Wolf Pups In Idaho

Sun., Aug. 18, 1996

Lewiston Morning Tribune

Wildlife

After aerial sightings of two wolves holding for days in one area, Nez Perce tribal biologists hiked into the Selway River country this summer, following radio signals from a female wolf released in 1995.

Biologist Curt Mack was able to confirm the first litter of wolf pups in 80 years in Idaho.

At least it was the first litter since government trapper Leo Twitchell dug out the last known litter. Twitchell’s report goes back to 1916 and was part of the campaign to eradicate the wolf from the West.

The Nez Perce Tribe is a lead player with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in efforts to restore wolves to the Idaho wilderness.

Last year the Fish and Wildlife Service released 15 wolves along the main Salmon River west of North Fork, Idaho, and along the Salmon’s Middle Fork.

Last January, Fish and Wildlife brought another 20 wolves south from Canada for release along the Middle Fork. Four wolves are known to have died since.

Keeping track of 31 wolves spread across 13 million miles is a challenge. Even with radio telemetry and monitoring from an aircraft, some of the wolves can go untracked for weeks.

But the monitoring is necessary, Mack said. Once there are 10 breeding pairs, and 10 packs roaming the central Idaho wolf recovery area, federal officials plan to drop protection under the Endangered Species Act.

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