A PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER SUMMER 2004 British Columbia’s Rainforest Wolves, page 4 Crying Wolf in Kyrgyzstan, page 7 THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER VOLUME 14, NO. 2 SUMMER 2004 Features Departments Rendezvous in a Rainforest 3 From the Executive Director 4 In the heart of the “Great Bear Rainforest,” a nearly pristine, but largely unprotected, temperate 10 International rainforest on British Columbia’s mainland coast, Wolf Center Notes biologists are studying the area’s apex carnivore— From Home the gray wolf—with the hope of finding ways to preserve this animal and other coastal life. 13 Tracking the Pack Chris Darimont Chris Darimont 15 Wolves of the World Crying Wolf in 7 Central Asia 19 News and Notes In November 2003, Carter Niemeyer, wolf 20 Personal Encounter recovery coordinator for Idaho, visited the central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan to assess 24 Wolf Tracks the problem of wolves preying on domestic livestock. He found that Kyrgyzstan’s “wolf 25 As A Matter of Fact problem” is much like wolf problems in the Carter Niemeyer United States. 26 Wild Kids Carter Niemeyer 28 A Look Beyond On The Cover Gray wolf pup howling, Rocky Mountains. Photo by Daniel J. Cox. Daniel J. Cox has worked as a professional wildlife photographer for nearly 25 years. His photographs have been published in National Geographic magazine and in publications of the National Wildlife Federation, Audubon and Sierra Club, among many others. His work can be viewed at www.naturalexposures.com. Chris Darimont INTERNATIONAL From the Executive Director WOLF CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nancy jo Tubbs Chair Publications Director This brings up the extremely Dr. L. David Mech Letter to the editor A Midnight Visitor Vice Chair Mary Ortiz about Mexican wolves bleak outlook expressed by Michael Magazine Coordinator Robinson in his letter in the same Dr. Rolf O. Peterson Carissa L.W. Knaack overly bleak ne of the great parts of my job is the necessity to work out of our two offices. Secretary issue. Robinson has supported Consulting Editor I spend most of my time in our Twin Cities office, but during the year I make Paul B. Anderson Mary Keirstead was honored to have my book Mexican wolf recovery with genuine Treasurer numerous trips to our flagship education facility in northern Minnesota. The Technical Editor IThe Return of the Mexican Gray dedication for many years, but O Dr. Larry D. Anderson L. David Mech Wolf: Back to the Blue reviewed this negative letter conflicts with trip north to Ely is more than the 250 miles. There is the transition in ecological zones Graphic Designer in your Winter 2003 issue. While the updates I get by phone every Julie Potts Close from the broadleaf forest to the mixed forests of the north, where coniferous trees Tricia Hull the Mexican wolf reintroduction few weeks from the energetic project Thomas T. Dwight program in the Southwest and the staff in Alpine, Arizona. I do not and spruce bogs command a large presence. There is the transition from the largely Nancy Gibson International Wolf (1089-683X) is wolf reintroduction program in Hélène Grimaud published quarterly and copyrighted, believe that the U.S. Fish and urban landscapes to a region dominated by the Superior National Yellowstone National Park both Cree Holtz 2004, by the International Wolf Center, Wildlife Service fabricates ghost Forest, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. As I head 12615 Co. Road 9, #200, Minneapolis, MN faced animosity from opposition, animals to make up for the fact that Cornelia Hutt 55441, USA. e-mail: [email protected]. comparison of the two programs the population has increased slower north, I leave behind the human population center of Minnesota and Dean Johnson All rights reserved. ends there. Our southwestern re- than originally anticipated. Monthly the commercial and industrial centers of the state. The more sparsely Dr. Robert Laud Publications agreement no. 1536338 introduction into Arizona did not status reports on the USFWS populated northeastern area of the state supports natural resource–based Mike Phillips Membership in the International Wolf arouse the widespread national Web site (Mexicanwolf.fws.gov) Dr. Robert Ream Center includes a subscription to interest that the return of wolves to reflect that the year-end population, businesses like farming, forestry and mining. International Wolf magazine, free admission Jeff Rennicke to the Center, and discounts on programs Yellowstone did, but the two including pups, is close to 60 As a birder, my scanning of the terrain close to the Twin Cities focuses Deborah Reynolds and merchandise. • Lone Wolf member- projects are not alike. Translocating Mexican wolves. Considering the on finding red-tailed hawks and sandhill cranes. Farther north, I shift Jerry Sanders ships are U.S. $30 • Wolf Pack $50 • wild wolves from Canada into past year’s rash of illegal killings and Walter Medwid Paul Schurke Wolf Associate $100 • Wolf Sponsor $500 northwestern wilderness is much accidental killings, this population my search to bald eagles, great gray owls and loons. And on the mammal • Alpha Wolf $1000. Canada and other Teri Williams countries, add U.S. $15 per year for different from attempting to reintro- still exceeds the previous year’s front, the search for moose and bears begins when I reach the north country. airmail postage, $7 for surface postage. duce captive wolves into their ending population by over a dozen While the rich diversity and distinctive identities of these two regions of the state EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Contact the International Wolf Center, historic habitat. animals. Despite the setbacks faced 1396 Highway 169, Ely, MN 55731-8129, always make the trips north and south interesting, the element that makes the trip north Walter M. Medwid USA; e-mail: [email protected]; As David Mech so thoroughly during 2003, the project biologists phone: 1-800-ELY-WOLF emphasized in the splendid fore- are upbeat and optimistic about most distinctive is the transition into wolf range. While the chance of seeing a wolf is MISSION International Wolf is a forum for airing word he wrote for my book, the spring pup reproduction in 2004. unlikely (in my 10 years on the job I have seen wild wolves in Minnesota only a dozen facts, ideas and attitudes about wolf- fact that the only Mexican wolves No one could predict when the The International Wolf or so times), there is a special feeling that comes with simply crossing into wolf territory. related issues. Articles and materials available for reintroduction were Mexican wolves were reintroduced Center advances the survival printed in International Wolf do not captive wolves made the reintro- I was strongly reminded of this on my most recent visit to Ely. While staying of wolf populations by necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the in 1998 just how many years would International Wolf Center or its board duction much more complicated be required to fulfill the population overnight in an isolated cabin near the Center, I was startled in the morning by two teaching about wolves, their of directors. and difficult than moving wild of 100 wolves called for in the relationship to wild lands and things. First, the thermometer registered 26 degrees below zero—a temperature rarely the human role in their future. International Wolf welcomes submissions wolves into a similar surrounding. Environment Impact Statement. of personal adventures with wolves and This in no way lessens the impor- Recent improvements in commu- experienced in the Twin Cities in recent years. But more engaging than the tempera- Educational services and wolf photographs (especially black and tance of the Yellowstone reintro- nications among the affected stake ture were the fresh tracks of a wolf that had passed by my cabin during the night. The white). Prior to submission of other informational resources duction. However, the fact that types of manuscripts, address queries holders, hard-working staff mon- light snow that had fallen confirmed that the tracks were recently made. Seeing those are available at: to Mary Ortiz, publications director. Mexican wolves were close to ex- itoring the daily activities of the tracks so close to where I had spent the night added a whole new flavor to the trip International Wolf is printed entirely tinction with their only hope for wolves, and active surveillance by 1396 Highway 169 with soy ink on recycled and recyclable survival a return to the wild before agency law enforcement officers will sand reminded me in a direct way just how much the presence of wolves in the land- Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA paper (text pages contain 20% post- they became unfit for wilderness work together to achieve successful 1-800-ELY-WOLF scape adds to the quality of any outdoor experience. I 1-218-365-4695 consumer waste, cover paper contains survival makes the current increase survival for our Mexican wolves. 10% post-consumer waste). We encourage e-mail address: you to recycle this magazine. in their wild population a victory [email protected] for this endangered species. Bobbie Holaday PHOTOS: Unless otherwise noted, or 1413 East Dobbins Road Web site: http://www.wolf.org obvious from the caption or article text, photos are of captive wolves. Phoenix, Arizona 85042 2 Summer 2004 www.wolf.org International Wolf Summer 2004 3 their North American range was lost. we need. Stretching then trotting, their can muster, she walks away, trading The rainforest wolves I have come to noses graze the ground for smells. This glances with me and her family meet this evening have been spared is how they view their world. When members that are watching the inter- Rendezvous this fate. They still occupy a land- something interesting is in the air, they action.