Wolf collared on Morgan Creek
by Anna Means
There had been reports of wolves in the area for about a year, but
it
wasn’t until late August that authorities finally spotted them and
collared one. Another was trapped but escaped and had to be found later.
Carter Niemeyer, Fish and Wildlife Services, told the Messenger that
they’d heard reports that wolves were in Morgan and Darling creeks last
year, but this spring he and Wildlife Services Wolf Specialist Rick
Williamson couldn’t find them.
Niemeyer said a range rider reported seeing tracks last summer and
then during hunting season several people saw up to 10 animals, five black
and five gray. They were in the area in early spring, but disappeared in
April, about the time they whelp. Niemeyer said he and Williamson “covered
a lot of ground west of Challis to Hat Creek this spring” but saw nothing.
The critters turned up again in August when they depredated on
livestock on public range. When looking for the pack, authorities did see
five or six adults from the air.
Williamson was able to trap and collar one, but another escaped with
the trap and an eight-foot chain on its foot after the drag link
separated.
Nez Perce Tribe staff and Wildlife Services launched a search that
included a helicopter. They and some local ranch riders and a trusty
cattle dog finally found and recaptured it. They put on a radio collar,
treated it with antibiotics and released it, but the animal died a couple
of days later.
Niemeyer said it looked as if all the handling and chasing the
animal
with the trap had stopped further depredation.
This particular pack is somewhat of a mystery at this point.
Niemeyer
said they don’t know where these wolves came from or to whom they might be
related. He assumes they have pups, but won’t know for sure until they do
their winter breeding survey this winter.
As of two weeks ago, FWS estimated there were 28 packs in Idaho with
at least 23 litters.
The East Fork has another pack (called Castle Peak) led by one of
the
original reintroduced males, B-2. He has mated with a female and they have
four pups.
The Sawtooth Valley has been recolonized by the Galena pack, which
is
frequenting the Champion Creek environs with two adults and five pups.
Niemeyer said depredations around the state have been fairly low
with
only recurring problems north of McCall. At this point there’s a lethal
control authorization for Wildlife Services and a 45-day permit for the
sheep producer. The permit for the producer allows him or his herders to
shoot any wolves caught in the act of attacking their sheep on their
allotment.