by Mark MacAllister
Page 2 : Pack Summaries
General Information
Researchers have confirmed wild born pups in the San Mateo, Rim, Luna and Saddle packs and suspect pups in the Bluestem, Aspen and Middle Fork packs. In addition, project personnel continue to observe Meridian pup f1028 with the newly released Meridian pack.
Arizona
- Bluestem Pack
Throughout August, researchers located AF521, along with M990 and m991, within the pack's traditional home range. While AF521 remained rather sedentary in the eastern portion of the FAIR, project personnel located M990 and m991 separately on several occasions in the west-central portion of the ASNF. Based upon the movements of AF521 during the denning season, researchers suspect that the pack has pups, but they have yet to be confirmed. - Hawks Nest Pack
This pack continued to use its traditional home range east of the Big Lake area on the ASNF. During early August, AF486's GPS collar gave a low battery warning, indicating possible failure within 60 days. Researchers are attempting to replace the collar, but have so far been unsuccessful. - Meridian Pack
Researchers continued to intensively monitor the Meridian Pack as it acclimates to the wild. During August, the pack remained within six miles of the release site. Researchers suspended supplemental feeding of the pack during the first week in August, approximately one month after release, due to lack of utilization of the food. Thus far, researchers have investigated carcasses of several elk calves and one adult bull elk likely killed by the pack. Researchers will continue to haze the animals should the pack approach too close to residences or exhibit other undesirable behavior, such as limited flight response. - Rim Pack
Throughout August, researchers located the Rim Pack within its traditional home range in the central portion of the ASNF. On August 22, researchers observed the alpha pair and three pups, increasing the confirmed number of Rim pups from two to three. - San Mateo Pack
During August, the San Mateo Pack continued to utilize areas east of Escudilla Mountain near the Arizona/New Mexico border. On August 27, project personnel observed two pups and an adult uncollared wolf, possibly a sibling of m927. Thus far, the maximum number of pups seen with this pack is two. - Lone Wolf m973
On August 4, after receiving observation reports from the public and Arizona Game & Fish Department, researchers trapped m973 in the northwest portion of the BRWRA in Arizona. When m973 was a member of the Aspen Pack, researchers had removed it from Arizona as a dependent pup on May 4, 2005. On July 13, 2005, researchers translocated m973 with the Aspen Pack to McKenna Park in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico. Yearling m973 was in good condition, weighing 57 pounds. Project personnel fitted it with a radio collar and released it on site. The distance from the translocation site in New Mexico to the area where they captured m973 was over 80 miles.
New Mexico
- Aspen Pack
Throughout August, researchers located the Aspen Pack in the eastern portion of the Gila Wilderness. While locations throughout the denning season indicated reproduction, project personnel have yet to observe pups. - Luna Pack
The alpha pair, AF562 and AM583, as well as yearling m925, remained within their traditional home range area in the central portion of the GNF. On August 6, researchers observed all three documented members of the Luna Pack. - Middle Fork Pack
Throughout August, researchers located AF861 and AM871 together in the central portion of the Gila Wilderness. On August 14, during an aerial telemetry flight, researchers again observed AF861 and AM871. While location data indicated reproduction in the Middle Fork Pack, project personnel have yet to observe pups with this pack. - Saddle Pack
During August, the Saddle Pack continued to use its traditional home range in the southern portion of the GNF. On August 28, during an aerial telemetry flight, researchers observed six pups, increasing the maximum known number of pups from five to six. A second genetic test confirmed that m1007 is an offspring of the Luna Pack, despite being a current member of the Saddle Pack.
- Lone wolves
M859, formerly considered a member of the Granite Pack, was located by project personnel along the northeast border of the GNF. During mid-August, they located M859 just north and outside the BRWRA border. On the August 24 aerial telemetry flight, researchers observed M859, and confirmed it to be traveling alone.
f923, formerly considered a member of the Granite Pack, was located in the GNF, northeast of Mogollon. Yearling f923 then moved approximately 14 miles north toward Reserve before moving over 18 miles southeast to the western edge of the Luna Pack territory.
f924, formerly considered a member of the Granite Pack, remained in the northwestern portion of the BRWRA. On August 24, project personnel located f924 near a dead cow. The following day, researchers confirmed that a wolf killed the cow. On August 31, f924 moved more than 30 miles to the southeast where researchers located it less than one-half mile from the Aspen Pack.
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