Six wolf packs in Blue Mountains

DAYTON–There are currently six wolf packs in SE Washington, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s latest newsletter. The region is divided into six groups: Touchet (8 members), Columbia (5 members), Tucannon (8 members), Grouse Flats (4 members), 139 Group (7 members), and Butte Creek (6 members). Captures are continuing as the opportunity arises to try to get working collars in each of the packs.

Due to the dynamic nature of packs in newly colonized areas, pack numbers will likely fluctuate now that most of the suitable habitat is occupied, the newsletter indicated.

Due to depredations on livestock, two members were removed from the 139 Group in August.

Regarding Bighorn sheep, the current population size is 14 sheep, with two lambs surviving out of the five born last spring. The sheep are still outside the elk fence and have spent the past few years on Don Howard’s property.

WDFW conducted a third year of the study of elk calf survival this spring/summer. A total of 115 elk calves were captured between May 18 and June 15 and fitted with radio-telemetry collars. The collars were tracked daily by technicians and mortalities were investigated to attempt to determine the cause of death.

No update was available at this time.