Gray Wolf Pack Established in Horse Creek Area
‘Daniel Pack’ has at least 16 members
by Rob Shaul
A 16-member wolf pack has established itself in the Horse Creek area of
the Wyoming Range in western Sublette County. The “Daniel” Pack was
discovered last week said Mike Jimenez, Wyoming Wolf Coordinator for the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Previously, there have been individual wolves seen as far south as
Cokeville, but this is the first time a large group of wolves has been
seen south of Highway 191.
Earlier this summer, said Mr. Jimenez, wolves were killing sheep in the
Horse Creek area. At least two sheep were confirmed killed by wolves, and
at least a dozen more kills were suspected.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service responded and attempted to trap and
collar a wolf in the area. In the process, two wolves died when, after
being caught in leg traps, they succumbed to summer heat. There was a
report of another wolf in the area, but nothing confirmed.
After the deaths of these two wolves, reports of wolfs ceased in the Horse
Creek area, said Mr. Jimenz, until last week, when a calf was killed and
the calf’s owner saw a wolf eating the carcass.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Services of the
Department of Agriculture responded and set out traps. Four wolf pups were
trapped and collared, said Mr. Jimenz. While in the area, a Wildlife
Services officer saw another 12 wolves in a group.
Mr. Jimenez believes this group of 16 wolves, named the “Daniel Pack” is a
double litter. “From the sounds of the howling,” he explained, “it sounds
like there are a lot of pups in the pack.”
Tuesday, officials attempted to fly over and count the number of adults in
the pack but were prevented from doing so by the weather.
There is at least one resident pack of wolves in the Upper Green and
another in the Gros Ventre.
As the number of wolves increases, their range is increasing also. This
spring, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service downgraded gray wolves from
“endangered” to “threatened.” In March, the USFWS estimated that there
were 664 wolves in the Rocky Mountain West spread throughout 44 packs in
Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
“Definitely, the wolves are in the Wyoming Range,” said Mr. Jimenez.