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Western Gray Wolf: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Western Gray Wolf: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Wolf restoration in the Northern Rocky Mountains (NRM) has been an amazing success thanks to both the resiliency of wolves and the cooperative efforts of Federal, State, and Tribal agencies, conservation groups, and private citizens; including ranchers, sportsmen, and outfitters. The most recent data available (end of 2013) indicate that the NRM wolf population contains at least 1,691 wolves, at least 320 packs, and at least 78 breeding pairs. This population has exceeded its recovery goals since 2002. Long-term, the Service expects the entire NRM population to maintain a long-term average of around 1,000 wolves. The Service and our partners will monitor wolves in the region for at least 5 years to ensure that the population’s recovered status is not compromised, and if relisting is ever warranted, we will make prompt use of the Act’s emergency listing provisions. Recent Actions: February 2008 - Final Rule Establishing and Delisting the NRM Gray Wolf DPS Federal Register Notice Related:  Wolf Science

Are Hunters Good Wildlife Stewards When It Comes To Wolves? Not According To This Study A new study likely to be controversial in some quarters suggests that hunters are not especially good wildlife stewards when the wildlife in question are wolves. While hunters long have been seen as conservation advocates for a wide range of species, when it comes to wolves the study by two University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers would seem to indicate that the only good wolf is a dead wolf in the hunter's mind. “Hunters were some of the least tolerant of wolves among our respondents, and the closer you got to wolf range the less tolerant they were,” said Adrian Treves, a professor in the UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Professor Treves and a colleague, Kerry Martin, took up a research project beginning in 2001 to survey hunters and non-hunters on attitudes toward wolves. One issue the two noted in trying to explain the perceived intolerance of hunters was that hunters often view wolves as competition for deer and other game.

Stalled Recovery Grey wolves have returned to Yellowstone National Park, raising hopes that the area’s ecosystem has bounced back. But the reintroduction of these mighty predators isn’t enough to enable a full recovery, scientists say. In the early 1900s, wolves largely vanished from Yellowstone. After wolves came back in 1995, elk numbers dropped. To find out if the ecosystem passed this test, the team measured willows at four sites in northern Yellowstone from 2001 to 2010. Even after 10 years, willows in the fenced plots without dams didn’t reach the 2-meter mark, the authors report. The study suggests that “effects of wolves alone were insufficient to restore riparian ecosystems,” the team writes. Source: Marshall, K.N. et al. 2013. Image © Dgrilla | Shutterstock.com

News - Study of Yellowstone Wolves Improves Ability to Predict Their Responses to Environmental Changes Press Release 11-251 Study of Yellowstone Wolves Improves Ability to Predict Their Responses to Environmental Changes Methods developed in this study may ultimately improve predictions of wildlife responses to environmental changes in various ecosystems December 1, 2011 A study of the wolves of Yellowstone National Park recently improved predictions of how these animals will respond to environmental changes. The study, which was partially funded by the National Science Foundation, appears in the Dec. 2, 2011 issue of Science. Part of the Yellowstone Wolf Project, researchers tracked changes in various characteristics of wolves living in the national park between 1998 and 2009. The project also involved using a new model to compare data collected on Yellowstone wolf characteristics to environmental conditions through the years covered by the study. Study results indicate: The National Science Foundation provided funding to all of this paper's co-authors: Daniel R. Get News Updates by Email

How dogs can walk on ice without freezing their paws Scientists in Japan have solved a long-standing veterinary mystery: how dogs can stand and walk for so long on snow and ice without apparent discomfort, and without freezing their paws. Scientists at Tokyo's Yamazaki Gakuen University wondered why dogs do not seem to feel the cold in their paws, even though the paws have less insulating fur than their trunks. The paws have pads containing a high fat content, which freezes less easily than other tissues, but they also have a high surface area-to-volume ratio, which means they should lose heat easily. In humans exposed to frigid temperatures, vasoconstriction occurs in the extremities to reduce the blood flow and resultant heat loss, and ensure the blood returning to the rest of the body does not cool too much. The research team, led by Dr. The counter-current heat exchange system prevents the body cooling and ensures the paw temperature stays within reasonable limits. The paper is published in the journal Veterinary Dermatology.

Yellowstone National Park Editor's note: The following story was produced by the University of Wyoming communications staff. The mere presence of wolves, previously shown to affect the behavior of elk in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, is not potent enough to reduce the body condition and reproductive rates of female elk, according to new research published Tuesday. The research, led by recent University of Wyoming Ph.D. graduate Arthur Middleton, provides the most comprehensive evidence to date refuting the idea that wolves are capable of reducing elk calf recruitment indirectly through predation risk. “Elk respond to wolves, but less strongly and less frequently than we thought,” says Middleton, who for three years closely followed the Clarks Fork elk herd west of Cody, Wyoming, along with the wolf packs that prey on it. Working as part of the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit -- a U.S. To read the article summarizing the research in Ecology Letters, visit this site.

The Cost of the Wild Restoring an ecosystem to primitive grandeur is no simple matter in a complex world Pat Shipman It was a National Geographic day that I never thought I’d experience. I was in Yellowstone National Park on a course run jointly by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Yellowstone Association looking at controversies surrounding the park. Some of us diehard naturalists decided to abandon our “day off” to go back to Lamar Valley in the northeast corner of Yellowstone hoping to see the grizzlies and wolves that had so far been elusive. When we arrived, the wolf researchers who were already there told us that the Lamar Canyon Pack was on the carcass near dawn. The wolves were beautiful—some gray with black and bits of brown, a few pure black, one nearly white. They finished eating for the moment and strolled down the slope to the river. After watching them for about half an hour, I glanced back up at the carcass, where ravens were enjoying the abundant leftovers.

'Apparent wolf attack': Campers say wolf tore through campground Early Monday morning, an average-sized male wolf of about 75 pounds, matching the description of the wolf in the attack, was trapped and killed in the campground. The wolf is being taken to the University of Minnesota veterinary diagnostic lab to be tested for rabies. Also, the lab will collect samples for DNA analyses and complete a thorough medical examination to determine the health of the animal. (Courtesy Department of Natural Resources) Wildlife officials on Monday were investigating a reported wolf attack on a 16-year-old boy camping last weekend in northern Minnesota The attack reportedly occurred early Saturday in a campground along the shore of Lake Winnibigoshish in the Chippewa National Forest. The teen, who was sleeping at the time, suffered nonlife-threatening cuts to his head and puncture wounds to his face. If confirmed, it would be the first documented wolf attack of such severity in Minnesota and likely in the continental U.S. Here's what happened, according to Provost:

Critique of Wildlife Radio-tracking and its Use in National Parks: A Report to the U.S. National Park Service Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center February 6, 2002 L. This resource is based on the following source (Northern Prairie Publication 1164): Mech, L. This resource should be cited as: Mech, L. Table of Contents Download the entire resource in PDF format (recommended for best printable version of this resource) L. * Mention of commercial manufacturers is made for convenience only. Downloading Instructions -- Instructions on downloading and extracting files from this site. radiotrk.zip (434K) -- A Critique of Wildlife Radio-tracking and its Use in National Parks: A Report to the U.S. Installation: Extract all files and open index.htm in a web browser.

Italian journal of Mammalogy : N 23 (2012) Wolves, people, territories. – Wolfen Warrior Spirit Abstract Reliable estimates of population parameters and their trends are necessary for effective management and conservation actions, especially for endangered species such as wolves in most European countries. Under the Habitat Directive 92/43/CEE, all countries are required to monitor the status of their endangered populations. Keywords Europe; population monitoring; preventive measures; transboundary monitoring; wolves Contents Wolf monitoring in France : a dual frame process to survey time- and space-related changes in the population Christophe Duchamp, Jérome Boyer, Pierre-Emmanuel Briaudet, Yannick Leonard, Perrine Moris, Alain Bataille, Thierry Dahier, Gilles Delacour, Gérard Millisher, Christian Miquel, Carole Poillot, Eric Marboutin The wolf recovery in France dates back to 1992, following the natural range expansion of the remaining Italian population since the late 1960’s. Canis lupus; monitoring design; sign survey; management Full Text Identifiers John D.

About Us « Wildlife Science Center History WSC was founded as a federally funded research facility in 1976, in order to observe and document the physiology and behavior of a captive population of gray wolves. Although the Center no longer receives federal funding, its distinctive research continues. However, since achieving 501(c)(3) status in 1991 it has concentrated its assets and knowledge on educational programming. It offers both on and offsite interactive presentations and overnight camping experiences to Minnesota youth by partnering with school and community-based organizations. Through its research and educational efforts, the WSC’s expertise is often sought by international, national, and regional institutions, regarding the care, handling, breeding, and ecological significance of wolves. WSC Map/Location WSC Staff WSC Mission Our Animals ResearchThe animals at the Wildlife Science Center (WSC) provide opportunities for study by scientists from many walks of life. Education Our Education Programs

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