Cover 4/23/02 4:54 PM Page 1 A PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER SUMMER 2002 Do Something Really W i l d This Summer. Visit Us! The International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota. Plan your trip to wild wolf country now. meet our Ambassador Pack of wolves including two rare arctic wolves enjoy viewing the new wolf enclosure pond and rock DAILY SUMMER HOURS: landscaping trek through wolf habitat: track, hike, howl or May 10 - June 30 . 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. journey to an abandoned wolf den learn about the similarities and differences between wolves and dogs through daily programs in July July 1- Aug 31 . 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. and August romp with the kids in our Little Wolf children's exhibit learn all about wolves and wildlands through a special speaker series Sept 1- Oct 20. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. See www.wolf.org for information and program schedules. Phone:1-800-ELY-WOLF, ext. 25 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID 3300 Bass Lake Road, #202 Minneapolis, MN 55429-2518 Permit #4894 Mpls., MN Red Wolf Pups Test Trapping Skills, page 4 Wolf Research Tools, page 9 Wolves Heading to California? page 12 Cover 4/22/02 6:05 PM Page 2 Carl Brenders Robert Bateman R.S. Parker Al Agnew Don Gott Jorge MayolMany NEW Frank pieces Miller of beautiful art just added! Educators: Bring Wolves Right Into Your Classroom Our programs and resources provide opportunities Speakers Bureau: Robert Bateman, Hoary Marmot presentations tailored Carl Brenders, One-to-One for your students to learn about a great natural to age and interest Wolf Loan Box: treasure and about the wildlands that are its habitat. Save money on collectible wildlife art artifacts and activities and support the survival of wolves worldwide! Interdisciplinary curriculum helps students understand Curriculum Resources: Donated collection now available to the public. View our online gallery by the connections between ecology, economics, reinforce basic skills, visiting www.wolf.org fulfill national science- Extra savings, low prices! government, technology and more. learning standards For private inquiries, Education tools: Limited edition prints by celebrated artists. please call 763-560-7374 Call 1-800-ELY-WOLF, ext. 25 or visit track packs, wolf adop- Proceeds directly benefit the Any donation above the already The International Wolf Center is a non-profit tion kits, radio telemetry, low asking price is tax deductible organization dedicated to supporting the www.wolf.org for more information. plus videos, books, other International Wolf Center mission. to the full extent of the law. survival of wolves worldwide through education. classroom aides Bev Doolittle Robert Travers Lee Kromschroeder James Meger Bruce Miller (and many others!) NEW RESTING WOLF JERSEY! (Cyberspace that is) This trendy jersey combined with one of our most popular designs incorporates a www.wolf.org gray body w/ black sleeves and neck • NEWS AND EVENTS - the hottest wolf information available edge. Made of 100% soft combed cotton. • NOTES FROM THE FIELD - fascinating first person accounts by wolf Available in sizes S-2X. Priced affordably experts and program participants on extraordinary trips to Yellowstone National Park and the Canadian Northwest Territories at just $29.95! (L measures 44"at armpit) • LIVE WOLF CAM - bring our Buy it today online at www.wolf.org. ambassador wolves and their playful antics right into your home • OVER 700 PAGES of information, programs and products! IntWolf 4/22/02 6:39 PM Page 1 THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER VOLUME 12, NO. 2 SUMMER 2002 Features Departments 4 2 As a Matter of Fact Cutting Teeth 3 From the Executive Director A litter of red wolf pups tested the trapping skills of a biological technician for the U.S. Fish and 15 International Wolf Center Wildlife Service’s Red Wolf Recovery Program. Notes From Home L eslie Schutte U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 18 Tracking the Pack 9 19 Wolves of the World A Brief History of Wolf Research: PART I 24 Wild Kids In the young field of wolf research, each new research tool or technique has allowed scientists 26 Book Review to find answers to new questions about wolves. 27 News and Notes Luke Eidenschink Steve Grooms 12 28 A Look Beyond Gray Wolves Heading to California On The Cover A proposal by wolf advocates to designate a region in Northern Photo by William Rideg, California as suitable wolf habitat has angered local residents, Kishenehn Wildlife Works particularly sheep and cattle ranchers. Michael McCabe ynn and Donna Rogers L IntWolf 4/22/02 6:39 PM Page 2 Publications Director Mary Ortiz Magazine Coordinator Carissa L.W. Knaack Consulting Editor Mary Keirstead Technical Editor L. David Mech Graphic Designer Tricia Hull International Wolf (1089-683X) is published quarterly and copyrighted, 2002, by the International Wolf Center, 3300 Bass Lake Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55429, USA. e-mail: [email protected]. All rights reserved. Publications agreement no. 1536338 Membership in the International Wolf Center includes a subscription to International Wolf magazine, free admission to the Center, and discounts on programs and merchandise. • Lone Wolf member- ships are U.S. $30 • Wolf Pack $50 • Wolf Associate $100 • Wolf Sponsor $500 • Alpha Wolf $1000. Canada and other ynn and Donna Rogers countries, add U.S. $15 per year for L airmail postage, $7 for surface postage. Contact the International Wolf Center, How many states currently have known 1396 Highway 169, Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA; e-mail: [email protected]; breeding packs of wolves? phone: 1-800-ELY-WOLF Breeding packs of gray wolves are known to exist in nine states (Alaska, International Wolf is a forum for airing Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona facts, ideas and attitudes about wolf- related issues. Articles and materials and New Mexico), but there have been verified sightings of single wolves printed in International Wolf do not in several other states, including Oregon, Washington, North Dakota, necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the South Dakota and Missouri. International Wolf Center or its board of directors. Breeding red wolves exist in North Carolina and several island propagation sites off the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. ■ International Wolf welcomes submissions of personal adventures with wolves and wolf photographs (especially black and What are the jaw pressure white). Prior to submission of other types of manuscripts, address queries New Question and number of teeth of a wolf to Mary Ortiz, publications director. compared to a human’s? International Wolf is printed entirely with soy ink on recycled and recyclable paper (text pages contain 20% post- consumer waste, cover paper contains 10% post-consumer waste). We encourage you to recycle this magazine. VISIT PHOTOS: Unless otherwise noted, or www.wolf.orgwww.wolf.org TODAY! obvious from the caption or article text, photos are of captive wolves. 2 Summer 2002 www.wolf.org IntWolf 4/22/02 6:39 PM Page 3 INTERNATIONAL From the Executive Director WOLF CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nancy jo Tubbs Chair espite the challenges we are facing in these belt-tightening times—especially Dr. L. David Mech Vice Chair for the not-for-profit sector—I am particularly pleased that the International Wolf Center is proceeding with several initiatives that will strengthen our Dr. Rolf O. Peterson D Secretary education work in support of wolf survival. Paul B. Anderson Norm Bishop, a highly respected educator, adds to our outreach efforts in the greater Treasurer Yellowstone region as the International Wolf Center’s Field Representative (see Notes From Home, p. 15). Norm’s mission is to provide accurate information on wolf matters Dr. Larry D. Anderson in an arena where opponents of wolf recovery are perpetuating urban (or should I Phillip DeWitt say rural) myths, especially those involving the wolf’s impact on the elk population. Thomas T. Dwight Norm’s fact-based articles, talks and letters to editors help keep the Nancy Gibson heated debate in that region of the country grounded in solid science. Helene Grimaud Also on the western front, the Center (along with representatives Cornelia Hutt Dr. Robert Laud from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, The Denver Zoo, the Pueblo Zoological Mike Phillips Society and the Albuquerque Biological Park) joined a newly formed Dr. Robert Ream wolf information network for the Southern Rockies. These five Paul Schurke organizations have merged their education forces to serve as a clearing- Teri Williams house of scientific information and a forum for diverse viewpoints on the possibility of wolf recovery in that region. A grant from the Turner EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Endangered Species Fund and support from the member organizations Walter M. Medwid Walter Medwid will aid the public’s understanding of the issues as advocacy groups MISSION press for the wolf’s return. The zoos reach hundreds of thousands of people annually and provide an unparalleled education opportunity. The International Wolf Center supports the survival Closer to home, thanks to recent restricted grants, we will be establishing the posi- of the wolf around the world tion of outreach educator, based in our Twin Cities office. The goal of the position is to by teaching about its life, its associations with other strengthen our education programs in this population center of the state and build a species and its dynamic foundation of support for our outreach beyond the state’s borders. And in a related relationship to humans. matter, we are exploring a possible new home for the Minneapolis office. This site Educational services and would give us a more visible face, facilities for conducting workshops and providing informational resources information to visitors, and a base for our outreach efforts. are available at: Reading articles about wolves and noting the distortions that Norm Bishop is 1396 Highway 169 Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA addressing in his new role remind me that although we have made great strides in wolf 1-800-ELY-WOLF recovery, the ongoing educational challenges remain.