$6.95 Seeking Wildlands, Large and Small, for Carnivores Page 4 Do Wolves Cause Trophic Cascades? Page 8 Wolf Population Status in Western United States: A Summary of State Reports Page 13 Shop Our 2015 Calendars Today! The Perfect Gift for Any Occasion. 16-Month Calendar $14.95 Item # 3801 12-Month Calendar $14.95 Item # 3803 Order today at shop.wolf.org or call 1-800-ELY-WOLF Your purchases help support the mission of the International Wolf Center. VOLUME 24, NO. 3 THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER FALL 2014 4 Courtesy of Wildlands Network 8 National Park Service/Jim Peaco 13 Sherry Jokinen Seeking Wildlands, Large Do Wolves Cause Wolf Population Status and Small, for Carnivores Trophic Cascades? in Western United States: A Summary of State Reports On the 50th anniversary of the Ever since wolves were Wilderness Act, the attention of reintroduced into Yellowstone The wolf population in the western many is turned toward ensuring National Park, scientific studies United States is stabilizing and adequate wildlands for future have claimed that wolves were expanding its range. By 2012 generations of animals and humans. improving the ecosystem through wolves had been deemed recovered John Davis, co-founder of the “trophic cascades.” A trophic and delisted from the federal Wildlands Network, formerly the cascade is a set of reactions down endangered species list in Montana, Wildlands Project, explains why through a food pyramid starting Idaho, eastern Washington, eastern this is an important goal, what with an animal like the wolf at the Oregon, north-central Utah and is being done and what still top, elk in the middle and plants at Wyoming. This article takes an needs to happen. the base. Wolf expert Dr. L. David in-depth look at wolf populations Mech addresses this issue in a in these states. By Tracy O’Connell Q&A with International Wolf. By Norman A. Bishop By Dr. L. David Mech On the Cover Departments Shadow 3 From the Photo: International Wolf Center Executive Director Did you know... 18 Tribute to Shadow One easy way for you to help us 21 Wolves of the World conserve natural resources is to make 24 Personal Encounter sure we have your email address. Simply email your address to 26 Wild Kids [email protected]. 28 A Look Beyond International Wolf Center International Wolf PASSION LEGACY Your passion for wolves can have a lasting impact beyond your lifetime. Publications Director By choosing to leave a planned gift to Tom Myrick the International Wolf Center, you will help secure their future and become a Graphics Coordinator member of the Alpha Legacy Society with Carissa L. Winter all its benefits. Consulting Editor If you have already included the Center Fran Howard in your estate planning, we thank you Technical Editor and ask that you let us know about your Dr. L. David Mech commitment. Graphic Designer Call today to start planning your legacy. Tricia Austin 763-560-7374 ext. 230. Thank you. Luna—Photo by Darcy Berus International Wolf (1089-683X) is published quarterly and copyrighted, 2014, by the International Wolf Center, 3410 Winnetka Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55427, USA. email: [email protected]. All rights reserved. Publications agreement no. 1536338 WOLVES AND POLAR BEARS... Membership in the International Wolf Center includes WHO IS CHASING WHOM? a subscription to International Wolf magazine, free admission to the Center and discounts on programs and merchandise. LEARNINGPREDATOR ARCTIC CLIMATE CHANGEECOSYSTEM SCIENCE Membership Levels: (in U.S. dollars) BIODIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY • Wolf Pup $25 (students • Wolf Associate $125 CUBS TUNDRA YEARLINGS HARSH DYNAMICS DENS PACK age 21 and under) • Wolf Tracker $250 FROZEN MOVEMENTS SEALS • Lone Wolf $40 • Wolf Sponsor $500 PREY WOLVES BEAR (individual) • Alpha Wolf $1,000 • Wolf Pack $70 (family at same address) For those outside the United States, please add an additional $15 to Wolf Pup, Lone Wolf, Wolf Pack and Wolf Associate memberships. Polar bear chasing wolf near Hudson Bay, Canada. © Manitoba Conservation photo. Please mail membership payment to: International Wolf Center Administrative Office, Attn: Membership, 3410 Winnetka Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55427, USA. YOUR SCHOOL COULD HELP US FIND OUT! Please contact the membership department with University researchers in conjunction with Manitoba questions: 763-560-7374 ext. 227 or [email protected]. government want to learn how two predator species interact International Wolf is a forum for airing perspectives, at the edge of the Arctic. Do wolves predate on bear cubs science-based information and personal experiences as they come off the sea ice in July? Are mother polar bears about wolves. Articles and materials printed in Inter- national Wolf do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of affected? Is climate change and early melting ice a factor? the International Wolf Center or its board of directors. These questions may be answered from some fascinat- International Wolf welcomes submissions of personal ing research in an unstudied ecosystem. A few schools in adventures with wolves and wolf photo graphs. Prior North America can participate by sponsoring a GPS collar to submission of other types of manu scripts, address to track “their” wolf for a $400 contribution. Students can queries to Tom Myrick, magazine coordinator. learn about ecosystems, predators, biodiversity, GPS tracking, PHOTOS: Unless otherwise noted, or obvious from the and link to participating schools. Deadline is Oct. 18, 2014. caption or article text, photos are of captive wolves. Research begins in 2015. International Wolf is printed entirely with soy ink Participation is limited. Contact us for details ASAP: on FSC® certified paper. We encour- Volker Beckmann, Project Director, Spirit Way Inc. FSC logo here age you to recycle [email protected] • 204-778-7434 this magazine. www.thompsonspiritway.ca 2 Fall 2014 www.wolf.org From the Executive Director INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER Engaging the Next Generation BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nancy jo Tubbs s a new school year begins we are preparing to launch an outreach initiative unlike Chair anything we have done before. Dr. L. David Mech Funded by a Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund grant Vice Chair from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, this new pro- Cree Bradley Secretary Agram, known as The Wolf at Our Door, is aimed at helping children understand the complex Paul B. Anderson issues and public attitudes that surround state management of wolves in Minnesota. Treasurer Following the removal of wolves from protected status in the Great Lakes region, public Rick Duncan opinion has been sharply divided in states like Minnesota where wolf-hunting seasons have been Nancy Gibson implemented. Chasms divide people on all sides of the issue—rural, urban and Debbie Hinchcliffe suburban communities, hunters and non-hunters, trappers and non-trappers, Judy Hunter and residents and non-residents of areas with wolf populations. And our chil- Deborah Wold Lewis dren, who will be our future decision makers, have become confused by the Dr. Rolf O. Peterson polarizing debates they hear about wolf hunting in the media. This new program Mike Phillips was created to bring clarity and facts to these young, impressionable minds. Debbie Reynolds Why are wolves important in some ecosystems? How will the loss of Jerry Sanders wildlands affect wolves and other animal populations? What role can Paul Schurke Rob Schultz children play in protecting the environment for future generations? These Dick Thiel topics and more will be the core of an aggressive effort to educate our next generation Ray Wells Teri Williams of citizens about the challenges faced by wildlife in a rapidly changing world. Educating the public—especially young people—is more critical than ever. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Wolf at Our Door will focus on delivering free outreach programs in 460 class- Rob Schultz rooms throughout the nine-county Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area over a two-year period. An International Wolf Center outreach specialist will present the in-person programs in MISSION each classroom, using Turning Point survey technology to collect data on student attitudes The International Wolf Center advances the survival and knowledge about wolves and wolf management. This real-time feedback will provide of wolf populations by context for a facilitated discussion about important issues affecting Minnesota wilderness teaching about wolves, their and public opinions that impact the survival of wolves and their habitats. If successful, we hope relationship to wildlands and the human role in their future. that other states will provide funding to broaden the program to all areas where children are struggling to understand these issues. Educational services and informational resources We are excited to begin this initiative and look forward to getting an insight into the are available at: attitudes young people have in regard to protecting our natural resources. n 1396 Highway 169 Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA 800-ELY-WOLF 218-365-4695 email address: [email protected] Web site: www.wolf.org Rob Schultz, executive director International Wolf Fall 2014 3 iStockPhoto/jameslee999 4 Fall 2014 www.wolf.org ★ Seeking Wildlands Large and Small, for Carnivores by TRACY O’CONNELL Editor’s note: On this 50th anniversary of smaller species that share their space. In involve conserving existing areas rather the Wilderness Act, the attention of many is addition, as keystone species they also fit than restoration because the region is turned toward ensuring adequate wildlands into the cycle of many forms of life. In sparsely settled with much open area. for future generations of animals and humans. Yellowstone National Park, some claim Still, threats abound, mostly from energy John Davis, co-founder of the Wildlands Net- that elk no longer graze the trees down to extraction: the mining of tar sands, log- work, formerly the Wildlands Project, talked nubs allowing growth that protects water- ging and mining for minerals.