Wolves Facing Biological Clock

Total wolf pup production in Yellowstone National Park this season may be just the eight-pup litter produced by the dominant female of the Rose Creek pack, officials say.

Time is running out.

Females in the two other packs roaming free in an around the park had not given birth to any pups as of Friday.

Sharon Rose of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said if females don’t give birth by June 1, biologists suspect they won’t this year.

“June 1 is getting pretty late,” Rose said. “Even with the disturbance (of being relocated to the park from Canada), that’s late.”

Although the stress of the federal wolf relocation project may have affected the wolves’ breeding, biologists were hopeful there would be litters other than the one produced south of Red Lodge about a month ago.

Those eight pups and their mother were moved back to the park last week because the dominant male of the pack was shot and killed, leaving the pups vulnerable.

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CLOSURE Two areas on either side of the Lamar Valley have been closed to human use to avoid disturbing resident wolf packs. Each area measures about 2 miles by 1.5 miles. The closures should not last beyond June 30.