Fifteen wolf packs with pups in Wyoming
Sweetwater pack named
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
July 27, 2009
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that efforts to confirm wolf reproduction in Wyoming are ongoing this summer.
According to FWS, the following 15 packs have denned and produced pups in Wyoming (outside YNP) in 2009: Jackson Region: Chagrin River, Buffalo, Pinnacle Peak, Phantom Springs, Antelope, and Pacific Creek; Pinedale Region: Green River, Black Butte, and Rim. Southwestern WY: Sweetwater; Dubois Region: Washakie and East Fork; Cody Region: Beartooth, Absaroka, and Hoodoo.
Control
On July 17, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed a calf was killed by wolves on a public grazing allotment in Union Pass near Dubois. It is thought there are >2 wolves in the area, but it’s unclear which pack they belong to. Wyoming USDA Wildlife Services will attempt to trap, radio collar, and release a wolf so that we can determine how many wolves are involved in the depredation and identify their home range.
Big Horn Mountains: From 6/4/09 through 6/25/09, a total of 61 sheep were killed in the southern Big Horn Mountains. No further depredations or wolf sightings have been reported since June 25. Various attempts to locate and remove ~2 wolves causing the depredations have been unsuccessful. FWS issued 4 Shoot-on-Site Permits to the wool growers who have lost sheep to wolves. Wildlife Services removed traps from the area, but will resume further control efforts if additional depredations occur.
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