By KATHLEEN WOODFORD and ERIN JUSSEAUME
Mineral Independent
Prior to 1990, there were very few people in Montana who may have heard the howl of a wolf. By 1925 the species was eradicated from the state and remained virtually extinct until recovery efforts began.
Those efforts were successful, and by 2011, wolves were delisted as an endangered species and dubbed, “recovered in the Northern Rocky Mountains” in a Fish, Wildlife and Parks report. Once again the animals were allowed to be hunted and trapped, as long as there are a minimum of 150 wolves and 15 breeding pair. according to the regulations.
There are sightings of packs in Western Montana and there have been increasing reports of wolf sightings in both Mineral and Sanders County this spring.
Sarah Hansen is one resident who has seen some near Mount Baldy located about 15 miles north of Plains and said she’s run across the pack a couple of times in the last three months.
“In January my dad and I were walking and heard something go through the bushes about 100 yards up the hill. When we got up to where it was, you could clearly see it was a large wolf by the tracks in the snow. We encountered them several times that day as they were circling us,” she said.
A few weeks ago, Hansen went back into the area and almost immediately heard them howl. From those howls, she could tell they had once again surrounded her and her dog,
“I pulled my pistol and shot off five rounds into a tree before heading back to my truck. There were easily eight different voices I could hear,” she said.
She took a photo of one of the tracks which measured 7 inches long. Though there haven’t been any reports of people being attacked by wolves, there are continual problems with livestock.
In 2016, there were 66 complaints made to Fish, Wildlife and Parks with 52 cattle and five sheep killed by wolves, which are similar numbers to 2014 and 2015. A relatively small number compared to 2009, when the department fielded a whopping 233 complaints.
There have also been reports of wolves moving around the Dog Lake area on Montana 28 near Hot Springs.
Wolf harvests are also on the rise. Two hundred and forty-six wolves were taken during the 2016-17 hunting season in Montana, with 163 by hunters and 83 by trappers. Of those, about 20 were taken from Mineral and Sanders County, primarily by hunters. A relatively low number considering 17,212 wolf licenses were sold throughout the state, generating over $393,300 in sales for the elusive carnivore.
According to a 2015 map, there are about five packs located west of St. Regis with two between Cyr and Fish Creek west of Alberton. Local residents have reported seeing them from I-90, with another three packs east of Alberton near Petty Creek. Fish Wildlife and Parks wolf expert Tyler Parks said they have only received one report from Alberton. He said a woman found a dead deer near one of the churches in town and said there were possible wolf tracks near it. However, upon inspection it was determined to be domestic dog tracks.
“There are two wolf packs near this area, so I would not be surprised if tracks or wolves have been seen at some point,” Parks said.
There are also a few packs located in the Nine Mile area and some on the south and west end of the Flathead Indian Reservation.
In addition to the pack near Plains, there are a couple near Thompson Falls and a string of them leading back into the Cabinet Mountains toward Idaho.
“I have been out in these woods for over 30 years, and I haven’t had the experiences with wolves like I have had this year,” said Hansen.
“People need to be aware they are out there,” she added.
Wolves are predominately gray with some black coats tied into the packs and average 70 to 120 pounds; they measure about 6 feet with a track averaging 5 inches wide and long.
Packs are made up of approximately seven members and are the offspring of the mated male and female.
In 1990 Congress established a committee to recommend wolf recovery strategies for Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. Those strategies were successful and by 2000 there were 97 wolves and eight breeding pair in Montana.
Fast-forward to today where there are currently 477 wolves in Montana with 109 verified packs, and at least 50 breeding pair, according to a 2016 Fish, Wildlife and Parks report. And once again, people can hear their howls echo through the mountains.
“We can all enjoy the outdoors, but make sure you are prepared when you go out. It was a little scary knowing they surrounded us. But it won’t stop me from exploring, I’ll just find a new trail to enjoy,” said Hansen of her experience.