Yellowstone reports wolf sightings every day for almost three years
By SCOTT McMILLION, Chronicle Staff Writer
For 1,000 days in a row, somebody in Yellowstone National Park has spotted
a wolf.
That’s a total of 130,000 people reporting wolf sightings, the National
Park Service announced this week.
The 1,000-day mark, totaling almost three years, was reached Nov. 5. The
Park Service called it “an extraordinary benchmark.”
And while wolves cause headaches for ranchers and controversy among some
outfitters and hunters, they continue to delight tourists from this
country and abroad.
“In all the First World countries, people are really in love with
carnivores,” said Ken Sinay, owner of Yellowstone Safari Company, a
Bozeman-based company that books wildlife-viewing tours.
The word is out among wildlife enthusiasts, Sinay said, and that is
translating into steady business for tour companies.
“I expect it to stay stable for a long time,” he said.
Wolves were reintroduced to the park and the central Idaho wilderness in
1995 and 1996. A total of approximately 700 animals now range Montana,
Wyoming and Idaho.
But they are the most visible in Yellowstone, particularly the park’s
northern range.
“It’s the best place in the world to see wild, free-ranging wolves,” Sinay
said.
People didn’t expect it to be that way.
Before reintroduction, scientists and planners predicted the wolves would
be secretive and elusive.
Instead, during some times of the year and in the right area, spotting
wolves is almost a guarantee.
During the “prime season” of winter and spring, Sinay said he has a
success rate of 98 percent in finding wolves.
“Even during our worst season, which is August and September, it’s better
than 60 percent,” he said.
Some people have found ways to incorporate technology in their quest for a
wolf.
The Park Service employs people who are in the field almost every day,
armed with radio receivers that pick up signals sent out by radio-collared
wolves.
Both commercial guides and private people often listen in on the park
workers’ radio messages, which relay wolf locations.
“Whenever a wolf shows up, everybody converges on that area,” Sinay said.
Most wolf sightings are a long way away, but wolves sometimes approach
roads. Sinay said he worries about how crowds of humans will affect the
big carnivores.
“It does have an effect on acclimation of wildlife,” he said.
The Park Service, in its 1,000 days announcement, urged people to give all
wildlife plenty of room.
“Undisturbed space is among the greatest of their needs,” the announcement
said. “Respect this and you will be rewarded by seeing more of their
natural activities and discovering how they live in the wild.”