Yellowstone Wolf 755M: a Breeding Male Without a Pack PAGE 4 How

Yellowstone Wolf 755M: A Breeding Male Without A Pack PAGE 4 How Do States Estimate Their Wolf Populations? PART II The Rocky Mountains and the Southwest PAGE 8 Wolf Reintroduction to Isle Royale? An interview with Dr. Rolf Peterson PAGE 12 Bring the Lone Wolf Lodge Sign with Clock Item: 1382 $39.99 Call of the Wild Home Members Save Logo Wear 10% Hooded Sweatshirt 4” Wolf Trinket Box Item: 314P Item: 1376 $12.99 $25.00

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To Order, visit: Dancer Wolf Plush Item: 7223 $13.50 Or call 3D Wolf Lenticular Puzzle 1-800-ELY-WOLF Item: 533 $12.95 Your purchases help support the mission of the International Wolf Center. VOLUME 27, NO. 1 THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER SPRING 2017

4 Larry Krumpelman 8 Courtesy Of US Fish & Wildlife Service 12 George Desort Yellowstone Wolf 755M: A How Do States Estimate Wolf Reintroduction to Breeding Male Without A Pack Their Wolf Populations? Isle Royale? An interview with Dr. Rolf Peterson In Yellowstone National Park, a male PART 2 The Rocky Mountains and the wolf wanders alone, his graying coat the Southwest The National Park Service has released result of advancing age and a rugged Effective wildlife management requires a proposal to reintroduce 20 to 30 life. Tutored in his youth by a strong, accurate estimates of animal populations. wolves into Isle Royale National Park in dominant female until he proved himself Wolves, however, are free-roaming and Lake Superior over the next three to five as a hunter and defender, 755M survived low-density, and they inhabit enormous, years. Here Dr. Rolf Peterson, who has pack rivalries and avoided hunters only wild spaces—all circumstances that make studied the Isle Royale wolf population to become, eventually, a wolf without them hard to count. This is the second since 1970, discusses that proposal with a pack—and a legend in Yellowstone’s in a two-part series in which Boyd and International Wolf, describing possible history. Thiel explain the methods used to collect long- and short-term effects of a reintroduction. by Betsy Downey population data on wolves. By Diane Boyd and Richard P. Thiel

On the Cover Departments Gray wolf pup photographed near the vicinity of Gardner, Montana. 3 From the Executive Director Photo by Cobble-Art. Visit www.cobble-art.com for more images 14 Tracking the Pack of wolves, wildlife, landscapes and more. 18 Wolves of the World Did you know? 22 Personal Encounter One easy way for you to help us conserve 24 Wild Kids natural resources is to make sure we have your email address. Simply email your 26 A Look Beyond Dean Cluff address to [email protected]. 28 Book Review

Wolf Family

RendezvousApril 1-2, June 3-4, September 2-3 Let our pack meet yours! Add this fun, educational package into your family’s vaca- tion plans. With plenty of family-focused Publications Director activities and outdoor fun, your family Carissa L. Winter will talk about this trip for years to come! Graphics Coordinator Spend quality time together learning about Carissa L. Winter the north woods home of the wolf through Consulting Editor hikes, crafts, games and observing our Kristine Chapin ambassador wolves. Technical Editor Dr. L. David Mech Graphic Designer Tricia Austin

International Wolf (1089-683X) is published quarterly and copyrighted, 2017, by the International Wolf Center, 7100 Northland Circle N, Suite 205, Minneapolis, MN 55428, USA. email: [email protected]. All rights reserved. Publications agreement no. 1536338 Membership in the International Wolf Center includes a subscription to International Wolf magazine, free Adventure admission to the Center and discounts on programs and merchandise. 2017 Membership Levels: (in U.S. dollars) • Wolf Pup $25 (students • Wolf Associate $125 age 21 and under) • Wolf Tracker $250 Programs • Lone Wolf $45 • Wolf Sponsor $500 (individual) • Alpha Wolf $1,000 • Wolf Pack $75 (family at same address) Other Exciting Adventures! Outside the United States, please add an additional $15 to Wolf Pup, Lone Wolf, Wolf Pack and Wolf Geocache Adventures In Wolf Range Associate memberships. April 1-2, June 3-4, September 2-3 Please mail membership payment to: International Test your backcountry navigational skills while you discover the worldwide scavenger Wolf Center Administrative Office, Attn: Membership, 7100 Northland Circle N, Suite 205, Minneapolis, hunt pastime known as geocaching. We’ll prepare you for your wildlands adventure MN 55428, USA. Contact the membership department through compass and map training, how to use with questions: 763-560-7374 ext. 230 or a GPS unit, and much more! [email protected]. Wolves After Dark International Wolf is a forum for airing perspectives, science-based information and personal experiences June 30-July 1, August 11-12, October 20-21 about wolves. Articles and materials printed in Inter- national Wolf do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of Jr. Wolf Biologist Summer Camp the International Wolf Center or its board of directors. July 17-20, 2017 International Wolf welcomes submissions of personal adventures with wolves and wolf photo graphs. Prior to submission of other types of manuscripts, address Jr. Wolf Biologist Mini Camps queries to Carissa L. Winter, publications director. June 15-16 and August 7-8 PHOTOS: Unless otherwise noted, or obvious from the caption or article text, photos are of captive wolves. For complete information International Wolf is printed entirely with soy ink about our programs on FSC® certified visit paper. We encour- FSC logo here age you to recycle

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2 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org From the Executive Director

INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER Would Privatizing Livestock Reimbursements BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nancy jo Tubbs Better Serve Wolves and Humans? Chair Dr. L. David Mech ’ve often wondered what it would be like if commercial insurance carriers handled Vice Chair depredation claims for livestock lost to wolves. Would issues surrounding wolf manage- Debbie Hinchcliffe Iment be less political? Could farmers and ranchers be better served, more quickly? Would Secretary private insurers be more effective in working with livestock producers to put preventative Paul B. Anderson measures in place to reduce the number of livestock lost to wolves? Treasurer In the United States, livestock depredation reimbursements are Cree Bradley handled differently in different states. Some states provide reimburse- Cindy Carvelli-Yu ments for livestock lost to wolves, while other states do not. Funding can Rick Duncan be sporadic or limited until appropriations run out, further elevating the Fitz Fitzgerald frustration that ranchers and farmers experience. In many cases, livestock Nancy Gibson producers don’t think the reimbursements are adequate. Judy Hunter Connie LaFond Much like insurance claims, depredation reimbursements are made Deborah Wold Lewis only after the losses have been investigated. USDA Wildlife Services Rob Schultz Aaron Morris typically investigates claims and makes the determination as to cause of Mike Phillips livestock deaths. If deaths are found to be attributable to wolves, Wildlife Services may begin Debbie Reynolds predator control—most often resulting in removal of wolves from the area. Jerry Sanders Governments are not well designed for providing these reimbursements, as they usually Paul Schurke require legislative appropriations of taxpayer funds. Unlike the commercial insurance industry, Dick Thiel government has no cash reserves on hand to pay claims—and some people argue that there Keira Thrasher is a conflict of interest if the government is responsible for both wolf population management EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and paying claims for depredation. Claims funding can become political, further damaging Rob Schultz the public’s impression of wolves. Wolves are not the only species that depredates, but they are the predator that depredation MISSION payments are most commonly made for. States do not offer reimbursements if coyotes attack The International Wolf Center calves or if a bald eagle kills a chicken. These and other predators are just as active in kill- advances the survival ing farm animals, but rarely receive the public attention wolves get for doing the same thing. of wolf populations by If depredation reimbursements were privatized and handled by the commercial insurance teaching about wolves, their relationship to wildlands and industry, taxpayers would be relieved of these costs and livestock producers might be more the human role in their future. efficiently served when losses occur. As in any other industry, livestock business owners have inherent risks, and the insurance industry is best positioned to support the agricultural com- Educational services and informational resources munity, just as they do by providing crop insurance. Additionally, private insurers may provide are available at: farmers and ranchers more incentive to take steps in preventing depredation in the first place. 1396 Highway 169 What are your thoughts? Please send your opinions to [email protected] and we will Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA share them in a future issue of International Wolf. n 800-ELY-WOLF 218-365-4695 email address: [email protected] www.wolf.org Rob Shultz Executive Director

International Wolf Spring 2017 3 Wolf 755 at Tower Junction, January 2013

Yellowstone Wolf 755M: A Breeding Male Without A Pack by BETSY DOWNEY Photos by DOUG MCLAUGHLIN

n a cold November evening in 2012, baritone howls bounced off Amphitheater Mountain out- Oside Yellowstone National Park’s northeast entrance. Thrilled by the canid concert, our little group worried about the singers—Yellowstone’s Lamar Canyon pack. The wolves were at risk outside the park during hunting season. The next day we saw them safely in the park, but they soon returned to Wyoming, where Wolf 832F (called 06) and 754M fell to Wolves 755 and 754 from Soda Butte East, hunters’ bullets. Their deaths fractured the pack and turned March 2012 breeding male Wolf 755 into a lone wolf in search of a new pack.

4 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org Yellowstone’s wolves are part of the bred with him. The three wolves stayed The brothers had “proven themselves park’s “biotic community” (a group of together, and in spring four pups were as hunters and defenders of the pack.” interdependent organisms inhabiting the born to Wolf 06 and Wolf 755 in a den Wolf 755 had become a strong, breed- same region and interacting with each above Slough Creek at the west end of ing male in the prime of life. other) where one change often triggers Lamar Valley. Later they moved to an While the Lamars stabilized, a serious others. Wolves preyed on elk since before old Druid den on the east end of Lamar rivalry with the Mollie’s pack emerged. the park’s founding and were extermi- Valley. Now named the Lamar Canyon Named after Mollie Beattie (U.S. Fish nated by 1930, partly to protect park pack (“Lamars” for short), they became and Wildlife Service director, important elk. They were reintroduced in 1995, one of the park’s most observed packs. in Yellowstone’s wolf reintroduction) it in part to help reduce overgrazing by The brothers, about 2 years old when was one of the park’s largest packs at an elk population of nearly 20,000. the pups were born, had not yet learned almost 20. Possibly stressed by declining Today park elk number about 5,000 the fine points of hunting and pack social elk numbers, in late 2011 the Mollie’s year-round. Wolves have affected the structure. Lacking male role models, they began trespassing into Lamar territory elk decline, as have weather extremes, matured slowly, leaving Wolf 06 with where elk numbers also were down. Led forage quality, other carnivores and hunt- unusual responsibilities as a solo hunter, by Wolf 06 and Wolf 755 the Lamars ing outside the park. Elk mortality and protective mother and undisputed pack repelled the Mollie’s during the summer wolves’ competition for prey probably ruler. The brothers, by contrast, seemed of 2012—but two-legged predators soon contributed to the Lamar Canyon pack weak, immature, irresponsible and unde- proved lethal for the Lamars. leaving the park in 2012 and to its sub- pendable. Accounts of Wolf 06’s hunts By fall 2012 wolves in the three states sequent destabilization. often ended with, “And where were the bordering the park—Idaho, Montana and Wolf 755’s story begins with female brothers in all this?” The answer was, Wyoming—were delisted from federal Wolf 832F, born in 2006 and commonly “Nowhere to be found!” Wolf Project protection and fell under state manage- known as “06” for her birth year. As pack Leader Doug Smith said they were the ment. Yellowstone Park wolves could be leader she would overshadow Wolf 755 only wolves he’d ever heard wolf watch- taken in legal hunts if they left the park, and be featured in many articles and the ers refer to as “Dumb and Dumber.” which they rarely do. But that fall the National Geographic Wild documentary Wolf 06 at first treated the brothers Lamars crossed park boundaries into “She Wolf.” Packless in the 2010 breed- like subordinates. Once Rick McIntyre Wyoming, probably hunting elk that ing season, she attracted the attention of saw Wolf 06 and Wolf 755 attack a griz- had left the park for lower grazing lands. two yearling brothers, later collared as zly cub; Wolf 06 killed and fed on the On November 11, 2012—when there Wolf 754M and Wolf 755M, who trav- cub but would not let the brothers near was no armistice for wolves—Wolf 754 eled with several Druid pack females. it. She was training them in proper pack was legally killed in Wyoming, about 16 Wolf Project technician Rick McIntyre behavior; they also learned discipline miles east of the park. The area had an speculated that they sensed Wolf 06’s and hunting tactics from her. By 2012, eight-wolf quota. He was the seventh unusual strengths. Wolf 06 apparently with nine adults and four new pups, the taken. The rest of the pack came back found Wolf 755 healthy, interested and Lamars had become a pack that McIntyre to the park, but soon returned to the available; she relentlessly pursued and described as strong and functioning. area where Wolf 754 was killed, perhaps

Lamar Canyon pack from Bob’s Knob, January 2012 Wolves 06 and 755 from Bob’s Knob, January 2012

International Wolf Spring 2017 5 looking for the wolf, perhaps looking a Wyoming male, but the Mollie’s, other interacted with, but did not join them, for elk. They found more trouble. On wolves, dispersals and mange have perhaps because of status issues. Then December 6, Wolf 06 was the eighth wolf threatened its continuance. In 2014 the aging Canyon breeders relocated, legally harvested. (Wyoming’s wolves the pack numbered eight; in 2015 it leaving their old Hayden Valley territory were later relisted and cannot be hunted was nine. In early summer 2016 it was to the two younger wolves. at this writing.) only three, but a few dispersers later According to Yellowstone’s 2014 Wolf Wolf 06’s death left the pack in a pre- joined them. One newcomer is Wolf Project Report, Wolf 755’s new mate was carious position. Research shows that 926’s new mate, raising hope for the the fourth female seen with him after loss of pack leaders may contribute to pack’s survival and continuation of the Wolf 06’s death. This pairing seemed pack destabilization. When combined 06-755 bloodline. permanent. In 2015, with four new with disease, decline in prey population, Wolf 755’s story is similarly chaotic. In pups, they took over the Canyon pack’s food stress and inter-pack conflict, these 2013-14 he prowled the Northern Range old den and were officially named the losses negatively affect hunting, terri- with various females. He joined a Mollie’s Wapiti Lake pack (Wapitis for short). torial defense and reproduction. The female, but when his old pack encoun- With his mate staying at the den to care only other time Yellowstone wolves suf- tered them, his daughter killed her. In for their offspring, Wolf 755 was now fered such a loss was in 2009 when four early 2014 he travelled with Wolf 889F the responsible head of a new family. He Cottonwood wolves were harvested, and from the Junction pack and her sister. became a successful solo hunter like Wolf the pack completely disintegrated. In the Their ménage a trois did not last. Another 06, once taking down an elk by him- 2012-13 hunting season 12 Yellowstone male lured the sister away, and Wolf 889F self, and like her, he spent hours play- wolves were taken. At least three were injured a leg and could not keep up with ing with and training his pups. By the pack leaders; two of them—06 and him. They split, leaving Wolf 755 in a end of 2015 the Wapitis seemed stable Wolf 754— were Lamars. territory where other packs were unlikely and healthy; they were in good territory After Wolf 06’s death several Lamars to welcome an adult male wolf. with no apparent rivals and their future joined Wyoming wolves outside the Still alone in spring 2014, Wolf 755 looked bright. Until it didn’t. park. The remaining Lamar females were appeared in Canyon-pack territory in After Hayden Valley’s roads closed for Wolf 755’s daughters. Wolves normally Hayden Valley. The Canyons were down the 2015-16 winter there were no regular will not breed with their offspring, and to the nearly 9-year-old breeding pair reports on the Wapitis. In late January when breeding season came in 2013, and their 2-year-old daughter. It was of 2016 surprise visitors appeared in Wolf 755 left the pack. Daughter 926F time for their daughter to bring a mate Lamar Valley—Wolf 755 and a female formed a new Lamar Canyon pack with into the group or to disperse. Wolf 755 pup! His mate later joined them, but without the other pups. The trio soon returned to Hayden. When roads opened again, only the two adults and the female 8 Mile pup remained. The missing pups likely Pack were killed by other wolves—perhaps Prospect the Mollie’s. Peak Junction Pack Butte Lamar Canyon Pack Pack Cougar Creek Canyon Pack Pack

Wapiti Mollie’s Lake Pack Pack

Bechler Snake Pack River Pack Wolf 755 and Female Grizzly (not Scarface)

mi 0 5

km 0 8 Wolf Packs of Yellowstone Map data and design courtesy of Jim Halfpenny

6 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org In spring 2016 the Wapitis again firmed sightings or signals have been Additional Reading had four pups, bringing the pack up to reported at this writing. Rick McIntyre, Yellowstone Park seven, with Wolf 755 still a strong leader. Yellowstone’s interior has been locked Foundation, “Notes from the Field,” But in summer, three Mollie’s appeared in winter for months, with Wolf 755 April 2013 and “The 06 Female” in Wapiti territory, trying to displace trackable only by aircraft monitoring his in Richard Thiel, Allison Thiel, Wolf 755. A pattern developed: when collar signals—in active mode if he is and Marianne Strozewski, eds, Mollie’s joined the Wapiti females and still moving—in mortality mode if not. “Wild Wolves We Have Known”, played with the pups, Wolf 755 retreated. Has he survived? If not, this tough old International Wolf Center, 2013. When the Mollie’s left, Wolf 755 reap- wolf will remain legendary in his own Yellowstone Wolf Project Annual peared and joined his family. No bloody right, having delighted and educated Reports encounters ensued. Wolf 755 seemed to park visitors for many years, enriched know a serious challenge would result scientists’ knowledge of wolves in the Yellowstone Science, Twenty Years of Wolves, vol. 24, 1, June 2016 (www. in his death, and the Mollie’s seemed wild and contributed his DNA to gen- nps.gov/yell/learn/yellowstone- to consider him too weak to require a erations of Yellowstone wolves. He will science-24-1-celebrating-20-years-of- fight. In late August, Wolf 755 left Wapiti be missed—and as with Wolf 06, his wolves.htm) territory. The Mollie’s stayed. They had stories will live on as an important piece successfully displaced Wolf 755. of the history of wolves in Yellowstone’s As fall 2016 approached, Wolf 755 biotic community. n wandered alone along the Yellowstone River, moving a bit more slowly than usual. His once-black coat had turned Betsy Downey is professor emeritus of history at Gonzaga University. She wrote of her gray, and he was nearly 9 years old—a experiences with Yellowstone wolves in the Spring 2005 and 2006 issues of International lot of years for an aging, lone wolf with- Wolf, wrote about Yellowstone wolf history for several of Bob Landis’ film projects and out a pack or a territory. He appeared coauthored an article with Bob Landis in the Spring 2014 International Wolf. She is briefly in Lamar Valley, then in Hayden indebted to Laurie Lyman, Kathie Lynch, Rick McIntyre, Doug McLaughlin, Doug Smith, and then disappeared again. No con- and Bob Landis for help in keeping track of Yellowstone’s wolves.

Wolf 755

Wolf 755 with Wolf 889

International Wolf Spring 2017 7 How Do States Estimate Wolf Populations? Pixaby.com

8 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org Part Two: B y DIANE BOYD and RICHARD P. THIEL the Rocky Note: This article is the second in a two-part series under the same title. Part one, in the winter edition of International Wolf, covered practices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Mountains and Washington, Oregon and California. n 1979 a female wolf trotted south Rocky Mountains the Southwest from Canada to northwestern Montana and became the first wolf Wolves were eradicated from the I western U.S. by the 1930s. Wolves occa- in a half century to establish a home range in the western United States. sionally dispersed into the northwestern Diane Boyd was privileged to arrive U.S. from Canada, but without federal in the Montana Rockies a few months protection they were swiftly killed. In later to monitor wolf recolonization. 1973 wolves were protected as “endan- She would never have imagined that gered” under the ESA, and that first the Rocky Mountain wolf population lucky disperser into Montana in 1979 would grow from one to more than established a territory in the northwest 1,700 in just 35 years, with wolves corner of Glacier National Park, found a inhabiting Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, mate and became the founding breeder Washington, Oregon, California and in the natural recovery process. Utah. Additionally, the Mexican wolf, Throughout the 1980s and into the extinct in the wild, was reintroduced to 1990s, this small, endangered popula- eastern Arizona in 1998, and breeding tion cranked out pups, and dispers- packs now have a foothold in Arizona ers established new home ranges far and New Mexico. Wolf recovery in the from Glacier, but the rest of the Rocky western U.S. has been highly success- Mountains remained essentially wolfless. ful—and highly controversial. The sig- In the mid-1990s, however, the political nificance of wolf restoration in the West climate allowed the federal government is still unfolding ecologically, economi- to reintroduce wolves to Wyoming, Idaho cally and politically. and the southwestern U.S. Under protection by the Endangered The 1995-96 reintroduction of 66 Species Act (ESA) and state management wolves—31 into Yellowstone National programs, wolves arrived across the Park in Wyoming and 35 into the central American West by their own tireless trot Idaho wilderness—gave wolf recovery a and in smoke-jumper airplanes and U.S. huge boost. These “nonessential experi- Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) trucks. mental” (not “endangered”) popula- Methods of counting, monitoring and tions expanded rapidly. Eventually the managing wolf populations vary from Montana, Idaho and Wyoming popula- state to state, with advances in technol- tions connected geographically, geneti- ogy altering methodologies. Population cally and politically. monitoring encompasses many demo- The rapid growth of the Rocky graphics, including count and age classi- Mountain wolf population quickly fications, range, birth rate, mortality and exceeded the ESA requirements of 30 dispersal. Counts and age classifications breeding pairs for three consecutive years (pups and adults) are accomplished by (a breeding pair was defined as an adult direct observation from the ground and male, an adult female and at least two air, and by trail camera images. Use of pups surviving until December 31), and radio collars increases the success and wolves were delisted in 2011. Federal accuracy of counts, and public reports release of wolf management to each state are important to assist field efforts. was contingent upon creating an accept- able plan with means to count wolves and maintain federal recovery goals. In 2016 the federal government gave Montana and Idaho complete management authority without FWS oversight or funding.

International Wolf Spring 2017 9 Western wolf populations grew rap- (calculated December 31, 2015) was 382 wolves in 48 packs, of which 30 idly, and because of the wolves’ elu- 536 wolves in 126 packs, of which 32 qualified as breeding pairs. As of this sive nature and low density, traditional qualified as breeding pairs. The POM is writing, there is no legal hunting or methods of counting them became less a work in progress there, not yet used trapping season in Wyoming because effective, yielding counts below the true to estimate wolf populations statewide. wolves are protected as “endangered.” population size. Recently, a new popu- Montana has a regulated wolf harvest sea- lation estimating method called Patch son that includes hunting and trapping. Mexican Wolf—Arizona Occupancy Modeling (POM) came into and New Mexico use, and biologists hope it will be scien- Idaho tifically rigorous—and also more finan- Wolves have been counted in Idaho Wolves have been counted in Arizona cially and logistically feasible. POM since their reintroduction in 1995. Idaho and New Mexico since their reintroduc- incorporates wolf sightings reported by Department of Fish and Game staff and tion in 1998. The Mexican Wolf Recovery hunters during annual harvest surveys, the Nez Perce Tribe use a combination Program is led by an interagency field data from field biologists, and assess- of radio collars, early den surveys, direct team (IFT) composed of staff from the ments of occupied wolf habitat. observations, howling and track sur- FWS, Arizona Game and Fish Department The basics of the POM method are: veys, livestock depredations, harvested (AGFD), White Mountain Apache Tribe wolves, public reports, DNA and cam- (WMAT), U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. • Estimate the land area occupied by era trapping to count wolves. POM is Department of Agriculture/Wildlife wolves in packs an important tool there. As of May 5, Services. The New Mexico Department • Estimate the number of wolf packs 2016, the department shifted its focus of Game and Fish withdrew as a partner by dividing the area occupied by statewide from traditional, direct counts agency in 2011. The Mexican wolf popu- average territory size (600 km2) to POM. The Idaho minimum count for lation is presently classified as nonessen- and correcting for overlapping 2015 (calculated December 31, 2015) tial experimental and not endangered. territories was 786 wolves in 108 packs, of which There is no legal hunting or trapping 33 qualified as breeding pairs. Idaho season in Arizona or New Mexico. • Estimate the number of wolves by AGFD leads wolf population moni- multiplying the number of esti- has a regulated wolf harvest season that includes hunting and trapping. toring in Arizona; the FWS assists as mated packs by average annual needed. In New Mexico, the FWS has pack size (6.5 wolves) Wyoming the lead for all aspects of monitoring and Montana Wolves have been counted in management. WMAT leads population Wolves have been counted in Montana Wyoming since their reintroduction in monitoring on the Fort Apache Indian since 1979. Montana Fish, Wildlife and 1995. The management and monitoring Reservation; AGFD and the FWS assist as Parks staff have used radio collars, direct of wolves in Wyoming is done by the needed. Methods used to count wolves observation, howling and track surveys, FWS and Yellowstone National Park— include direct counts, counts of pups in public reports and camera trapping to not the state of Wyoming— because the dens when pups are less than two count wolves. Montana is federally Wyoming’s wolf management plan was weeks old, radio collars, trail cameras required to maintain at least 100 wolves not accepted by FWS as viable to meet and public reports. Wolf population is or 10 breeding pairs as a minimum, but the requirements of the ESA. Tools used intensively monitored, with approxi- the Montana state plan calls for a mini- to count wolves there were radio col- mately 50 percent of the wolves wearing mum of 150 wolves or 15 breeding pairs. lars, aircraft and direct observations. radio collars. Managers add captive- The Montana minimum count for 2015 The Wyoming minimum count for 2015 raised wolves to the wild population to (calculated December 31, 2015) was address genetic concerns and remove wild wolves to eliminate human conflicts TABLE 1. Techniques used in estimating state wolf numbers

Occupied State or Public & Patch Snow Aerial Camera State Range Interval Federal WS Extrapolate Occupancy Tracking Counts Traps (km2) Mgmt Reports Modeling MT 74,244 Annual Y S Y Y Y N In progress ID 108,482 Annual Y S Y Y Y Y Y WY Unknown Annual N F Y Y N N N

AZ + 34,522 km2 Annual Y S + F Y Y Y N N NM

10 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org TABLE 2. Recent estimates in Northern Rocky Mountains and Southwestern States

Recovery # Wolves # Breeding State Year Met Year Delisted Type of Estimate # Packs Goal 12.31.15 Pairs *Federal recovery MT * 2002 2011 Minimum count 356 126 32 goals for MT, ID, and WY were pooled to Entire population be 300 wolves or ID * 2002 2011 786 108 33 30 breeding pairs POM distributed over the three-state area. WY * 2002 Not yet Minimum count 382 48 30 Montana has set its state recovery goals as 150 wolves or 15 Direct-minimum breeding pairs. To be Nonessential AZ + NM Not yet Count 97 21 7 determined Experimental Entire population as necessary. The Mexican wolf count is Richard P. Thiel retired in 2011 as book, “Wild Wolves We Have Known: a census rather than a survey; an attempt coordinator of the Wisconsin Department Stories of Wolf Biologists’ Favorite Wolves” is made to count every wolf. However, of Natural Resources Sandhill Outdoor (2013). As a member of the International most wolves with expired radio collars Skills Center. He was team chairman Wolf Center Board of Directors, he also and any offspring are still missed, along of Wisconsin’s wolf recovery project in serves on the Center’s Wolf Education with any non-collared dispersers. the 1980s and continued serving as a Committee. After ground counts are completed wolf population monitor until he retired. He authored “The Timber Wolf in Diane Boyd began her wolf studies career in November and December, an annual Wisconsin: the Death and Life of in 1977, working with Dr. L. David Mech aerial count takes place in late January a Majestic Predator” (1993) and in Minnesota. She moved to Montana in and early February. The minimum wolf “Keepers of the Wolves” (2001), 1979 to study wolf recovery in the count at year’s end for 2015 was 97 and he is co-editor of the Rocky Mountains. Diane has collabo- wolves in 21 packs, of which seven International Wolf Center rated on wolf research in five states, qualified as breeding pairs. In 2016, six three Canadian provinces, and in captive-born pups were cross-fostered Italy and Romania. She currently into three wild dens with pups. In this works for Montana Fish, Wildlife process, very young pups are moved and Parks in Kalispell, Montana as from a captive litter to a wild litter of the wolf/carnivore specialist. similar age so the receiving pack raises the pups as their own. As of this writing, at least one of the cross-fostered pups survived until September 2016 when it was captured. Successful cross-fostering is significant because it will help managers introduce genetic diversity into the wild population and may eventually help boost the overall numbers of wolves in the wild. n Lorna Wilhelm / Gone Wild Shutterworks

International Wolf Spring 2017 11 he National Park Service (NPS) on December 16, 2016 released a proposal to research is advancing our understanding reintroduce 20 to 30 wolves into Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior of this predator-prey system, and science over the next three to five years. Before proceeding with reintroduction, has produced an increasingly nuanced T picture of wolf predation. the National Park Service will consider public input offered during a 90-day period ending March 15. IW: Why can’t wolves naturally recolonize the island? Dr. Rolf Peterson has been studying the Isle Royale population since 1970, along Peterson: Winters have become warmer, with Dr. John Vucetich who began as a field assistant in 1991.International Wolf shorter, and windier, resulting in a much- (IW) was pleased to discuss this major proposal with Dr. Peterson. reduced frequency of ice bridges that would allow wolves to travel to Isle IW: Dr. Peterson, please describe Isle IW: Why and how has wolf research Royale. Solid ice bridges were pres- Royale, its size and location, distance on Isle Royale been important? ent eight years out of ten in the 1960s, from the mainland, etc. Peterson: The long-term narrative about while presently there is good ice about Peterson: Isle Royale is the largest island wolves and moose on Isle Royale has fos- one year in ten. It is clear now that the in Lake Superior, about 20 miles off tered more favorable attitudes toward the rare arrival of an immigrant wolf to Isle the adjacent Ontario shore near the wolf. Research began in the dark days of Royale—one that lives to reproduce Minnesota border. Forty-five miles long the 1950s when wolves were summarily with new genetic viability—has kept the and entirely forested, it has been a U.S. persecuted and denied a place to live, population going since the late 1940s. national park since 1940. Importantly, even in remote regions sparsely inhabited only about one-third of the mainland by humans. The long-term story sim- IW: What would happen if Isle mammal species have become estab- ply fascinates people, and the resulting Royale wolves went extinct and the lished on the island, so it is dominated public interest has aided wolf recovery population was never reintroduced? by a single predator (wolf) and a single in North America and throughout the Peterson: Fortunately, predictions can major prey (moose), with beaver a sig- Northern Hemisphere. The focus of the be based on Isle Royale history and nificant secondary prey during the open- water season, making it a relatively simple predator-prey system where none of the species are Wolf Reintroduction to Isle Royale? killed by people. George Desort George Desort George Desort

12 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org on recent information from Canadian in recent years gone to the extreme of population and the balsam fir saplings national parks where there are moose culling moose in several national parks that started growing a decade ago when but no wolves. In short, moose num- in the maritime region where there are moose numbers were reduced dramati- bers would increase until they hit limits no wolves—and no reasonable chance cally by wolf predation. This is the last imposed by limited food. However, by of introducing any because of public cohort of regenerating fir on two-thirds then forest communities would have lost fear and hatred. of the island, where the parent trees have plant species, some tree species would already disappeared. be unable to regenerate, aquatic habitats IW: How long would it take for would be degraded, shorelines trampled wolves to reduce the moose popula- IW: If wolves are reintroduced to Isle into mudflats, and during severe winters, tion significantly after wolves are Royale, would there be an advan- moose would starve en masse, sometimes re-established? tage to do so while the original wolves are still alive? If so, what Peterson: catastrophically. By then moose density That’s a huge unknown at this would that be? would be around 13 per square mile or point, especially since we are probably Peterson: Introducing wolves that would more. At Isle Royale, forested habitats still two years away from having new breed with the existing population was would be severely compromised by loss paws on the ground. We anticipate there an option—termed genetic rescue—that of tree species and overhead canopy would be well over 100 moose available could be expected to lead to recovery. and, given additional stressors caused for each wolf in the early years of wolf That is unrealistic now, as the remain- by climate change, forest communities introduction—far more than a wolf could ing wolves are rather old and could would become simplified (less species- affect—and it might take some years for easily die before mainland wolves can rich) and subject to invasion by exotic wolves to self-organize in packs that be released. If the objective is to have species, including many grasses. Parks would exert maximal predation pres- wolves on Isle Royale, the sure-fire way Canada, responsible for managing the sure. A major die-off of moose may be to do this now is simply to introduce a country’s national parks with the goal unavoidable at this point. In any case, a new population. n of maintaining ecological integrity, has race is on between an increasing moose Public comments can be made by visiting: http:// bit.ly/isleroyalenp You may also mail or hand-deliver your written comments to: Superintendent Phyllis Green, Isle Royale National Park, ISRO Wolf Reintroduction to Isle Royale? Wolves, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1896. An interview with Dr. Rolf Peterson Comment period ends March 15, 2017. George Desort A world authority on wolves and moose, Rolf Peterson began leading the Wolf-Moose Project in the early 1970s. After retiring as a professor in 2006, he devoted himself even more to the project and now spends more time on Isle Royale than on the mainland. Rolf continues to be fascinated by the scientific insights and surprises the island provides. To learn more about the project, visit isleroyalewolf.org.

International Wolf Spring 2017 13 Tracking the Pack

TEACHABLE MOMENT 2

Et-epimeletic (care-seeking) behavior is It Takes A Pack To Raise a sign of pup bonding A Pair Of Pups Grayson’s behavior in the early days of introduction indi- cated intimidation and a fear response. After weeks of staff work to encourage his confidence, and living in the calm, by Lori Schmidt controlled pack environment led by our adult male, Aidan, Grayson began to form social bonds. Initially, his social prefer- hen the wolf care staff decided to proceed with ences were adults Boltz and Aidan. Eventually, he displayed our 2016 ambassador pups’ introduction to our the behavior most common in a pup within its pack struc- Wadult wolves without the presence of Luna, the ture—the care seeking behavior termed et-epimeletic—to lone dominant female of the pack, we fielded many questions Denali, the adult wolf who had caused him the most anxiety. about the decision. Would a pack of males bond well with- This is a definite sign of pack bonding. out a dominant female? Would the behaviors displayed by pack members be different in the absence of a female? Would the pups be socially integrated into the pack without Luna? The answers revealed themselves with time and careful attention from the wolf care team. We continually assess pack dynamics in order to form a deeper understanding of our Exhibit Pack’s social interactions and interpret the teachable moments. Below are some of those moments.

TEACHABLE MOMENT 1

Pups are allowed to feed without pack competition With the exception of some food-possession displays by Denali, pups Axel and Grayson actively feed on the weekly Heidi Pinkerton “What’s for Dinner” carcasses along with the adults. It’s not uncommon to see Aidan defending the carcass and driving other adults away from the pups. Axel and Grayson will maintain this TEACHABLE MOMENT 3 special feeding status throughout the winter season and assume their roles in the pack order after they reach maturity between A fresh snowfall will stimulate the pack 18 and 24 months of age. Whether motivated by his role as pack leader or by his distinct personality, when the first storm of the 2016-17 winter dropped 16 inches of snow within the Exhibit Pack enclosure, Aidan was the first to enthusi- astically demonstrate behaviors that can be interpreted as social bonding. Aidan energetically engaged the pups in a significant portion of the Center’s Ethogram (our behavioral dictionary) including playbows, invite chase, pounce, roll on back, snowplow, submissive paw and facewipe. Grayson and Axel were right there to mimic the behavior and pay homage to their pack leader, who diligently provided the calm energy that

Heidi Pinkerton encourages pups to establish pack bonds. n

14 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER Member Profile

Helping People (and Wolves) Recover

by David Kline

Question: What do 2 beagles, 12 shirts T-shirt under his hospital scrubs. and 30 years have in common? He has 12 of them in his collec- Answer: International Wolf Center tion, in many colors! member Mark Gittler Dr. Gittler has helped peo- nesthesiologist and International ple safely through surgery Wolf Center member Dr. Mark for more than 30 years in Gittler reports that the operating Southern California. This native A Californian headed east from the room at his Torrance, California hospital is kept at a fairly low temperature. Golden State to study medicine To stay warm, he sports a comfortable, at Brown University and then at long-sleeved International Wolf Center George Washington University before returning home for an internship and residency at Mark Gittler Photo courtesy of Dr. UCLA. He began private practice in large predators like bears and big cats.” the early 1980s. Asked what motivated Dr. Gittler also dedicates time and To learn more about pack dynamics him to enter the field, he said, “I found talent to helping neglected domestic and using an Interactive Ethogram the science very interesting, but mainly animals (like his most recent rescue I just wanted to help people get better.” to document behavior, consider dog, Luna) and volunteering for the As a curious child, Dr. Gittler was Los Angeles County disaster healthcare enrolling in our Wolf Ethology Class fascinated with dogs, especially the fam- team, where he would respond in the that runs July 29 through August 3, ily’s two beagles. Book after book about case of an earthquake. Recently he has 2017. Learn more by going to dogs led him to read about their ances- increased his financial support of non- www.wolf.org. Click on “Programs” tors—wolves! The knowledge he gained, profit organizations like the International and go to “Adventure Programs.” in combination with his love of the Wolf Center that have earned the Four- outdoors—especially national parks in Star Charity rating from the watchdog the western United States like Yosemite, group Charity Navigator. Yellowstone and the Tetons—intensified What’s next for this wildlife and wild- A fresh snowfall will stimulate the pack Mark’s fondness for wild animals, and lands enthusiast? His plans include visits wolves in particular. As a still-curious to more eastern national parks, such as Whether motivated by his role as pack leader or adult, he continued to seek out articles Isle Royale, and a visit to his 50th (and by his distinct personality, when the first storm of the on wolves and noticed that many of the final) state—Maine. Remembering a 2016-17 winter dropped 16 inches of snow within the authors had some tie to the International surprise moose encounter on a Teton Exhibit Pack enclosure, Aidan was the first to enthusi- Wolf Center. This prompted him to hiking trail, he’s hoping to find a moose astically demonstrate behaviors that can be interpreted become a member of the Center in 1992, or two on Isle Royale and in the woods as social bonding. Aidan energetically engaged the and he has remained on the member- of Maine. pups in a significant portion of the Center’s Ethogram ship rolls ever since. Thank you, Dr. Gittler. Members (our behavioral dictionary) including playbows, invite “I really like the strong focus on edu- like you help make wolf education pos- chase, pounce, roll on back, snowplow, submissive cation the International Wolf Center sible year-around for thousands of kids paw and facewipe. Grayson and Axel were right there espouses, because it’s vital to break down and adults. Your support of the Center to mimic the behavior and pay homage to their pack misunderstandings about wolves to help sparks their interest in wolves around leader, who diligently provided the calm energy that them recover and co-exist with people,” the world and encourages the crucial encourages pups to establish pack bonds. n Dr. Gittler said. “I also believe educa- human understanding that fosters wolf Kelly Godfrey tion is the path to appreciation of other survival in the wild. n

International Wolf Spring 2017 15 INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER Quarterly Donations

Gifts between October 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016

Major Donors Faegre Baker Daniels LLP Lana Schneider Laura Bredesen Gus and Patricia Fenton Louise Fleming Martha Schoonover Leslie Brown and Jim Glad Fitz and Heather Fitzgerald $5,000+ Janice Geddes Richard Seid Robin Bryant Barbara Fogarty Valerie Gates Michiel and Edith Gerritsen Theodore and Barbara Jeremy Burchman Michael Freedman Nancy Gibson and Ron Sternal Joe Greenhalgh Spaulding D. Joseph Carlson Jim Freeman Vicki Glatfelter Leslie and Jerad Hahn Julie and Bruce Steiner Brenda Cashman Sonia Fuerstneau Google, Inc. Charles and Sharon Heck Michael Swanson Patricia Clarke and Al Cooper L. David Mech Michael Holdgrafer Keira Thrasher Tim Coburn Bob and Greta Gauthier Dorothy D. and Joseph A. Judy Hunter and Lorena Palm Three Desert Winds Foundation Barbara Cook Jerry Goodrich Moller Foundation James T. Nystrom Foundation Tracy A. Weeks Fund of the Bruce Cooper Rodger Goshorn Katherine Nielsen Robert Kowalski Saint Paul Foundation Kathleen Corbett Carol Green Debbie Reynolds Connie and Nick LaFond Nancy jo Tubbs Ann and Dodd Cosgrove Harold E. Hodges Trust Amber Tamblyn and Sue Lenz U. S. Bancorp Henry Coyle Jacinta Hart Kehoe Viacom, Inc. Deb and John Lewis James Welch Marian Cunningham Jennifer Hart John Virr Donna Mack-Iwanski Nick White Mary Curtis Horowitz David Hartwell W. M. Foundation and Brad Iwanski Wilson B. Reynolds and Karen Daniels Wesley Haut Juanita E. Reynolds Fund of Sylvia Manning Ariane Desaussure Toni Hays $1,000 - $4,999 the Minneapolis Foundation Seamus Metress Connie Di Bratto Craig Henson Anonymous Audrey Wolf Minnesota Valley Electric Melanie Donaghy Heather Hoff Milan and Eva Baranek Kathy and Brian Yelton Trust Company Marisue Drumm Michael Hokkanen Robert Bell Debra Mitts-Smith and $250 - $999 Rick Duncan Daniel Hupp Ann Beyer Marschall Smith William and Kathryn Allen Barb and Laverne Dusnmore Cornelia N. Hutt Brodsky Charitable Barb Moore Ameriprise Financial Catherine Dupree Rita Iacarella Foundation Trust Lisa Nivens Hayes Anderson David and Connie Elledge INGCO International Cindy Carvelli-Yu and Song Yu Robert Patterson Paul Anderson April and Gil Ezell Charles Inman Charles Churchill Carol and Michael Petersen Alan and Sharon Fearey J. E. Jones Lammot and Deborah Apple Inc. Judith Posnikoff Laura Kalb Copeland Laura Ashton Judith and Mike Fech Jerry Sanders Suann Kappes Holly and Christopher Cox AT&T Pierre Schlemel Jim Kasper Pieter DeVries Stephen Ballen Shirley Jane Kaub Brian and Ellen Dietz John Biallas Cristi Klingman Estate of Patricia Lebens Heidi Blechar David Blythe Louise Koetters Greg Korelich Pamella and C. Stephen Kriegh Robert and Kathleen Kulus James LeBlanc Margaret Lenci Deborah and Dick Lewis Michael Littleford James Lundsted Mary Basil Madsen Jeffrey Marchal Tom and Nona Mason Linda McGurn Dave Messinger Axel (left) and Microsoft Grayson (right). Shirley Miller Catherine Mohr Aaron and K.C. Morris Heidi Pinkerton

16 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org Jack Morton and Honorariums In honor of Maria and In honor of Kay Kingsley In honor of Susan Winchester Mary Ellen White Daniel Eaton Laralee Becker Jeff White Carol and Bob Mucha In honor of all the lives and Margaret-Ann Adorjan Barbara Muller their struggle to survive the In honor of Edward Kowalski Memorials Hadie Muller assault of mankind In honor of Hernando and Dennis Cowhig Rita Florentino Marcia Mummau Sharon Kite In memory of Sandra and Amanda Rossi Lockley In honor of Camille Landis Andi Nelsen Tom Barela In honor of Abby Marcella Landis Gailyn Barela James Nepp In honor of C. J., Hank Lloyd Keys, Jr. John Nordgaard and Matthias Forst In honor of Olivia Larsen In memory of Paul Beyer Kathleen O’Shea Canine Case Squad, Inc. In honor of Debra Anderson Christina Larsen Ann Beyer Lisa Ockenfels Carrie Skirvin In honor of Sir Fuggles Karen Ostertag In honor of Luna and Grizzer In memory of Emma Bonanno Ryan Lathouwers Carolyn Owen In honor of Axel Mary Ellen and Steve West Keli Bonanno Roger and Hollie Parsons Joyce Wells In honor of Nancy Gibson In honor of L. David Mech Rick and Suzanne Pepin In memory of Charisma Code and Ashley Sternal SparkFire, Inc. Patricia Pettis In honor of Stephen Blechar Dusty Howling Wolf Heidi Blechar Damon Phillips In honor of Maggie Greene In honor of Deirdre Medina In memory of Cody Dana Pond Paul Greene In honor of Amy Brown Alejandro Medina Rob Schultz and John Poole John Brown Andrew Engelhart Jack Price In honor of Anika Hahn In honor of Mexican Wolves Bette Railton In honor of Lispeth and Leslie and Jerad Hahn Michiel and Edith Gerritsen In memory of Maya Colburn Kathleen Roberts Paul Buettner Mary Colburn In honor of Cullen Harrington In honor of Tina Moran Sue Rodell Sean O’Dell John Harrington Dorothy Tepper SAD Foundation In memory of Patricia Lebens In honor of Viktor Bunin Barbara Bothof Loretta Schaeffer In honor of Helena’s In honor of Grace Nowling Michael Iavinger Colleen Larson Rob Schultz and Thanksgiving Gift Madison Nowling-Kjellberg Andrew Engelhart Margaret Goscilo In honor of Caden In memory of Richard Franks Paul and Susan Schurke In honor of Aoife O’Connell Joyce Eisold Leonard Marko-Franks Matthew Scott In honor of Debbie Hinchcliffe Catherine Dupree Vicki Kapaun Seevers Family Foundation In honor of Aldora In memory of In honor of OR 7 Catherine Shepard Chamberlin Rev. Patricia Gillespie In honor of Will Hinman Elizbeth Lockwood Kathleen and Michael Shopa Brent Grenier Miranda Bennett Adrian Hinman Stephan Silen and In honor of Amber and Jean Mansen In honor of Calvin Clarke In memory of Trisha Gilmore In honor of Judy Hunter Ray Paullin’s Wedding Cheryl Smith Corin Volfson Kathleen Gulli Carolyn Schneider Judy and James Eide Theresia Smith Kathleen Sikora In honor of Lynn Cook Wesley and In honor of all International In honor of Pups 42 Barbara Cook In memory of Gian Anne-Marie Smith Wolf Center personnel who Patricia and Rich D’antoni teach and care for our wolves Carlo Guarda Robert Sole In honor of Dean Crane Christine Coletta In honor of Gail Ramee Loretta Schaeffer SparkFire, Inc. Paige Crane Code and Ashley Sternal Jennifer Holzman In honor of the International In memory of Hugo Hellman Susan Todd In honor of Maxim Wolf Center’s good work In honor of Levi Roberts-Dobie Kay Kingsley Karen Tsuchiya Bridge Daveed Donna Mack-Iwanski and Holly Bokelman Amy Alter In memory of Gabriel Hiatt United Way Brad Iwanski UnitedHealth Group Lynne Hiatt In honor of Don and In honor of Jerry Sanders In honor of the entire Julie Van Tassel Charline Deese Richard and Joan Hinchcliffe International Wolf Center In memory of Michael Hurt Christy Velasquez Aileen Fell staff - an amazing group Jayne Kalk Loretta Verbout In honor of Alessandro Sarcos of people! Lynn Vogel and Daniel Lang In honor of Nicholas Derrick Rena Hughlett Heather Hoff In memory of Sharon Johnson Joyce Wells Susan Mays In honor of Michael Vieths Lowell Johnson Whining Dog Charitable In honor of Becky Kaarbo In honor of Marisa Dery Michael Heinsohn Foundation Joshua Wolf In memory of James and Gloria Wiener Tim Wang Brenda Sherrod Spencer Johnson Ace and Beth Yakey In honor of Aaron Kelly Shelley Johnson In honor of Dory the Ferret In honor of Andrea Wallack Kathleen Young Emily Kelly Anonymous Julie Stewart In memory of Edward Kamar Brian Zupan In honor of Patricia Ketwig Linda Erickson In honor of Julie Drennen In honor of Doris White Peggy Jo and Angela Drennen Ann-Marie White R. Holland McIntosh

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our donor list each quarter. If we have omitted your name in error, please accept our apologies and contact David Kline at (763) 560-7374, ext. 230.

International Wolf Spring 2017 17 In memory of Keila and Spirit In memory of Google, Inc. Michelle Gobely Matching Gifts Susan Myers Margaret Roetman Peggy Hogan Google, Inc. Peggy and Gregory Fay Judy Hunter and Lorena Palm Kevin Green Ameriprise Financial In memory of Pat Kettwig Suann Kappes Sharon Griffen on behalf of: In memory of Sasha Jim and Kathy Kettwig Lloyd Keys, Jr. William Halstead Anonymous Laurie Sackette Heather McIntosh Connie and Nick LaFond Valerie Hermansen Kathryn Boyne Tom Torborg Hollyse and John Mann Heather Hoff Erik Johnson In memory of Kikkie and the Poupster In memory of Mary Jane John Mann Sharon Howard Melissa and Christopher Kotek Duncan Davidson Wolf Sparkman Andi Nelsen Judy Hunter and Lorena Palm Paul Trevizo Patricia McFaddin Dana Pond Erik Johnson Apple Inc. on behalf of: In memory of Neal and Debbie Reynolds Suann Kappes In memory of Gordon and Bette Railton Lena Kirk Jerry Sanders Timothy King Louise Stainbrook Barb Moore Paul and Susan Schurke Cristi Klingman Ann Beyer AT&T on behalf of: Cheryl Terry Melissa and Christopher Kotek In memory of Robert Kolb Kimberly Eichhorst Keira Thrasher Wanda Kothlow Deborah Kolb In memory of Don Swartz Joy Lucas Linda Wark Nancy jo Tubbs Joy Lucas Michael Pastorelli In memory of Kimberly Wheeler Microsoft Andrew Sackreiter Edward Kowalski In memory of Tango Aaron and K.C. Morris Peter Smith George and Elizabeth Fox and Rumba Sustaining Carol and Bob Mucha George Herrmann Thea Necker Members and Louise Murphy Best Buy Company Inc. Barbara Rambo Andi Nelsen on behalf of: In memory of Dakota Terry Monthly Donors The Rolling Rocks Canoe Club Lavonne Newman Andrew Kluis Anonymous Ameriprise Financial and Peter Jezyk In memory of Matthew Lenz Anonymous Blue Cross and Blue Shield of In memory of Raul Velazquez Carolyn Owen Sue Lenz Mary Arps Thompson Minnesota on behalf of: Tina Velazquez Michael Pastorelli and Tom Thompson Heather Hoff Dana Pond In memory of Barrow Lopes AT&T In memory of Liz Pritchard Louise Lopes Angie and Marilyn Bailey Century Link on behalf of: Thomas Q. Winter Sarah Prusha Jaki Becker Robert and Gail Brady Carol Winter Debbie Reynolds In memory of Shilah Maas Roberta and Eugene Bishop Henry and Carol Rompage Faegre Baker Daniels LLP Elissa Maas In memory of the ‘06 Female DeeAnn Blanchard Amanda Rose on behalf of: of Yellowstone National Park Blue Cross and Blue Shield In memory of Mackenzie Rick Duncan Tracy Arthur of Minnesota Bette Jean Rua Kimberly Loomis Andrew and Lisa Sackreiter Cree and Jason Bradley General Electric on behalf of: In memory of Yellowstone Jerry Sanders Leslie Brown and Jim Glad Aaron Barnes In memory of Kylene McVicar Wolf 965M Dorothea and Peter Bruno Donna Schmidt Tammy Chatman Jerry Sanders Michael Byrnes Rob Schultz and Google, Inc. on behalf of: Andrew Engelhart Volodymyr Puzanov In memory of Mikkikanoa In memory of Andy Wolf Cindy Carvelli-Yu Pono da Golden Boy and Song Yu Anna Mae Shala Emily Hodges Louise Fleming David Churn Peter Smith Microsoft on behalf of: Tiffany Clark Daniel Staples Anonymous In memory of Isabel Miller Estate Gifts Tim Coburn Misi Stine Raul Garcia Ryan Walsh Patricia Lebens Dennis Cole Eric Svensson PepsiCo, Inc. on behalf of: Christine Coletta Keira Thrasher In memory of our angel Jill Ronning In-Kind Susan Todd JulIe Balassa of White Feather Patricia and Rich D’antoni Donations Paul Trevizo Interpreting LLC Duncan Davidson U. S. Bancorp on behalf of: Anonymous Rejeana DeHart U. S. Bancorp Cindy Carvelli-Yu and Song Yu In memory of Penny Mary Arps Thompson Marie Doering UnitedHealth Group Marc Morrison and Tom Thompson Donovan Murphy Linda Dougherty Loretta Verbout Debbie Wankel Martha Asbill Todd Duyvejonck John Virr In memory of Natasha and Maureen Black Lindi Engelbrecht Lisa Vitti UnitedHealth Group Alexandra Perstlen Blue Star Coloring on behalf of: John Ewing Joyce Wells Pam Perstlen Cree and Jason Bradley Marie Doering Cameron Feaster Kimberly Wheeler Leslie Brown and Jim Glad Darrell and Sharon In memory of Margot Pickle Louise Fleming Wells Fargo on behalf of: Barb Camarata Whitledge Bruce Pickle Martin Gadam Eric Becker Cindy Carvelli-Yu and Song Yu Steffanie Wiggins Raul Garcia Nancy Gibson Lynn Johnson In memory of Quincy Nancy Gibson and Ron Sternal William Halstead and Ron Sternal Thank You!

18 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org International Wolf wolves around theworld. urally vicious. they are viewed assuper-sized and unnat as athreat toaviation;Canada,where for death;toIndia,where theyare seen Norway, where more thanhalfare slated where theyare killedtosavethem; W By Tracy O’Connell And LoathingNearFar Wolves EncounterFear This is an example of some views of This isanexampleofsomeviews behavior, from Finland, from someforfearsome olves continuetodrawfire - wolves were killed during the 2015- culture andforestryministry. to astatementfrom thecountry’s agri- to diminish illegal poaching, according and among those living in wolf territory effort toincrease theanimal’s acceptance FINLAND It isbelievedthat55ofFinland’s 290 Wolf cullscontinueinFinlandan

save them: them: save Killing wolvesto

l hunting of individual wolves that attack herding areas and the more restricted wolves inFinland’s reindeer- northern allows someexceptions,suchashunting protected bytheEuropean Union,which Finland forcullingananimalstrictly year’s cullgoals. officials whonowmight rethink this tect people—anumberthatsurprised poachers, orwere shotbypolicetopro during theyearintrafficincidents,by culls. Another 23 animals were killed 16 huntingseason,intwomonth-long cull (rather than the expected taking of cull (ratherthantheexpectedtakingof breeding wolveswere shotinlastyear’s Finnish Nature League,notesthat20 ivestock. ivestock. Environmentalists havecriticized Sami Saynevirta,managerofthe Spring 2017 -

19 iStockPhoto/kjekol Simo Räsänen

A view to Raftsundet and mountains such as Trolltindan from Hinnøya, Norway

younger animals) resulting in concern applied for licenses to hunt 16 wolves— INDIA over lack of genetic diversity among animals listed as “critically endangered” Wolf preservation surviving animals. in the country that same year, according meets airport siting: The Finnish ministry counters that, to the science website phys.org. before the culls, when hunting was not The Norwegian parliament agreed Construction of a second airport allowed, wolf populations reached a last June to limit the number of surviv- near the city of Pune, near India’s south- low of 120 to 135 animals in 2013, ing wolf births to between four and six western coast, may pit developers mainly due to poaching. Wolf hunting is litters per year, including at least three against environmentalists over the a widespread tradition in Finland where for the in-country packs and the rest in survival of wolves and other endangered 300,000 people each year seek permits— the packs that travel between Sweden species. Pune is in the western state of one of the highest rates in Europe. and Norway, which account for an esti- Maharashtra, India’s third-largest state mated 25 additional animals. Media in by area and the world’s second-most NORWAY 30 countries have covered the story, populated sub-national entity, with 112 million residents. (India’s capital, Mumbai, 47 of 68 wolves slated keeping the government aware of the controversy over it. called “Bombay” until 20 years ago, for eradication: Silje Lundberg, leader of the has 18 million inhabitants.) Two countries east, meanwhile (with national environmental organization The proposed airport would bypass Sweden in between), Norway has a simi- Naturvernforbundet, claimed the cull limitations associated with expanding larly strong hunting ethos. With more poses a bigger risk that more wolves the existing Pune airport. Officials have than 200,000 registered hunters, it has from Sweden will wander into Norway, visited several potential sites, one being one of Europe’s smallest wolf popula- if fewer established packs exist. Such a nearby village where the surrounding tions, estimated to be 68 animals before roaming wolves have a tendency to attack area is said to be home to up to 30 Indian the birth of pups in spring of 2016. livestock more often than established gray wolves, divided into two packs. The news of an intent to cull nearly families of wolves do, Lundberg said, The Pune Mirror reports that people 70 percent of those adult animals this although he provided no evidence. studying local wildlife believe the area year—47, to be exact, representing four In mid-November, new reports is also rich in grassland species that of the country’s seven wolf packs—has showed that fewer sheep had been killed are fast disappearing from the country received the typical mixed reviews such by wolves in the past year than in many including chinkaras (Indian gazelles), plans evoke locally, along with interna- similar, prior periods—a fact opponents hyenas, foxes, jackals, toddy cats (Indian tional objections. point to as proof the cull is not needed. marsupials) and hares, plus a rich vari- Wildlife authorities voted 9 to 1 last Vidar Helgesen, Norway’s Conservative ety of birds, reptiles and amphibians. autumn to pass the measure, supported Party government minister in charge Chinkaras and wolves belong to Schedule by farmers who say their sheep are at of environmental issues, in his decid- I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, risk. The move is opposed by conser- ing role on the issue, said he will prob- along with the tiger, for which conservation groups and other protesters who ably go with the recommendation of vation efforts are the highest in India. have delivered anti-hunting petitions Parliament on the preferred size of the The Pune Mirror quotes wildlife with 57,000 signatures, noting 47 is the wolf population. experts who warn that, in addition to largest number of wolves the govern- actual airport construction, “…parallel ment has recommended to kill in one development such as housing, malls and year since 1911. In 2015, 11,000 people warehouses that come with the bargain

20 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org International Wolf with endemic species. Development and Bustard. “Theseare uniqueecologies like thecheetahandGreat Indian lands. Thisthinkinghasclaimedspecies ofgrass sively onthepreservation Foundation, whohasworkedexten founder oftheDeccanConservation ered wastelands,” said Indrajit Ghorpade, have vanished,astheyare stillconsid- Sonali Phadkein the in thearea,” stressed wildlifeenthusiast measures arements, conservation crucial native species.With somanyencroach rise, causing much disturbance to the unmonitored wildlifetourismisonthe also destroying thehabitat.Atpresent, Besides, plantations on the grasslands are pines, monitorlizards, hares andsoon. who huntforbushmeatlikeporcu already a need for protection from those plan shouldbedeveloped.“There is wildlife situation,astrong mitigation for theairport,despiteitsvulnerable administration decidestousethisarea existing populationinpockets.” restrict animalmovement,leavingthe ment. Ifthesegetdestroyed, itwould the areas are corridorsforwildlifemove also pollutethewatersources. Someof leaving nospaceforthewildlife.Itwill will destroy hugechunksofhabitat, “Eighty per centofthegrasslands Environmentalists believethatifthe Pune Mirror Pune article. article. - - - - - ance,” Ghorpadesaid. should keepinmindtheecologicalbal wildlife needtoco-exist,andplanning kitchen worker. “Asinglewolfbasically its jawsaround theneckofa26-year-old sounds ofascuffle,foundwolfwith the Cigar Lake mine, responding to national parks. sources both in Saskatchewan and in blamed onhabituationtohumanfood be lyinginwaitforhumans,asituation mine workersintheCigarLakearea to also becomingbold,andsaidbyuranium to scare off thewolves. to keephisdogsleashedandthrow rocks Canada staff for his response, whichwas National Park.HewaspraisedbyParks on Wickaninnish Beach in PacificRim of wolves while walking his twodogs One man from Uclueletmetwithapack wolves incampgrounds andonroads. national parkshaveencountered bold Wolf CANADA In oneinstance a security guard at Saskatchewan,wolvesare In northern As reported in the International winter issue, visitors to Canadian winter issue,visitorstoCanadian human-wolf interactions: human-wolf interactions: Canada seescontinued - firmed thejury’s findings. Wolf biologistBrent Pattersonlatercon black bearattackcannotberuledout. disputes ajury’sa findings,notingthat in toresearch thesingleresulting death, than a decade—though Paquet, brought other recorded attacks go back more sources ofuranium inthe world, two told theNatio often atnight,”aformermineworker fear ofmanandcomeintothejobsites “They are absolutely huge…they have no wolves followinghikersandworkcrews. mine owners. who provides wolfconsultation forthe FoundationbiologistConservation unusual,” saidPaulPaquet,aRaincoast “The wholeincidentisunusual—very pounced onhim,”saidtheminereport. and communicationscommittees. the InternationalWolf Center’s magazine marketing communicationsandserveson the UniversityofWisconsin-River Fallsin Tracy O’Connellisprofessor emeritusat food couldbefound. ing animalsintotherefuse area where for failingtomaintainthefences,allow owners noted they had been sanctioned in areport toinvestorsin2015,mine ons andotherhazingpractices.However, safety trainingandemployedscare can ers brought in electric fencing, provided After two attacks in 2005, mine own In this region, one of the richest Cigar LakeFacebookpostshavecited wolves in Canada. Wolf “Wolves World,” the of International countries. Scandinavian in three wolves Wolf “Wolves World,” the of International Sweden. and in Norway wolves 2014, pp. 23-26, addressing in part Wolves,”of International Wolf Poaching and Hunting Legal Between Relationship Negative Sees “Study Additional Reading , Winter 2016,, Winter pg. 19, addressing 2016,, Spring pg. 21, addressing nal Post. nal n

Spring 2017 , Summer Summer , - - - Mark Weber - 21 colors! We nicknamed one area “Mars” A Canine Cosmos: for its rusty cliffs and spines. Other areas My Encounter on Ellesmere Island were reminiscent of a lunar plain—a slate gray substrate interspersed with by Kira A. Cassidy huge boulders casting endless shad- ows. There are mountains cleaved as if a glacier just yesterday flew past, con- densing eons into seconds. Exposed n the third day of June 2016 I landing out of nowhere in a helicopter purple scars run parallel to coal black woke up on a different planet. and then clumsily following the wolves seams divided by sulfuric lime-green OOkay, okay—I was still on planet for the next four weeks, trying to record ribbons. It is a terrain similar in color to Earth, with its pyramids and skyscrapers, everything I saw. Jupiter’s moons, Europa or Io, but with baseball games and cornfields. But I was Ellesmere Island does feel like another a supremely adapted canine resident. several thousand miles from all that, liv- planet. The only tree species is the Arctic The wolves clearly knew these areas ing next to an arctic wolf pack’s den on willow, and the tallest one I saw was well and used them for specific purposes. Ellesmere Island, high above the Arctic maybe pushing four inches. The Arctic Smooth, dry creek beds, even ones only Circle, northwest of Greenland. The wolf cottongrass flower is a beautiful white 12 inches wide, were often used by the family of six adults and three pups went puff, like an arctic hare’s tail, on a stiff pack while traveling—might as well on with their daily lives, completely green stalk that positively looms over the take the route easiest on your feet if you ignoring the human film crew camping tundra at a stately six inches. But this need to lope many miles to find food. nearby, and their brightly colored tents, vegetation is rare and generally concen- Shaded areas of wet sand were a boon smells of coffee and pancakes, sounds trated in low-lying areas where the snow when the mosquitos were so fierce that of zippers and metal cases, and pound- melts and pools. Most of the landscape adults slept with their heads buried in ing of tent stakes. It was certainly the is bare rock or mud that may take the the ground under both paws and the wolves’ world—one they have evolved form of jagged peaks in one direction, pups could barely keep their watering with for at least tens of thousands of hummocked slopes in another, and silty, eyes open. When the wind blew so hard years. I was the alien in this scenario, eroded gullies in still another. And the our domed expedition tent was folding, Ronan Donovan

22 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org Photos by Kira A. Cassidy

its metal braces bending, the arctic wolf as well have pack slept, each in a carefully chosen been Charon, spot with back to the wind, one small the accompa- hill or hummock between themselves nying satel- and the worst of the gales. lite to Pluto, or But some days felt utopic as the sun Triton, the gey- swung around the sky, dipping to about ser-filled moon 25 degrees above the horizon by 2 a.m. spinning around A single day on Venus lasts nearly 6,000 Neptune. I was hours—pretty comparable to Ellesmere’s used to the moon rising and setting once year, or day into night—but really, those annual four-and-a-half months of con- per day, but this arctic moon rode the are the same thing. stant daylight, mid-April to September. horizon, rose slowly for a week and then Certainly my body wasn’t adapted to The sunlight didn’t seem to bother sank for a week, slipping out of sight for this place. I didn’t have thick fur or a the wolves. On a lazy day at the den it two weeks before rising again. By the end tail—I needed wind-proof layers, water- might mean moving a bedding spot every of my time on Ellesmere the days were proof gloves and a thick down jacket. few hours to follow the rays or avoid growing shorter and the sun was sink- I didn’t have sharp teeth or hundreds them, depending on the temperature. ing lower every day. Soon it would be of millions of scent receptors. I needed Other days might see the pack become wintery-dark, and the only glow would sunglasses, sunscreen and hand lotion. restless in the middle of the night, when come from that moon as it circled in its But something in me, maybe my heart or the sun’s angle was lowest and turning bizarre pattern, lighting the way for two my frontal lobe, felt more at home than everything gold as it passed through lay- weeks and then gone again. anywhere else, ever before. And maybe ers of atmosphere. So remains my most The change from day to night hap- that’s all that matters—that I didn’t feel precious memory of the Eureka pack on pens over several weeks so the wolves like an alien here. I felt like maybe I’d Ellesmere Island—the six adults and all probably don’t really notice. They prob- found my home planet. n three pups playing for hours in the rich ably feel warmer as their winter coat fills light of a sun just beyond midnight. Even in all the way down to their toes, and Kira Cassidy is a research associate the old, dominant male, who generally perhaps feel less conspicuous as snow with the Yellowstone Wolf Project, avoided the rambunctious pups and covers the tundra, making it tough for where she began working in 2007. Kira fawning yearlings, hopped up with a them to see each other —but easier to completed her Master of Science degree in 2013 at the University of Minnesota with canine grin and took it in stride when see a musk ox miles away. They prob- Dr. L. David Mech. In 2014 and 2016 a yearling female, running to him and ably gulp snow instead of water and Kira assisted natural history film crews little sister, tripped and tumbled, taking don’t miss the sharp rocks cutting their documenting the lives of arctic wolves on all three of them to the ground. feet as they pad through powder for the Ellesmere Island, living close to the pack As I sat and watched the pack I noticed next six months. They have evolved as they raised pups, hunted prey and the moon, much lower than the sun with this unique place—their world— navigated their unparalleled landscape. and faded in the western sky. It might for ages. And they continue, year after

International Wolf Spring 2017 23 Ambassador Wolf Behaviors nowplows and face wipes are two Scommon winter behaviors you might see in our ambassador wolves here at the International Wolf Center. In performing a “snowplow,” a wolf sticks its face in the snow and moves for- ward to push the snow upward as it moves. A “face wipe” is a grooming behavior where a wolf wipes its face in the snow, usually after its face has become bloody from

Kelly Godfrey feasting on a carcass. Wolf pup Grayson Ambassador wolf Grayson shows us both of these behaviors in the demonstrated a face wipe (above) and snowplow behavior (right) photos on the left. To read more about our after he ate from a deer carcass. wolves or watch our wolves on webcams, visit our website: www.wolf.org

WORD OF THE DAY

Carnassial Teeth: Special teeth in the jaws of carnivores, including wolves, that act like scissors. They have sharp edges that slice together and help cut pieces of meat into chunks that are easier to swallow. Ambassador wolf Denali using his carnassial teeth in the side of his jaw to rip pieces of deer meat Don Gossett

24 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org “Dispersal” is a meets a disbursing female wolf and they have pups, word often used a new pack forms. Most wild wolf packs are formed when discuss- this way, and usually, a wolf pack will be made up ing wild wolves. of family members—a mother, a father and siblings. It comes from the A great example of dispersal came from Wolf OR-7, word “disperse,” also known as Journey. In September 2011 Wolf OR-7 which means to left the Imnaha pack in northeastern Oregon. He scatter, distribute or spread over a wide area. Dispersal traveled into California and then back to Oregon to happens when a young wolf leaves its pack and sets establish his own pack in 2013. To learn more about out alone to start its own pack. Wolves can disperse Journey, visit the California Department of Fish and hundreds or even thousands of miles from where Wildlife at www.wildlife.ca.gov and type OR-7 into they were born, each one looking for a new area to the Search box. n make its own territory. When a dispersing male wolf

California Department of Fish and Wildlife trail-cam photo of a member of the Shasta pack California Department of Fish and Wildlife

M E R E W H S Y V T S L F A U Q O Q H D D R W O P O C W F D B D F B P L P L N D P K X G L Which wolf gets L D I S P E R S A L F G D R Z dinner? X O I H N O C P F L P W X O F Can you guess which wolf finds the prey? Arctic Pups FollowA B the Xlines A to seeQ if you’reO U right!J A D A N U F A C V P S U E W I L P A D V H C Word Find Y Q S K G W S P Y M B V I W E Use the Word Bank below to find as many words as possible R T F E A S K N L P V S P X W in the Word Find puzzle. Words can run horizontally, vertically Q N R F A L C J L O D B O T I or diagonally. V K L N H P F Z G L W U F C P CARNASSIAL N B R I D L H Q G F Y Y W B E DISPERSAL S A C H N C S G E W O O B B O FACEWIPE C E W C M M X F V W U X W H Y E Z O T I D J O O Y Y F M L U SNOWPLOW

International Wolf Spring 2017 25 Another Turn Of The Crank: The Case for Wolf Restoration in Western Colorado

By Mike Phillips, Turner Endangered Species Fund

fter completing decades of wolf last wolf was killed near the Colorado- The federal Endangered Species Act recovery work elsewhere in the New Mexico border in 1945. (ESA) also protects the wolf in Colorado. AUnited States, conservationists While it is fitting that the species is This should mean that recovery is inevi- can begin to turn the crank of progress listed as endangered under Colorado table. But for more than 20 years the U.S. by focusing on the last great, remain- state law, it is unlikely that any proac- Fish and Wildlife Service has shown no ing expanse of wolfless wildlands in tive, state-led recovery effort will sur- interest in restoring the wolf to western the lower 48 states—the public lands face. Why? The state’s law is best suited Colorado. In 2013 the agency made of western Colorado. for management actions that promote its disinterest clear when it released Wolves were rendered all but ecologi- the persistence of imperiled but extant a draft proposed rule for the species cally extinct there by the 1930s, and the species. For extirpated species like the to be removed from the federal list of gray wolf, the law specifies that rein- endangered and threatened species for troductions must be authorized by the most of the country, including Colorado. legislature. Given the influence of the Curiously though, as of January 2017 the livestock industry, and to a lesser extent proposed rule had not been advanced the big-game hunting industry, it seems beyond the draft stage. unlikely that the legislature would ever In addition to legal mandates, wolf willingly authorize wolf reintroductions. restoration to Colorado is strongly indi- cated by the presence of extensive and

Nowhere else in the world does such an opportunity exist to restore an iconic, unfairly maligned animal across such an inspiring and continental landscape.

highly suitable habitat. The area contains more public land and prey for wolves than anywhere else in the U.S. From 2004–2015 the roughly 18 million acres of public land supported an average combined population of deer and elk that included about 760,000 animals. This probably represents the largest population of ungulates available for wolves anywhere in the world—a noteworthy situation, since prey abun- North America dance is the best predictor of habitat with Southern quality for wolves in areas where human- Rockies Ecoregion caused mortality of wolves is low. Not and Study Area surprisingly, a congressionally mandated Map courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project Map courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Wolf

26 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org 1994 study concluded that Colorado the need to return the wolf to the state. and advances peace, prosperity and jus- could support more than 1,000 wolves. Once begun, restoration would flow like tice for all life. n Three additional studies, using increas- water down a hillside. A wolf population ingly reliable techniques, affirmed that in the western half of Colorado would Mike Phillips has been involved with wolf Colorado could easily support a self- serve as the last piece of a 40-year puzzle research and recovery since 1980. He sustaining population of wolves. to re-establish the species from the High served as the first field leader for the In addition to extensive suitable habi- Arctic to Mexico. Nowhere else in the historic efforts to restore the red wolf to the southeastern U.S. and the gray wolf to tat, public approval of the wolf’s return to world does such an opportunity exist Yellowstone National Park. Mike has Colorado is significant. Regional public to restore an iconic, unfairly maligned written and lectured extensively about opinion surveys conducted across a span animal across such an inspiring and wolves over the last few decades. of 20 years reveal strong and durable continental landscape. For those who support for restoration. celebrate the importance of wild and Even though western Colorado is self-willed nature, it is an opportunity ideally suited for the gray wolf, the that must be seized. area is a considerable distance from Once accomplished, a Colorado wolf wolf populations elsewhere, making it restoration project would help to illumi- unlikely that a population will inhabit nate a new relationship with nature—one the area through natural recolonization. that is restorative and accommodating, Conventional wisdom based on decades of reliable research and wolf recovery actions Regional public opinion surveys conducted across a span of 20 years indicates that reintro- reveal strong and durable support for restoration. ductions provide the best guarantee for re- establishing a wolf population in western Colorado. The distances are too great, with too many mortality hazards along the way, for a sufficient number of wolves from elsewhere to disperse to Colorado, find one another and survive long enough to give birth to the count- less litters of pups required to create and sustain a population. Gray wolf restoration remains a controversial and divisive issue. Consequently, the species continues to be restricted to about 15 percent of its historical range in the contiguous U.S., despite an abundance of suitable but unoccupied habitat, mostly in western Colorado. The best conservation science instructs that the widespread absence of this species creates a “problem of simpli- fication” for nature. The big, bold idea of restoring the wolf remains a viable solution to that problem. To advance this future, the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project (www.rocky- mountainwolfproject.org) was launched in March 2016 on the belief that education advances restoration. A successful education effort could prompt the citizens of Colorado to con- vince the state or federal government of Jean-Francois Beaudry

International Wolf Spring 2017 27 has all produced tremendous amounts Yellowstone Science: of data, which the biologists have turned Celebrating 20 Years of Wolves into very informative publications.” What makes wolf watching unique Book Review by Nancy jo Tubbs at Yellowstone? Doug Smith, project leader for the Wolf Restoration Project here, reveals one simple reason. “Because t has Old Faithful, grizzly we have a road bisecting all the good bears, hot springs, water- wolf habitat in the park. Wolves up to Ifalls, petrified trees and this point in time have always been a reintroduced wild wolves— remote wilderness species. They live in so it’s no wonder Yellowstone faraway places. And almost all of the National Park is called one of monitoring of them has been through the Seven Natural Wonders of radio collars and airplanes. Yellowstone North America. is the best example of continuous, year- A unique guide to those round monitoring— not only aerial, but wonders is Yellowstone Science ground monitoring as well.” magazine, which twice a year For example, he notes, “Rick McIntyre “shares information from sci- went out every day for fourteen years entists and researchers with the and saw a wolf 97 percent of the days public to highlight in-depth, he went out.” science-based knowledge Want to explore the natural myster- about the Greater Yellowstone ies of an ecosystem that supports not Ecosystem.” only wolves, but grizzlies, mountain Its June 2016 issue is “cel- lions, bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, ebrating 20 years of wolves” coyotes, foxes and eagles? This issue of with articles and published Yellowstone Science is a veritable wolf- scientific papers on all things watcher’s guidebook to the ecological Yellowstone-wolf. And by all intricacies of the park. You can learn, too, things, we mean howling, about the most pressing conservation genetics, elk, inter-pack aggres- challenges facing Yellowstone—one of sion, parasites, motherhood and more. which is, of course, the human presence. Yellowstone Science: Interviews with apex wolf biologists The magazine is available by sub- Celebrating 20 Years of involved in the park’s wolf restoration scription in hard copy or free online at Wolves give the reader perspective on the impor- www.nps.gov/yell/learn/yellowstone- tance of this natural scientific laboratory. science.htm, and anyone in love with 2016 Yellowstone Center for Why has the park been profoundly Resources Yellowstone or wolves will relish an significant for wolf research? in-depth look at this 100-page issue. n Guest Editor Douglas W. Smith “The Yellowstone population from the 100 pages beginning has been the most scrutinized wolf population in history anywhere in the world,” said wolf research expert L. David Mech. “The percentage of the number of wolves collared with even VHF radios and the amount of time that they’ve been observed from the ground

28 Spring 2017 www.wolf.org from the heart of the city

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Howl at the Moon Gala Thursday, May 18, 2017 • 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Midland Hills Country Club • 2001 Fulham Street, Roseville, MN 55113 Visit wolf.org for more details or call David Kline at 763-560-7374 ext. 230.

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