubiri is the deputy of Afroalpine fauna, an assemblage of director of the Wildlife Conservation species with African and Eurasian Research Unit (WildCRU) (www.wildcru. ancestry that evolved in the relative org) of the University of Oxford and isolation of the highlands of the works on conservation of threatened Horn of Africa. species, protected areas management and the mitigation of human-wildlife The news of this new African wolf conflict. He has studied Ethiopian also raised issues of conservation wolves since 1987 and founded the importance. Golden jackals are Ethiopian Wolf Conservation regarded by the International Union Programme (www.ethiopianwolf.org). for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ebecca Jakeral R as a species of “least concern”—i.e.,

6 Winter 2011 www.wolf.org Prelude

enali, a wolf-dog hybrid, came to me quite unexpectedly five Dyears prior to the following story. Let me first state, unequivocally, that I did not acquire a wolf-dog on some romantic whim. I had been asked to house him temporarily. He was 18 months old and 105 pounds (47.6 kilograms). He was also very wary and suspicious of everyone, D enali’s Story: including me. Though he wasn’t aggressive, he was apprehensive, and I knew winning him over was going to require some guile. Clearly, the way to his heart was Nightmare Past through his stomach. I bought a couple of orders of chicken nuggets and put them on the floor of the garage, spacing them at 18-inch (45.7-centimeter) Midnight intervals in front of the door to his portable kennel. I opened the door and Wolf-dog hybrid vies for was met with the most intense stare I had ever seen on a dog. No barking, position of dominant male no snarling, no rushing the door— just a cold, unflinching stare. But he Text and photos was hungry. I backed away from the by Robert Van Bergen opening and walked over to my work- bench, pretending to ignore him while I busied myself with something. In a painfully slow manner he crept to the front of the kennel and stepped out to sniff the temptation I had laid out before him. He first took one nugget and then another. I kept him in my peripheral view as he drew closer. He ate the last nugget and just stood there, looking at me with those intense eyes of his. As I pretended to ignore him, he suddenly pushed his nose into the palm of my hand, which was hanging at my side. Soon he was licking my hand. I spoke to him softly, asking if he wanted some more. His ears and eyes said, “Yes,” but not to

International Wolf Winter 2011 7 move too quickly. I complied, and the love affair started. From that day forward, I was his dominant male, my family his pack. Denali was the epitome of a gentle giant. Terribly loving, he gave me his complete trust, and I gave mine to him. In the five years we shared, he never showed any aggression, ever, not to my wife, my kids, my grandkids or me. Denali and I walked, generally for an hour, every day for five years. I don’t believe we missed more than Robert a few days, save for our two-week Van Bergen’s beloved Denali. cruise to Alaska. Of all the dogs I have owned— and there have been more than 10 breeds—Denali was unique among them. He was part Alaskan malamute, Siberian husky, timber wolf and gray He was part Alaskan malamute, wolf. Between his huge size and cold stare, Denali had a stunning and Siberian husky, timber wolf and gray wolf. imposing presence. When we walked, we were noticed, always and wherever Between his huge size and cold stare, Denali we went. People were drawn to Denali had a stunning and imposing presence. like a moth to flame, but interactions with strangers were always on When we walked, we were noticed, Denali’s terms. He was never aggressive always and wherever we went. but always apprehensive. He was such a baby and such a lover with those he loved. The end of our love affair was tragic and terribly heartbreaking. I do mourn, and will continue to mourn the loss of him for a very, very long time. I have since acquired a male golden retriever named Ruger. He, too, is as sweet and loving a dog as one could ever want. At 15 months and nearly 90 pounds (40.8 kilograms), he is still very much the playful puppy. He, like all my dogs, has full possession of my heart. I look forward to a very long and loving relationship with him. I urge you to read my story and think long and hard before acquiring a For more on wolf-dog hybrids, wolf-dog. Do your research, and please go to www.wolf.org and choose go into it with your eyes wide open. the News and Events tab to download the Fall 2009 issue of International Wolf. Look for “Wolf-Dog Crosses— Pet or Problem?” by Tracy O’Connell.

8 Winter 2011 www.wolf.org Canine chaos As the leash touched the top of his head, he exploded into action. Less than two feet y story begins on the evening of May 25, 2010. This was (0.6 meters) away, I could see in his eyes that Mthe night my wolf-dog, this was no bluff. Growling, snarling, with his Denali, would challenge my position as the dominant male. Little did I know teeth bared, he rushed straight at my face. that I would experience a hell unlike anything I had known before, and I had no clue what was about to happen. I finally got ahold of his collar and This whole time, my wife, Beth, was Just like every night of the week, got him off my ear before he could tear asleep in our bedroom just on the other I returned home from work about it completely off. I had felt my ear side of the kitchen. She had suffered a 11:45 p.m. My first order of business tearing and tried hard not to panic. Off stroke that February. I was afraid if I was to get Denali from his kennel, let my ear for only a second, he wrenched woke her and she saw all the blood, she him out to relieve himself, feed him, his head free and went for my left might have another stroke. I decided to give him lots of loving and just hang forearm. He sank his fangs in as deep clean up before waking her. Cleaned up out with him for an hour and a half as they would go twice, and I felt and with the bleeding slowing, I told to two hours before putting him back my bones compressing. I got hold of her that Denali had gotten me good, into his kennel for the night. his collar again and pulled him off my and we needed to go to the hospital. But not tonight. It was 1:45 a.m. arm. Surely this was over. After four hours in the emergency when I told him it was night-night Not yet. Again, he tore himself from room, we headed home. It was time time. I crawled under the kitchen table my grasp and then went for my right to face the reality of what I must do to hook his leash onto his collar. wrist. He sank his teeth in and started with my best friend. The question He emitted a low growl. Denali had pulling on my arm. Now I was really was whether I could get a vet to put been with me for five years, having scared, and worse, I felt myself weak- him down in his kennel or whether I been acquired at 18 months. I didn’t ening. In a final-ditch effort, I straight- would have to handle it. One vet was think of his growl as a threatening one ened my arms out in front of me. This too busy, and the other wanted to but rather a growl of noncompliance. I brought his snarling face only inches quarantine him for 10 to 14 days. I opted to loop his leash through the from my own, but made it harder for couldn’t wait that long to resolve handle, gently dropping the loop over him to bite my arms. I twisted his collar this—no way. By then I’d make ex- his head. I had done this before with- hard, trying to take some of the fight cuses for my friend and want to keep out incident—but not tonight. out of him. For what seemed like an him. Despite what had just happened, As the leash touched the top of his eternity, I held on. I had control, and my love for this dog was great. I loved head, he exploded into action. Less he just stood there growling. Keeping him like I had loved no other dog, than two feet (0.6 meters) away, I could the pressure on, I backed out from and I’ve had a lot of dogs in my life. see in his eyes that this was no bluff. under the table, opened the back door Ultimately, my son Brandon and I Growling, snarling, with his teeth and led him down to his kennel. At took Denali out to our campsite a few bared, he rushed straight at my face. I first, I hesitated to let him go, afraid miles away. I took my Springfield 1911 turned away and immediately felt him he might resume his onslaught. I reas- and put a .45 slug in the back of Denali’s snapping his powerful jaws at the side sured him that everything was okay, let head. To say I was devastated would be of my head three or four times. I felt go and backed out, closing him in. a gross understatement. My heart was his teeth sink into and through my left I went back upstairs, and as I broken beyond belief. ear. I was in total disbelief at what walked into the kitchen I became over- They say time heals. I’m still waiting. n was happening. Over and over again, I whelmed at what had just transpired. I told him, “NO,” while trying to grab felt weak in the knees and very light- Robert Van Bergen grew up in South his collar and get control over him. headed, like I might pass out. Bracing Minneapolis, joined the Army in 1969 Denali was, by anyone’s standards, myself on the back of a chair, I took and served one tour of duty (12 months) huge. He was 5-feet, 7-inches some long, deep breaths. My heart was in Vietnam. He and his wife, Beth, live in (1.7 meters) from the tip of his nose to racing, and I felt like I couldn’t slow Shakopee, Minnesota, and have three children and six grandchildren. Van Bergen the tip of his tail. He stood 30 inches it down. I stopped shaking and took has worked as a high school custodian for (0.76 meters) at the shoulder, had a moment to assess the carnage. The the last 12 years. He is a poet, hobbyist, a 22-inch (0.56-meter) neck, and floor was covered with blood. My neck quilter, hunter and recreational shooter. weighed an estimated 150 pounds and chest were covered in blood. My He and Beth are avid photographers. They (68 kilograms) or so. He was formi- arms were a mess. I was going to have also sing at weddings and occasionally dable, to say the least. to make a trip to the emergency room. funerals. Besides family and pets, his I had a long night ahead of me. passion is firearms.

International Wolf Winter 2011 9 t has been more than 10 years since Minnesota adopted a wolf Minnesota Imanagement plan in anticipation of wolves being removed from the federal endangered species list. Little Wolf has changed in the biological status of the wolf population over that time, Management but changes may be needed to address What’s changed in 10 years the evolving landscape of legal status, without resolution to regulations, funding and agency legal status? participation in light of delisting in the near future.

by DAN STARK Minnesota wolf population The distribution of wolves in Minnesota has remained static for more than 10 years, even though the population has been protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for most of that time. A population survey conducted during the winter of 2007-08, estimated the population to be between 2,192 and 3,525 with a point estimate of 2,921 wolves. Considering the margins of error on each survey, this estimate was statis- tically similar to estimates in 2004 of 3,020 and in 1998 of 2,450. The distribution of wolves was unchanged, covering approximately 35,000 square miles of northern Minnesota. The next survey will be conducted in winter 2012-13. In the mid- to late-1990s, predic- tions were made that the wolf population would continue to expand as long as there were enough deer and limited human-caused mortality. However, the population did not continue to expand, and while deer abundance or

Gray wolf, Canis lupus. Kelly Godfrey

10 Winter 2011 www.wolf.org The role of the ESA for wolves in Minnesota has human-caused mortality could be a run its course, Ely partial explanation in some areas, it biologically Estimated does not appear to be a full explanation speaking, and wolf range in in some other locations, suggesting there is really no that other factors, such as land-use Minnesota patterns, disease, or wolf intolerance of current conservation constant human activity could also benefit for the wolf limit wolf distribution. It appears that population to remain most areas suitable for wolves in the protected under the state are now occupied and that wolf federal law. numbers and distribution will fluc- tuate around current levels depending on prey availability, human-caused mortality, potential disease factors and conservation of wildlands. Over time, a few wolves may establish in new areas as they become more tolerant of a human-dominated landscape, but Wolf Status in Minnesota. The shaded in the near-term we anticipate that areas show the location of collared wolf pack territories near Ely, Minnesota. ndre Decarie

Minnesota’s wolf population will fluc- A tuate between 2,500 to 3,500 wolves. The role of the ESA for wolves in Minnesota in any given year experience 2007 and 2008 when wolves were Minnesota has run its course, biologi- losses attributable to wolves, dealing previously delisted. During that time, cally speaking, and there is really no with actual or potential losses has there was essentially a seamless transi- current conservation benefit for the been ongoing since wolves were tion from federal to state management wolf population to remain protected protected under the ESA in 1974. At and no real change to the average under the federal law. Minnesota has first there was little these producers number of wolves killed in response to established laws protecting wolves and could do when cows, sheep or poultry livestock depredations. Individual live- will fully implement an approved wolf were killed by wolves. Today livestock stock producers killed only 10 wolves management plan when wolves are producers rely on Wildlife Services under the provisions of state law that delisted. The Minnesota Department of (WS) agents to euthanize wolves allows citizens to take wolves to protect Natural Resources adopted a goal for causing damage to livestock. The livestock and pets during the period wolf management prior to developing Minnesota Wolf Management Plan when wolves were federally delisted. the Minnesota Wolf Management Plan allows more flexibility for citizens to Many of the components of the to “ensure the long-term survival of address livestock depredations but state’s integrated depredation-manage- the wolf in Minnesota, and also resolve still considers the current WS program ment approach are already in place, conflicts between wolves and humans.” to be an important component of an which allows for a smooth transition. integrated wolf-depredation manage- Minnesota Department of Natural Wolf depredation ment program. Although livestock Resources (DNR) conservation officers management husbandry and other non-lethal investigate depredation claims to verify Although the wolf population is depredation management tools are an losses so that producers can submit doing well and no longer in need of important component of an integrated claims for reimbursement through the ESA protection, there is still a need for approach, trapping and removing Minnesota Department of Agriculture sound management to address conflicts wolves that are causing depredation (MDA). The MDA administers the that occur between wolves and humans. may help resolve conflicts and build compensation claim program and The primary type of conflict is livestock tolerance for wolves when a livestock averages $75,000 to $100,000 in depredation. Each year there are about producer or pet owner knows that depredation claims each year. When 200 complaints of depredation on the problem will be addressed. Without livestock damage is verified to be domestic animals or pets, and about the appropriate depredation response, caused by wolves, federal wolf trap- 100 incidents are verified as wolf. people will be less supportive of wolves. pers, based in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, While typically less than 2 percent The Minnesota Wolf Management trap and kill wolves causing depre- of farms within the wolf’s range in Plan was tested for a short period in dation. In addition, WS provides valu-

International Wolf Winter 2011 11 able technical advice to livestock The Minnesota Wolf Although we know as much as, or producers to prevent or mitigate wolf Management Plan was more, about the biology and pop- depredation. tested for a short ulation dynamics of wolves as other Unfortunately, the future of the wildlife with hunting seasons, we must WS wolf-depredation management period in 2007 and still do our due diligence to develop program in Minnesota is uncertain. 2008 when wolves were a responsible wolf management This program has been in continuous previously delisted. structure. This approach will include operation since 1975 and employs a During that time, assessing current monitoring and dedicated and highly experienced there was essentially population modeling information to staff to address livestock-depredation a seamless transition evaluate how a season might influence complaints. However, past funding of population dynamics of wolves in this program has been uncertain, and from federal to state Minnesota. Also, hunting wolves will more recently, the congressional ear- management and no be controversial, and we must consider mark that mostly funded this program real change to the social factors and address public was eliminated. The Great Lakes’ Wolf average number of concerns about a potential season. The Initiative, as it was called, provided wolves killed in DNR is still in the very early phase of assistance for education, consultation response to livestock discussing a planning process on how with tribes, limited research and moni- to proceed with a potential wolf season. toring, and most important, assistance depredations. Through this process it is important for producers and all citizens with that we consider all biological and wolf problems and concerns. Initially social aspects of wolf management and funded at $1,050,000 in 2003 for WS conservation without diminishing the in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, status wolves have gained through it was funded at $727,000 in 2009; decades of educating the public about approximately $209,000 of that was the role wolves play in the biodiversity provided to WS in Minnesota. WS of Minnesota’s landscape. funded another $100,000 to $300,000

a year from the U.S. Department of art Minnesota Wolf Genetics H Agriculture budget to implement this and Taxonomy program, and the current estimated John P. Another complication to the de- annual operating cost of the program listing of wolves in Minnesota is the is $550,000. To lose this kind of Wolf Season ongoing taxonomic debate about what funding prior to delisting does not Provisions Changed species of wolf occurs in the Western bode well for livestock producers to Before the 2011 Minnesota legisla- Great Lakes region. Some have indi- be able to address wolf depredation tive session, the DNR was authorized cated that there are two species of conflicts. It also makes it difficult to by state law to develop a hunting wolves, the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and plan how to proceed. season on wolves five years after their the eastern wolf (Canis lycaon). The Wolves could be delisted in delisting. A revision in 2011 removed gray wolf is the species of wolf that Minnesota in early 2012. This would the five-year waiting period and autho- has been described in Minnesota allow the DNR to implement the rizes the DNR to develop a season going back to the 1930s by Sigurd Minnesota Wolf Management Plan. upon delisting but only after public Olson. Wolves in Minnesota have been Under state law and the guidelines comment. This may speed up the time commonly referred to as timber wolves, in the wolf plan, individuals may frame when wolves can be hunted, which have always been considered take wolves that are posing an imme- although much planning must be a subspecies of the gray wolf. The diate threat to livestock, domestic completed prior to initiating a season. timber wolf is somewhat distinguished animals and pets. Although this may Additional changes made during by its smaller size, and it more provide some benefit to pet owners the 2011 Minnesota legislative session commonly preys on white-tailed deer and livestock producers to address included adding wolves in the defini- than the larger western and northern wolf depredation conflicts, the wolf tion of small game in the Minnesota wolf subspecies. plan intends to utilize WS to continue Game and Fish laws. This new defini- The eastern wolf came on to the to respond to verified cases of livestock tion means that if a wolf season were scene early this century when new depredation in Minnesota. If WS is not established, hunters would only need genetic techniques were developed, funded for wolf control, the DNR will a small-game license to hunt wolves. which allow scientists to look more have to explore other options such as If a season is developed, many details closely at the genetic relatedness of using certified predator controllers. of permitting and regulating a wolf individual wolves. The variation and harvest remain to be worked out. distinctness diagnosed by the scientists

12 Winter 2011 www.wolf.org made them think that because these coyotes dating back about 600 to 900 are analyzed, new genetic techniques wolves have coyote-like genetic years ago. On average, wolves in are developed and species concepts markers, which are not found in Minnesota possess about 85 percent become more widely accepted. In the contemporary coyote populations, gray wolf and 15 percent coyote gene- meantime, Minnesota’s wolf popula- they are from a line of North American tic material, compared to wolves in tion is 3,000 strong and far exceeds canids that evolved separately from southern Ontario that are approxi- all biological measures of recovery. gray wolves but are closely related mately 60 percent gray wolf and 40 Whatever the genetic composition of to coyotes and evolved from a common percent coyote. Other studies have Minnesota’s wolves, their conservation ancestor. These genetic markers are indicated that there is very little, if and management has been a remark- found to be a large component of the any, current wolf-coyote hybridization able success story of the ESA. If we genetic makeup of wolves in Algonquin in Western Great Lakes wolves, and can’t remove ESA protections for a Provincial Park in southern Ontario, unpublished data documented that population of wolves that is such a Canada, where it is believed that this gray wolves recolonizing the north- great conservation success, it will be species occurs in its “purest” form, central forests of Minnesota killed difficult to recover the nearly 2,000 albeit hybridized with gray wolves and coyotes as they reestablished those threatened and endangered species coyotes. Some of the “eastern wolf” parts of the states. The vonHoldt study listed under the ESA. n genetic markers are found in wolves did not find any evidence to support in Minnesota also, so the recent that there is a unique North American delisting proposal includes a status wolf species that others have identified review of the eastern wolf species to as the eastern wolf. For more information about wolf consider whether it should be classi- These studies raise spirited intellec- management and to find a copy of the fied under the ESA. tual debate, but the reality is the current Minnesota Wolf Management The concept of the eastern wolf as wolves in Minnesota are the same Plan, go to http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ a separate species is not accepted wolves Sigurd Olson studied in the mammals/wolves/mgmt.html. by all geneticists and taxonomists and first scientific study of wolves in the most recently might have been world. The wolves protected by the trumped by a comprehensive look at ESA in the northern forests of Dan Stark is the large carnivore program wolf genetics worldwide. A study by Minnesota have expanded throughout leader for the Minnesota Department of Bridgette vonHoldt and her colleagues the region and now occupy 35,000 Natural Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife and has considerable experience looked at an extensive amount of square miles of forest in Minnesota, studying wolves in Minnesota, Arizona, genetic markers in wolves sampled the north woods of Wisconsin and the and New Mexico. in Minnesota and concluded that entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan. wolves here are predominantly gray The species debate will continue, wolves that have gene flow from probably for decades as more samples iable L ay R

International Wolf Winter 2011 13 International Wolf Center Major Contributors and Special Gifts June 2011 – August 2011

Major Donors Memorials Honorary Matching Gifts In-Kind Fred and Carol Breitling In memory of In honor of and Foundations Donations James DeWitte: Madison and Emma Cline: Alton Foundation Brandenburg Gallery Catherine Brown Mary Marquardt Mei Li Cline Corning Incorporated Leslie Brown Regina Carius and Family In honor of Lori and Foundation on behalf of: CEVA Animal Health, LLC Robert Carlson In memory of Ed Gardner: the Wolf Care Crew: Wayne Cadden Mark Lamberty Joyce Wells Jon and Sherrill Carlson Gary and Doreen Deutsch General Mills on behalf of: Daniele de Ponthiere Susan and Ralph Goebel In memory of my sister In honor of Deborah Wells Martha Harnish: Seth Hedquist’s Birthday: John Ewing Joe and Jody Greenhalgh Dorothea Atwell Joel Gettys GRACO Inc on behalf of: Lori Soldatke Judy Hunter Julia and Parker Hall In memory of In honor of Rebecca Keller Highum: Sam Horvath’s graduation: Janice Johnson Carol Hodges Gerson Bakar Foundation on behalf of: Jim Highum Lynn and Bob Barth Kathy Klotz Ivancich Inc Renae and Cynthia Wong In honor of Maya: Kristin Lein Kimberly Loomis Mark Highum Irmeli and Frank Smith JPMorgan Chase Deborah Lewis Maplewood Improvement Cynthia Stulz Microsoft on behalf of: Association Inc In honor of Jerry Sanders: Betty Magnuson In memory of Maya: Anonymous Richard and Dave Mech Don Gossett Dr. Joyce Riveroll Joan Hinchcliffe Raul Garcia Dave Messinger Christian Mueller Jerry Sanders and In honor of Milton and Northwest Area Foundation Deborah Hinchcliffe Seamus Metress In memory of Althea Stenlund: on behalf of: Doug Mikolash, Kim Gerald Ireland Patrick Ciernia Paul and Susan Schurke Sylvia Ann Ott Goodbrandson’s brother: In honor of Nathan Taylor: Pam Slosson Sue and Dana Payne Kim’s employees at Tyco Electronics on behalf of: Seven Oaks General Elizabeth Albrecht-Heiks Curt and Rebecca Stacey Steven Portnoy Hospital Ray Wells Steger Muklucks Jerry Sanders and In memory of Milo: The White Pine Fund Deborah Hinchcliffe Donna and Pat Surface Dorothea Atwell Ted and Barbara Nancy jo Tubbs Spaulding In memory of Nyssa: Christian Mueller Tony’s Kwik Mart In memory of my mother, Charles Stewart Ann S. Powell: Fco Javier Sanchez Usera April Dodge

John and Donna Virr In memory of Walter Scruggs: Daniel Vogel and Jane Stackpole Vogel Carolyn and Tony Grunfelder Thank You! Sandra Vonderembse Linda and Rick Porter Frank Warner III Janet and and Ada Warner Desmond Weber Deborah and Ray Wells In memory of Jim Steiner: Robert and Teresa Pierce

14 Winter 2011 www.wolf.org Tracking the Pack

hearing begins. The fear that would possibly be The Benefit of Socializing a response of dogs is believed perceived as a juvenile by Dog to Wolves on Display to develop later, closer to the wolves, resulting in less 40 or 50 days of age. When territorial response. by Lori Schmidt, wolf curator, the Center raises wolf pups, The most important selec- International Wolf Center the dog will be accustomed tion criterion, however, was to humans and help calm related to the dog’s overall the wolf pups when the attitude, often determined by uring the summer of So why choose a domesti- sights and sounds of a public facial expressions. Oscar has D2011, the International cated dog to help with a display could stimulate fear. a classic canine grin. We look Wolf Center adopted a dog wolf exhibit? Dogs provide When searching for a dog, forward to the addition of named Oscar from the Range a good stimulus for adult we wanted a confident animal two new pups in May 2012, Regional Animal Rescue in wolves, triggering greeting that didn’t show anxiety and Oscar will be a great Hibbing, Minnesota. Usually behavior and stimulating when seeing the wolves. If addition to the pup-care wolves are territorial toward them to be active with play a dog were to show fear, team. n dogs and can be aggressive bows at the fence and chasing the adult wolves could iden- or even kill dogs when they behavior, which begins with tify that behavior as a weak- run loose in the territories of the dog in the yard and ends ness and display aggression wild wolves. The same can be with the wolf running along- through the fence. We also true in captivity. In the past, side the fence. (To see these wanted a medium-sized dog however, the Center has had interactions, go to www. great success socializing a wolf. org and click on the Denali displays the dog to the wolf exhibit for video link for weekly YouTube canine grin. management purposes. postings.) We have also used We never allow dogs to dogs to help raise pups, Oscar meets Denali through undquist be in the same enclosure with the dog instinctually the fence. The hardware cloth R protects the dog from injury. with adult wolves. Dogs are knowing the body language Kathy domesticated, a process of necessary to encourage and selection that has occurred enforce submission. over thousands of years The innate fear response creating a calmer version of of wolves and dogs differs. their wild counterpart, often Wolf pups can show fear referred to as a perpetual avoidance behavior and juvenile mindset. Wolves in express anxiety at a much captivity are socialized, not younger age than dogs. Our domesticated, which means records have documented they can be raised to be wolf pups showing tucked tolerant of people, but behav- tail and fear responses at 13 iorally they have had no days of age, around the time selection to reduce or calm enter instinctual C behaviors. nternational Wolf nternational Wolf I

Find the enter International C Wolf Center YouTube channel at www.wolf.org. nternational Wolf nternational Wolf I

International Wolf Winter 2011 15 he Mexican wolf (Canis lupus Will the Mexican Wolf Again Become baileyi), the smallest and most Part of Mexico’s Wildlife? Tdistinctive of North American wolves, disappeared from Mexico’s wild landscape probably by the late 1970s. A breeze of hope surfaces as reintroduction draws near Similar to what has happened in much of the world with other wolves, by Miguel A. Armella, Ph.D. ranchers’ hunting and poisoning of the animals has caused their near- extinction, but they reached the southern State of Oaxaca (see map for original and proposed range) by following the top of the Sierra Madre (east and west) mountain range. By 1976 a former American wolf trapper, Roy McBride, hired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), captured five males and one pregnant female in Mexico to start a breeding program. To do so, he needed the Mexican government’s collabora- tion; this resulted in the formation of the binational Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Team. Since then and with the participation of many people, Mexico has kept a recovery program active, partic- ipating in the exchange of animals for the breeding program, performing genetic and reproduction research, and running educational programs Mexican wolf, Canis lupus along the north and center of the baileyi. country where wolves once lived. ose B The situation today

ebecca Currently 17 Mexican facilities— R zoos, exhibition parks and prerelease facilities—participate in the program. Mexican Wolves Released in Sonora These facilities in conjunction with researchers from universities, veteri- All of the efforts being made in Mexico have recently culminated in the narians, non-governmental organizations and other interested people release of Mexican wolves in Mexico. On October 11 in Sierra de San have formed a group to work not only Luis in the northern part of the State of Sonora not far from the U.S. on increasing the number of animals border, five Mexican wolves were released, starting a new chapter in but also on ensuring their genetic Mexican wolf conservation in Mexico. Keeping the wolves alive will now strength. Meetings are held annually become the main focus. with American counterparts, alter- nating between the two countries. In

16 Winter 2011 www.wolf.org 2011 the meeting took place in July in Mexico City. According to the 2011 Mexican Wolf Studbook (Siminski, 2011), by 2011 there were 312 Mexican wolves with 67 (38 females and 29 males) in Mexican facilities. The non-governmental Organizaciòn de Vida Silvestre (OVIS) based in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, developed, especially for this project, an intense rehabilitation program teaching these captive wolves to Proposed reintroduction hunt for wildlife and make them less areas reliant on domestic prey. This program has had excellent success, with several Historic Distribution packs now ready for life in the wild. Mexico’s president gives wolves a boost Reintroduction efforts were stimu- lated in early 2007 when the just- inaugurated President Felipe Calderon Differences can be seen between named the Mexican wolf one of five rural and urban populations, however, priority species for conservation (along with rural people less in favor of with the jaguar, golden eagle, sea wolf reintroduction, especially in the turtle and marine caw). State-of-the-art north where cattle are still an impor- technology and international experts tant part of life. But even there per- were used to predict the best sites ceptions differ. People over 60 years for reintroduction, and six areas were of age oppose wolf reintroduction; selected (see map). The Ministry of most claim to know about wolf attacks Differences can be seen Natural Resources and Environment on humans or cattle, although few between rural and urban (abbreviated SEMARNAT in Spanish) have witnessed one first hand. Younger sponsored detailed research in six people more readily accept options to populations, however, with locations to determine prey availability preserve wolves, like reparation for and public opinion about possible loss of livestock and other financial rural people less in favor reintroduction. incentives offered to ranchers. of wolf reintroduction, From the survey of prey sponsored Other challenges exist. Unlike in by SEMARANAT in 2008, one area the United States, in Mexico there are especially in the north located between the states of Sonora no public lands, and federal or state and Chihuahua was selected as the first parks are not big enough to hold where cattle are still an priority to release wolves soon. wolf populations. Landowners must important part of life. However, these surveys and more agree before wolves can be released recent ones show the general public is within their property. Non-govern- not well informed about the conser- mental organizations (like Naturalia vation status of the Mexican gray wolf, A.C.) working in the area have had although people are concerned about success communicating with some environmental conservation overall, cattle-raising communities, especially and most support reintroduction and using education programs with chil- agree that the wolf must be rescued for dren. However, some ranchers who ecological and ethical reasons. retain attitudes from the 1960s are

International Wolf Winter 2011 17 using political power to stop the during the last binational meeting importance of restoring natural balance program regardless of the benefits when a group of ejidatarios (farmers and believe there is room in nature offered. In spite of this opposition, holding common land) from southern for everyone. This is a new plan and some ranchers have individually agreed Nuevo Leon said they are prepared is being evaluated by environmental not to kill wolves within their ranch to receive wolves. They have been authorities. boundaries, and others are willing to working for three or four years getting Mexican wolves’ reintroduction has let wolves live on their property, thus funds from government programs to been a long walk; however, thanks to providing enough contiguous land to improve the environment with the idea the hard work of the government, keep at least a handful of wolf packs in of developing ecotourism. They know academics, non-governmental organi- the area. it will not be an easy task, but they zations and many other people reintro- While in the Northwest the social believe they can benefit. They and the duction is getting closer. A new walk will is in question, new hope came communities they represent know the to maintain wolf populations in relative harmony with humans will start again, but most important is the acknowledgment that the Mexican wolf has a place in its own country. n

Acknowledgment

Siminski, P. D., 2011. Mexican Wolf, Canis lupus baileyi, International Studbook. The Living Dessert, Palm Desert, California.

Miguel A. Armella, Ph.D., is a full professor and former head of the biology department at the Metropolitan Autonomous University (Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana), which is housed at a campus in Iztapalapa, a section of Mexico City. He has worked on the Mexican wolf recovery team since 2001 as an information and education officer. ose B ebecca R

Young Mexican wolf. Spencer Wilhelm

18 Winter 2011 www.wolf.org What’s Happening Elsewhere in the World? by Tracy O’Connell oni Sofer R ogers, . Promberger, Don . Promberger, ancy Gibson, Jackie R C N ynn . & L B allon, eft to right: L F Zippert,

he international pattern of France Sweden wanting wolves versus wanting The BBC reports that France’s Swedish plans for a wolf hunt Tthem gone continues apace in wolf population now num- in the coming winter are many nations of the world. Here is a bers about 200 (20 packs). under debate as opponents of brief summary of some of what is The progenitors are believed a hunt seek closure from the happening around the world: to have crossed the Hautes Alps from European Commission, using words Italy over a decade ago, and they are like “trickery” to describe Swedish Japan expanding their territory to the north. claims that it will cancel the hunt. This A group of citizens in Japan, The BBC’s Christian Fraser reported follows a January 2010 hunt in which where wolves were extermi- September 6 that signs painted on the a 27-animal quota was set for nated 100 years ago, is pro- road in the area say, “NO to the wolf.” harvesting, and thousands of hunters posing reintroducing them Fueling negative views have been applied for a license. At the same time, to curb populations of deer and wild hundreds of attacks that have killed poaching has been cited for half the pigs that are decimating agricultural more than 2,000 sheep this year, a wolf deaths in Sweden, with an esti- areas, according to the Web site 20-percent increase over last year. mate that wolf populations would Infomongolia. Some 83,000 Japanese Reports indicate these numbers include be four times higher if the poaching have signed a petition in support of sheep running over a cliff in fear or had not taken place. the move, circulated by the Japan disappearing from the flock. Sweden’s wolves, whose ancestors Wolf Association, which was founded Critics claim lack of proof that immigrated from Finland after Swedish in 1993. If the plan is approved, the wolves, rather than wild dogs, have wolves became extinct in the 1970s, newcomers would be brought from done the killing and that exaggerations now number about 250 and are subject Mongolia and China. The reintroduc- to claim compensation offered for to inbreeding and skeletal issues. tion proposal was slated to be the wolf-killed livestock (130 euros or topic of an October 2011 symposium $190 U.S.) have been made. Netherlands in Tokyo. The predators have also appeared The Web site Expatica.com in the Pyrenees and in France’s Massif predicted last year that it was Tibetan wolf Central Mountains, according to the a matter of time before wolves A rare Tibetan wolf delivered British paper The Guardian, which moved into the Netherlands, two pups in a zoo in India in in a July 27 opinion piece eloquently citing urbanization that has been July. Canis lupus chanco, also traced the history and many lines of “emptying out” rural areas, making known as the Chinese wolf, argument surrounding the presence space for the carnivores. The report Mongolian wolf, Steppes wolf or the of wolves. quotes a Dutch game warden enthusing woolly wolf, is believed to be a sub- over the possible recolonization, but species of the gray wolf found in parts then saying it would be “going too far” of Tibet, central China, southwest to have them in his nature preserve. Russia and the Himalayan regions of In preparation for the anticipated India, Nepal and Bhutan. arrival, a Web site, Wolven in Nederland,

International Wolf Winter 2011 19 has been created and tracks wolf travel It is unknown whether the wolf was British Columbia, Canada in neighboring countries. someone’s escaped pet or a disperser Ranchers and First Nation Edwin Winkel, who has written from Germany. hunters in British Columbia and provided photos for International are feeling increased impact Wolf magazine (Summer 2008), reports Estonia from wolf populations, by email that a wolf was photographed Wolves killed at least 71 according to the environmental Web and identified by passersby in the sheep on the Estonian island site Care2. Countering this claim it eastern part of the country near Duiven of Saaremaa in the Baltic was found that livestock deaths attrib- in late August. This is substantiated Sea this year. Local sheep uted to wolves amounted to 1 percent by Leo Linnartz, who works with breeders claim an inability to protect of total livestock numbers in the prov- Netherlands conservation organi- their flocks and to absorb the losses, ince, while larger numbers were due zations such as ARK Nature and estimated at 43,000 euros. to other factors such as disease. The maintains the Wolven in Nederland site. A representative of Estonia’s report drew more than 160 reader Environmental Assessment comments, posing a range of views. n Agency estimates that only three wolves live on Tracy O’Connell, associate professor the island. A shepherd of marketing communications at the was quoted as seeking a University of Wisconsin-River Falls, wolf-free island. serves on the International Wolf Elsewhere in the nation, Center’s magazine and communications the first of four wolves committees. to be tagged with a tracking device was successfully released in June. ogers/www.bearstudy.org R ynn and Donna L ideg/Kishenehn Wildlife Works R . E William

20 Winter 2011 www.wolf.org Wolf Kill Reflections: Stories in the Snow learned to avoid human habitation. It was curious. Later in the afternoon, we improved Text and photos by Steve Voiles our speculation about why the young wolf had come so near. In the middle here are tales written in the We were a little alarmed, not for of a stand of ancient white pines on snow, begging for interpretation, ourselves but for the wolf. Wolves that the way to town about 200 feet (61 Tinviting us to uncover hidden habituate to human proximity are meters) back from the road, a crowd of stories about the natural events taking in danger of being shot. Though the ravens rose into the air as we passed. place all around us. law prohibits shooting wolves, it is not We knew there had to be a carcass of On December 11, 2010, a little unknown for gun-shot wolf carcasses some kind attracting them. It was before 1 p.m., a young wolf passed to be discovered. Local researchers 10:30 the following morning before close enough to our northeastern have found cut radio collars tossed into we returned to investigate. Minnesota home to be photographed. the brush miles from the home territo- It was a bright, clear day. This time In our experience, this was odd ries of the study wolves that once wore a much smaller group of ravens behavior. We live in the middle of wolf the collars. retreated as we approached. The story territory and count ourselves lucky We had set out some suet for the was written in the snow. Three or four to see them occasionally crossing the birds. Had she been attracted to the suet wolves had killed a deer. Tracks from a Fernberg Road, but we had never seen or to the birds themselves? Her tracks single deer could be seen, leading one come this close to our home, which came from the south in a steady walking down a trail into a clear area beneath is in a high, exposed location atop a pattern. She was alone. She had not the pines. Wolf tracks converged from rocky ridge. I was lucky to have my been in pursuit of a hare or deer. both sides. The deer had been killed camera nearby. I clicked off a photo or Wolves, born in late April or early right on the trail. It must have been two and then rushed toward the wolf May, attain an adult appearance quick and unexpected, because the to startle her and let her know she within eight or nine months. Despite deer’s prints showed a steady, unhur- was too close. She quickly disappeared her size, she was still a pup. Perhaps ried pattern right to the kill spot. There into the woods. she was just off on her own and hadn’t was no indication of a chase. The trail was now marked with the wing prints of ravens. If we interpreted the marks correctly, the ravens had It was a bright, clear day. This time a much snatched bits of venison as the wolves smaller group of ravens retreated as we approached. The story was written in the snow.

International Wolf Winter 2011 21 fed, and often when a raven attempted The wolf did not reappear. It was looked like the deer had been downed to land nearby, it had been rushed by probably watching me! The carcass I in one spot, but then momentarily had one of the feeding wolves. In several had seen minutes earlier was gone. broken free and tried to run up the places, double-wing prints appeared Upon inspection I realized that this embankment, only to be dragged back with little or no impression of the was not a road kill. There were blood down and killed a few feet to the west. bird’s body in the fresh snow. A hasty patches in the north-side ditch and a The carcass had been dragged from retreat left wing prints intersected by drag mark that led across the road and the western spot across the road, and wolf prints. into the trees on the south. Light snow there was no drag mark between the We wondered whether feeding was falling, but none of the marks were two blood patches. Perhaps the missing aggression at this kill site three-quar- obscured. If a car had been involved, hindquarter explained the other blood ters of a mile (1.2 kilometers) from our skid marks, human footprints and spot and had been left behind while home had driven the young wolf in our debris would have been evident. Even the carcass was dragged across the direction. The kill may have occurred if it had happened an hour earlier, such road. That might explain why I had late in the morning of the previous day, tracks would have been visible. I had seen deer parts in both ditches. The and we had seen the wolf shortly seen parts of the deer on each side of deer may have been surprised on the after midday. If this were true, the the road, but apart from the drag mark road, impeded by the depth of the entire deer had been consumed in there were no blood spots or hair on plowed snow in the north-side ditch approximately 24 hours. Parts could the pavement. Patches of blood in the and the steep embankment just have been dragged off and buried, but ditch were not snow covered. In the beyond. There were blood spatters and we could discover no paths or drag time it had taken for me to drive three- tracks high up on the embankment. marks leading to caches within a few quarters of a mile (1.2 kilometers) and The deer had likely been caught from hundred feet (about 100 meters). walk back, the wolf or wolves had behind and pulled back down in the pulled everything back into ditch where it was killed. the woods. They were nearby. My wife and I returned three times I followed the drag mark in five hours to see the progression into the edge of the thick trees of the feed. After the first visit, the and found the deer carcass just carcass was dragged some 400 feet out of sight. I had obviously (122 meters) away from the road. From interrupted the feeding. tracks in the snow, it looked like other

After 24 hours all the wolves left was the spine and part of a foreleg.

The area around the remains was packed and worn by a thousand claw marks where the feast had occurred. The snow showed little blood, and we were surprised to see very little deer hair. Had the wind blown it away? Had the hide been carried away myste- riously without leaving drag marks? I happened upon a second wolf kill on the morning of April 16, 2011. Drag marks from initial kill site. I was driving in a couple of inches of snow on an unplowed road a mile and a half (2.4 kilometers) from my I couldn’t resist trying to read the wolves might have joined in the feed. home when I saw a wolf dart from the evidence in the snow to piece together It was a strange feeling to realize the road ahead into the trees. I stopped what had happened. There were two wolves were undoubtedly watching us over a rise three-quarters of a mile blood patches in the opposite ditch as we interrupted their feast. (1.2 kilometers) away and carefully and tracks on the side hill, indicating The wolves had left little to examine. returned on foot with my camera. It the dimensions of the struggle. It Obviously some bits had been carried was about 10:45 a.m.

22 Winter 2011 www.wolf.org could the deer survive in such condi- tions? I hoped the deer could find enough nourishment and shelter to sustain itself. Abruptly, it occurred to me that I could not wish the wolf well without threatening the survival of the deer, and I could not wish the deer well without wishing to deprive the wolf of what it needed to live. I was in the grip of a moral dilemma, and emotionally confused. Then the flash of truth: My wishes and hopes had absolutely nothing to do with the dance of survival that was playing out between these two marvelous animals. They did not seek or require my good wishes. They were living out their lives as they had done long before I arrived, and with a little luck and some tolerance on the part of humans, they would continue to do so long, long after I was gone. My role, if I had one at all, was to simply pay attention and learn from the natural world around me. n

The wolves dragged the deer from the roadside kill site up a steep embankment. off, but it was clear that the wolves had of changing habitat and the made use of virtually every bit of the vagaries of climate. The deer in roughly 27 hours. balance they have achieved is While the details of wolf/deer nothing short of amazing. A young gray wolf passed within yards predation may seem grotesque to us, My wife and I observed a wolf of the Voiles’ kitchen window. there is nonetheless a beauty in the working its way through the deep snow skillful balance between these two one icy January morning during my Steve Voiles lives with his wife, Polly, species. The life and death interplay first winter living on the edge of the on a high rocky ridge overlooking the between wolves and deer is a remark- Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilder- forest around Moose Lake, a stone’s throw ably successful cycle that has persisted ness. It was well below zero, and I from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area found myself worrying that the wolf Wilderness in Minnesota. It is an ideal for tens of thousands of years. The place for observing wildlife. Since his efficiency of the wolves’ predation is might starve to death in the bitter, 2007 retirement from 30 years of teaching matched by the efficiency of the deer’s forbidding weather. Later we saw a special education in the Twin Cities, reproduction and evasive abilities as deer picking its way through deep Voiles has pursued writing and photog- the two work out the survival of their snow across an open ledge visible raphy and a deeper understanding of intertwined species against a backdrop from our home. I was awestruck. How nature and wilderness.

International Wolf Winter 2011 23 share their opinions and progress Wolves Without Borders Pilot Project through an online blog called Posterous. is Big Hit With Kids Center educators explore the factual and mythological sides of wolves with by Tara Johnson, program specialist, International Wolf Center students. Lessons cover physical and social adaptations of wolves as well as research techniques biologists use, EEP! BEEP! BEEP! The eight fifth graders scoot along such as radio telemetry, to track wolves “I’ve got something,” a student together in a blob, listening. The sound in the wild. These lessons are followed from Babbitt, Minnesota, shouts gets louder as they continue their B with radio telemetry exercises and a to the rest of her team members. four-point turn, spinning with the lesson in plotting telemetry data from The group is huddled so closely antenna pointed high. wolves in or near the students’ regions together that it is obvious the students “I think it’s close,” says one. using maps. The curriculum also heard the signal the receiver produced. “Me, too!” exclaims another. embraces folklore and cultural views They are buzzing with excitement as “Okay, if you are a ‘listener’ spread related to wolves. Students then venture they track a hidden radio collar once out and look for the collar,” instructs out into their schools and neighbor- used by wolf biologists in the field. an International Wolf Center educator. hoods to interview family and commu- It’s part of a 2011 pilot project called “It’s got to be right around here. The nity members about their thoughts on Wolves Without Borders. This cross- beeping is really loud now.” wolves. The differences in responses cultural, hands-on learning opportu- “There it is!” shouts a happy student. can truly surprise the students. nity gives elementary students a chance There are lots of cheers. At the end of the unit, students to collaborate with organizations in “That’s harder than I thought,” one create a presentation to summarize three different countries. student concludes. what they learned and present it to “It sounds louder when you face “I know,” another responds with Center staff. north,” a group member points out. wide, round eyes. “Can you imagine if The impact? More than half of the “Yeah, take 20 paces facing that there was a wolf in that collar?” students’ opinions about wolves direction,” another continues. Wolves Without Borders teaches change based on their experiences. children the facts about wolves while The Center hopes to continue this giving them a chance to interact with project and build connections with students with diverse life experiences more countries. Center educators through interactive technology. Dur- recently created new online learning ing the five-month program, Interna- units for teachers as part of WolfLink™ tional Wolf Center educators connect education offerings. For more on these three separate schools (pilot schools educational programs, go to http:// were in Minnesota, Canada www.wolf.org/wolves/learn/online- and Mexico) using video curriculum.asp. n conferencing technology to share research-based programs about wolves. Students also

Babbitt fifth graders try their hand at radio telemetry. enter C enter C nternational Wolf nternational Wolf I nternational Wolf nternational Wolf I

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