Officials trying to track wolf pack
By SONJA LEE
Tribune Staff Writer
The wolf pack that frequents the North Fork of the Sun River drainage has
a new name and is expanding its home range in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
In late 2001 Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials named the wolf pair and six
pups that were in the North Fork of the Sun River the Gates Park Pack.
That pack is now called the Red Shale Pack, said Ed Bangs, the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service’s wolf recovery coordinator. The name change was made
because the pack is not just in the Gates Park area, but instead is
traveling throughout the Bob Marshall.
“Last spring that pack, or at least portions of it, made some wide-ranging
movements,” said Wendy Maples, wildlife biologist with the Rocky Mountain
Ranger District in Choteau.
In early December when wildlife managers flew the area, they were unable
to pick up a radio signal for the pack, Maples said. But the pack has in
the past been spotted as far north as the Hungry Horse Ranger District and
as far east as Gibson Reservoir west of Choteau.
One of the two radio collars on wolves in the pack also came off, Maples
said. And it has been difficult for wildlife managers to get flights,
because of bad weather.
“The pack could be west of the Divide,” she said. “We aren’t exactly sure
where the wolves are right now.”
When officials complete snow surveys in January, wildlife managers likely
will get more information, she said.
“We are making every effort to keep track of where that pack is,” Maples
said. “And if anyone has information, they can call the district.”
Ross Salmond, who has a ranch in the area, said he has not seen the pack
near his property. And he said he is keeping a close watch. He also has
concerns about the size of the pack and potential conflicts.
Bangs said the Red Shale Pack has not been involved in any known
conflicts.
Wildlife managers believe the pack still only includes eight wolves. Last
December, it was believed the pack had grown to 14, Bangs said. Some
wolves traveling with the pack, however, apparently have left.
The wolves also didn’t den this year, meaning there likely are no new
pups, Maples said.
Under federal guidelines, there must be 30 breeding pairs of wolves
distributed throughout recovery areas in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming for
three years to constitute a viable and recovered wolf population. Those
goals have been met.
By August, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming each had wolf management plans. The
federal government is reviewing those plans. If they are approved, the
predators will be removed from the threatened list under the Endangered
Species Act.
Biologists have said they hope that by 2004, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming
will be able to manage wolves themselves.
Bangs said he suspects wolf numbers in northwest Montana will be down when
the official population reports come out next year.
“I think the population is naturally leveling off,” he said.
That leveling off, however, doesn’t mean that wolves need to remain under
federal protection, he said.
“We are moving right along on this thing,” he said.