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This
pack has more like 25 to 30 wolves counting the 03 pups. They
have eaten them selves out of food. Now instead of one pack
there will be many. Who will have them in their back yard next?
Jim Hagedorn
Wolf pack disappears from Yellowstone National Park Biologists suspect members may have gone separate ways YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — The Nez Perce wolf pack, which at one time lived in Idaho, has disappeared from Yellowstone National Park for the third time in as many years, and biologists are concerned it might not come back this time. The pack, which could have as many as 20 members, has not been seen since mid-October. Its members have been spotted separately in recent days as far south as Green River in Wyoming, but no one has seen the entire pack. The disappearance has almost become expected each winter, but the pack left earlier than usual this year, wolf biologist Doug Smith said. “They´re moving around, but, to be honest, I don´t know why,” he said. “My best guess is that they´re probably looking for food. This is kind of an annual walkabout.” Last year, the pack was spotted in Wyoming´s National Elk Refuge, 60 miles to the south, after disappearing in mid-December. It eventually returned to the park. The pack also disappeared from central Yellowstone in 2001, resurfacing in eastern Idaho, where members of the pack killed a dog before wandering back into the park. Smith, however, said it is unclear a third return will occur. One of the pack´s males was spotted with a female wolf near Green River. The wolf, one of nine pups brought to Yellowstone in 1996, may be the pack´s alpha male, Smith said. “I think he´s gone for good,” he said. Other members of the pack also appear to have splintered off. One was spotted west of Yellowstone while others have been seen near Old Faithful, indicating the pack may have broken up. “It remains to be seen if they get back together,” Smith said. While the pattern has been breaking up and then rejoining in Yellowstone, “I´m not sure that´s going to happen again this time.” Wolf biologists have been searching every day. If spotted, the pack will be monitored but will not be moved unless the wolves are creating problems. Edition Date: 11-08-2003 |